Organized by: Research Innovation Teams (RIT)
Collaborators: Research Center for Ear, Nose, and Throat, and Head and Neck of Iran University of Medical Sciences, The First Institute of Inventors and Researchers in I.R.IRAN, Skull Base Research Center, Minimally Invasive Brain and Spinal Surgery Research Center, Innovation Center for Modern Medical Education Technologies
Date: 24th and 25th of August 2023
Venue: Ebne Sina Hall, Rasoul Akram Hospital
Introduction:
In a groundbreaking alliance, the Research Innovation Teams (RIT), in conjunction with esteemed partners— Research Center for Ear, Nose, and Throat, and Head and Neck of Iran University of Medical Sciences, the Office of the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations, the Skull Base Research Center, the Minimally Invasive Brain and Spinal Surgery Research Center, and the Innovation Center for Modern Medical Education Technologies—orchestrated a seminal event. This two-day workshop, titled “Innovative Process for Medical Devices,” convened on the 24th and 25th of August 2023 at the Ebne Sina Hall within the illustrious Rasoul Akram Hospital.
Workshop Overview:
The workshop enlisted the strategic expertise of Dr. Masoud Shafaghi, an exemplar of innovation who serves as the Strategic Planning and Executive Office Manager at the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations in Geneva, Switzerland (IFIA). Seven mentors, eminent figures from the Research Innovation Teams (RIT), complemented Dr. Shafaghi’s guidance during this transformative workshop. Additionally, Dr. Saleh Mohebbi, the venerable Head of the Head and Neck Surgery Department at Iran University of Medical Sciences, rendered a discourse on the vitality of creativity in the medical domain. Drawing insights from a multitude of scholarly articles in medical technology, Dr. Mohebbi underscored the centrality of ideation in the realm of medical devices. He accentuated the symbiotic alliance between engineers and physicians, advocating for the realization of visionary concepts. Dr. Mohebbi’s discourse resonated with his personal engagement with the RIT technical teams, further substantiating the convergence of medical acumen and technical prowess.
Experienced Discourse:
The workshop garnered accolades as attested by the Public Relations report of the Research Center. The event attracted seasoned specialists and celebrated surgeons hailing from the arenas of otology, neurotology, head and neck, and plastic surgery. This assembly of virtuosos converged to exchange expertise and deliberate over the intricacies linked to medical equipment, instruments, and the spatial dynamics of operating rooms.
Innovation Pinnacle:
Dr. Shafaghi, in his inaugural address, seized the occasion to honor Doctors’ Day while underscoring the criticality of innovation both in procedural frameworks and medical apparatuses. He delineated the dichotomy that demarcated the innovation and invention epochs—pre and post the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Shafaghi heralded the epoch of post-pandemic innovation, heralding the imperative of a harmonious collaboration between engineers, experienced practitioners, and specialists. Throughout the workshop, Dr. Shafaghi candidly shared professional sagas with surgical units, medical practitioners, and domain experts. He dissected projects that spanned product manufacturing for market penetration and scholarly contributions in the medical sphere.
Tangible Innovation Manifested:
The workshop reached a crescendo as the RIT technical team orchestrated the 3D printing of a proposed design from the Ear, Nose, and Throat Research Center. The precision of execution showcased the seamless marriage of conceptual ingenuity and technical prowess. Moreover, a technical blueprint for an alternative project underwent meticulous scrutiny. Dr. Shafaghi, alongside medical and specialist teams, joined forces with the technical cohort to evaluate these endeavors. The prism of evaluation was fashioned through the prism of the seven-step SCAMPER technique—a strategic approach ensuring the seamless transition of proposed designs into viable, executable plans.
Culmination and Call to Action:
As the event culminated, Dr. Shafaghi’s valedictory address illuminated pathways for the inquisitive minds assembled. He illumined the labyrinthine journey of patent registration, product fabrication, and commercialization. Dr. Shafaghi’s resonant voice kindled a collective responsibility toward societal well-being. Echoing a clarion call, he beseeched the innovation community to stand resolute beside the medical fraternity, amplifying endeavors dedicated to enhancing the landscape of healthcare.
In retrospect, the workshop emerges as a crucible of intellectual ferment, forging alliances that transcend conventional boundaries. As the reverberations of this event linger, it underscores the indomitable fusion of ingenuity and medical expertise. The torch of innovation continues to blaze, enkindling an unwavering resolve to amplify the healing journey, inscribing a saga that enriches the fabric of medical advancement.
