University of Utah Health recently launched the ASCENT Surgical Lab inside the James LeVoy Sorenson Center for Medical Innovation. The new facility is designed to move medical concepts quickly from initial testing to patient care by providing a space where innovation and clinical care intersect.
Accelerated Medical Technology Development
The ASCENT Surgical Lab provides a high-speed environment for medical technology development. Previously, students and physicians had to compete for limited hospital operating time or use conference rooms to test new devices. Now, the process allows users to print prototypes in incubators and move to the surgical lab to test them on real or synthetic cadavers within the same hour.
Facilitating Interdisciplinary Clinical Collaboration
Bob Carter, MD, PhD, CEO of University of Utah Health and executive vice president of health sciences at the University of Utah, stated that the lab allows individuals to actualize and test ideas in a rapid cycle. He noted that the space enables collaboration between anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons, and robotic surgeons.
Support for Medical School Incubators
The James LeVoy Sorenson Center for Medical Innovation includes ten startup incubators available for lease. These workspaces are utilized by students from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine in programs such as Bench to Bedside.
Bridging the Gap for Startups
According to Brunson, the facility aims to help companies bridge the valley of death, providing a stage to generate investor interest and secure capital during critical development stages. Startups can access services at a lower cost than alternative spaces, while students may use the space for free.
Advanced Tools and Simulation Capabilities
The facility is equipped with advanced tools including precision laser cutters, metal fabricators, and 3D printers. It also features home simulation rooms designed to mimic houses to test how medical equipment functions in real-life living environments.
Training Opportunities for Medtech Companies
For medtech companies, the lab serves as a clinical environment for training physicians and sales forces using instruments found in standard operating rooms. Taylor Randall, president of the University of Utah, noted that combining a 20-table operating room, an ISO-8 compliant cleanroom, and an in-home design studio creates a unique global innovation environment.
The ASCENT Surgical Lab features ten surgical bays in an open-concept space, with the primary operating bay providing live video feeds to other bays and breakout rooms. The facility is designed to remove barriers for students, surgeons, and startups to accelerate the development of next-generation medical devices.
