We're building the future of medical technologies
Streamlining the innovation process, the Medical Device Accelerator at the Center for Medical Innovation is designed to turn ideas into commercially successful products.
Recognizing the challenges unique to developing new medical technologies, CMI takes a hands-on approach with the accelerator process, inviting inventors and industry experts to work together as collaborators focused on building technologically innovative, market-ready devices.
Good ideas can come from many places. We've designed our accelerator process to enable those ideas and cutting edge research from several sources including
- Principal Investigators (PIs), clinicians, staff, and researchers at the University of Utah
- Disclosures and projects licensed to the Technology Licensing Office
- External individuals or groups outside of the University of Utah (e.g. physicians from other healthcare systems)
- Projects identified from internal initiatives at the Center for Medical Innovation
Ready to get started?
If you're ready to change the future of healthcare, let's talk. Our team is looking for active collaborators to help us transform patient care and build the next generation of medical technologies.
- Phase 1: Initial Consultation
- Phase II: Comprehensive Technology Assessment
- Phase III: Development
- Phase IV: Device Refinement
- Phase V: Commercialization
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In Phase I, researchers, inventors and or Principal Investigators (PI) will meet with a member of the CMI staff or the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) to discuss the device and review potential next steps for advancing within the accelerator program. CMI and TLO will then perform an initial high-level assessment to determine if the project is feasible / within the realm of worthwhile pursuit.
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In Phase II, staff members at both CMI and TLO will perform a comprehensive assessment of the technology. TLO, along with third-party groups, will perform commercial and Intellectual Property (IP) assessments, while CMI will perform regulatory and design assessments. A committee consisting of representatives from CMI, TLO, and the PI will meet to together to decide path forward for the technology (e.g. accept to the accelerator, continue research, or seek a licensing arrangement).
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In Phase III, the technology is brought into the accelerator and the inventor / PI becomes a collaborator. From this point, CMI takes responsibility for development, including all engineering work to create or improve a functioning prototype. At this stage, all accelerator projects will begin development with a predetermined budget amount. When the predetermined project budget has been depleted (or before if appropriate), the project will be reevaluated and a decision will be made to either keep the project in Phase III with another fixed amount of budget support, advance to Phase IV, or discontinue the ongoing development work. In this phase, a deeper-dive into the regulatory pathway for the technology will also be performed.
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In Phase IV, in this phase, the technology is advanced through the CMI's official Quality Management System (QMS) controls. This includes implementation of a Design History File (DHF). At this Phase, external licensors may be sought and brought onboard the development process. The assessments performed throughout Phases 1 - 3 will now be consolidated and expanded to satisfy all necessary audits and reviews. Further, design reviews are performed on a regular basis and or at the conclusion of each QMS stage.
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In Phase V, the device is transferred to a third-party for commercial use, continued development or manufacturing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Each project accepted into the MedTech Accelerator process will have variable timelines. So projects may take more time to de-risk, while others may be further along in the development process when they come to CMI. A better idea of a project timeline will be determined during the initial consultation and comprehensive assessments in Phase 1 and Phase 2, respectively.
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No. The current status of a project (including the development of the prototype) will be considered when evaluating projects to bring into the accelerator program. It may also affect long-term goals for the project as well as any potential royalty agreements.
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We focus on physical devices. It's our specialty! Occasionally we will take on projects which are a combination medical device & supporting software application, but it's rare. We do not work on any pharmaceutical or therapeutic projects, or projects exclusively based on software or applications.