Brijeshwar Maini, MD, structural heart cardiologist, national and Florida medical director of cardiology, Tenet Health, explains his decision to leave clinical practice in the near future to become a full-time cardiac device business owner. It is a path several prominent cardiologists have made. He explains how he developed a new cardiac technology and how he was able to get it commercialized, leading to a decision to stay in medicine or leave and run the company he founded.
He spoke to Cardiovascular Business about his experience of developing a new cardiovascular technology at the 2022 TVT Structural Heart Summit.
"This was a difficult decision, because a cardiologist and a clinician for my entire career for 37 years, caring for patients and performing procedures," Maini said. "But, there is always this scientist inside you that pokes you from time to time and says 'how about that new idea you have.' Sometimes you are doing a procedure and you say to yourself maybe this could be done in a slightly different format."
About six years ago he had a new idea for a new device to cross the atrial septum for electrophysiology (EP) procedures, and structural heart procedures, such as left atrial append occlusions and trancatheter edge to edge repair (TEER). He patented the technology and then began working with a manufacturer to create prototypes. He said it took time and a lot of investment in time, but feels very gratified seeing his idea turned into something that can be used to help patients.
His SafeCross Transseptal Radiofrequency (RF) Puncture and Steerable Balloon Introducer System was cleared by the FDA in July 2021. Since its commercialization, Maini decided to to leave his clinical post to spend time running the company he founded.
It is a decision several other cardiologists have had to make after starting their own companies.
"Instead of saving one life at a time, I think doing this I can make a bigger impact," Maini said. "I always felt a doctor is also a teacher. So I can teach one patient at a time, or I can teach multiple physicians to do something differently that will impact more people."
He said he felt somewhat liberated at doing something different and following through on an idea he came up with to make procedures easier to perform based on his procedural knowledge.
"I want people to understand that you may have done this all your life, but it is never too late to have that spark inside you and say I want to do something different, I want to invent something. It is a leap of faith, but I am very excited about it.
He said if a cardiologist has an idea, they need to have faith that they can take that idea and make it into something real. Many others have already done this by taking that leap of faith.
"The first order of business if you have an idea, patent it," Maini explained. "It can take years to get the patent, it is not like over night that the patent office is going to grant you the patent. After that, you can talk to some companies or various manufacturers."
"To get through all the things you need to do to make the device will take a little while, and you ask yourself if you have the resilience to do it, and some people do and some people do not. But the important thing is that it is possible," Maini said. "I tell my friends and colleagues, if you have an idea, just do it. It will be very pleasurable to see your concept come out and see people using it. It is very gratifying."
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Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: dfornell@innovatehealthcare.com