R&D Innovation Stories: Entrepreneurial Journeys and Corporate Strategies in Healthcare

At Product Creation Studio, we work with device innovators at organizations large and small. While Senior Vice Presidents and passionate entrepreneurs share the desire to deliver better healthcare, they approach success in different ways. The keynotes from two recent medical device conferences, DeviceTalks West and BIOMEDevice Silicon Valley, illustrate the symbiotic relationship between strategic organizations and start-ups in the surgical tool industry.

These experiences resonate deeply with us and our customers at PCS, who often navigate these dangerous R&D waters. Their stories brought to mind past challenges we have faced in minimally invasive suturing, groundbreaking ophthalmology therapeutics, innovative vaccine delivery, novel ultrasound therapies, and neurostimulation devices.

Julie Tyler’s story of taking the reigns at Abbott Vascular and Surbhi Sarna’s story of building nVision illustrate the two sides of the surgical tool R&D coin. 

Learn how a courageous leader conducted the uncomfortable self-assessment needed to guide her company’s strategic priorities and how one passionate innovator risked it all for her vision. 

Transformative Strategies and Prioritized Growth: Insights from Julie Tyler's Abbott Vascular Talk at DeviceTalks West

Abbott Vascular's Senior Vice President, Julie Tyler, brought an illuminating perspective to DeviceTalks West, outlining the pivotal strategies and acquisition decisions that shaped their trajectory, notably her gap analysis strategy as she took over the SVP role.

Tyler's approach was methodical, starting with an in-depth assessment across Abbott Vascular's spectrum, from R&D to manufacturing and sales. This introspection extended beyond internal processes; she walked the production lines and engaged with surgeons using their equipment, gathering insights that fueled a comprehensive SWOT analysis.

Tyler also emphasized the importance of data-driven discussions, steering the focus away from opinions and towards articulating insights derived from the data. This approach was pivotal in Abbott Vascular’s evolution from a product-centric approach to offering a comprehensive care continuum, spanning access, diagnosis, stenting, and vessel closure.

Her strategic gap analysis, completed in phases over the course of 12-16 months, yielded both expected and unexpected findings, allowing for nuanced approaches in some areas while necessitating more drastic action in others. 

Recognizing the evolving landscape where stents were becoming commoditized, Abbott Vascular sought to enhance value through diagnostic imaging technologies like OCT (optical coherence tomography). Essentially, it ensured that their product line covered more of the essential workflows of the surgeon.

The pivotal decision-making process behind acquiring Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI) sheds light on Abbott Vascular's strategic vision. Identifying a crucial gap in vessel preparation solutions, Abbott Vascular assessed multiple options and realized that CSI aligned seamlessly with its mission and vision. 

Tyler's talk at DeviceTalks West revealed Abbott Vascular's commitment to a more holistic approach to patient care and shed light on what larger corporations seek when aiming to innovate. 

Beyond product-centric strategies, Tyler emphasized the importance of meticulous analysis, agile responses to market dynamics, and strategic acquisitions. This approach mirrors the goals of larger corporations: seeking cutting-edge technologies that effectively address unmet needs in the evolving healthcare landscape.

The Story of nVision: From Patient to Impatient Entrepreneur – Surbi Sarna’s Keynote at BIOMEDevice

Surbhi Sarna's talk at the BIOMEDevice conference chronicled her transition from a young patient grappling with a complex ovarian cyst to a determined entrepreneur passionate about better options for women’s health. 

Enduring pain and facing misdiagnosis, Sarna witnessed the challenges ovarian cancer patients face, coupled with the lack of adequate solutions. These observations also underscored alarming statistics—600,000 hysterectomies are performed on women, but only 20,000 cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed every year. Perhaps many of these significant procedures would not be needed if there were better diagnostic options.

Fueled by this experience, Sarna pursued molecular and cell biology studies at the University of California, Berkeley. 

After graduation, she transitioned to business strategies and product innovation. The loss of her grandmother to breast cancer became a turning point, finally leading Surbhi to shift gears full-time from an engineer to a CEO. In 2012, she established nVision Medical to help enable the early detection of ovarian cancer. 

Surbhi's vision led to the development of a groundbreaking tool—a navigational device equipped with an imager for diagnosing and treating blockages in the fallopian tube. She persisted despite encountering challenges in understanding the medical intricacies and fundraising hurdles in a male-dominated industry.

Her determination paid off when her company gained FDA approval for navigating the entire fallopian tube, culminating in a successful $12 million Series B funding round. Eventually, Boston Scientific acquired her company for $250 million, a move she believed would further propel the development of her innovation.

Her involvement with Y Combinator's healthcare division further cemented her status as a pioneering figure in the biotech landscape. Surbhi Sarna's journey—from patient to entrepreneurial force—is a testament to perseverance and a commitment to addressing unmet medical needs.

Visionary Innovation to Strategic Adaptation

Surbhi Sarna's entrepreneurial journey and Julie Tyler's strategic discourse at these events align with our experiences at PCS. Their stories underscore the importance of visionary innovation and strategic guidance in propelling advancements in healthcare.  

As we navigate the R&D landscape with our clients, their narratives inspire us to continue pursuing transformative solutions that enhance the patient experience and drive advancements in healthcare delivery.