IEE Colloquium on `Equipment Innovation in Medicine and Rehabilitation: From Idea to the Market Place´ (Digest No.91)

The development of new equipment in medicine and rehabilitation takes place in industrial companies large and small as well as in NHS and university departments. The aim of this meeting is to present and stimulate discussion on various problems encountered in bringing innovative ideas from a prototype stage through the problems of clinical trials and into production. Protection of ideas through patents and other means are discussed as are the implications of product liability legislation. Possible sources of funds for the commercialisation of the outcome of research projects are considered. A commitment to manufacturing a product in the medical field may lead to involvement with statutory regulatory bodies such as the United States FDA. In addition national and international standards and manufacturer registration schemes have to be taken into consideration. All of the above aspects are addressed and hence this meeting should be of interest to engineers and scientists in the NHS and universities, as well as to research and development managers, others in industry and possibly those new to or thinking of entering the medical equipment field