I'm joined by Steve Maxson, a 20-year medical device manufacturing veteran and Innovation Lead at US Extruders, as we explore the future of balloon-based therapies and the evolution of medtech manufacturing. Steve shares insider knowledge on emerging technologies that are transforming cardiovascular care and reshaping how we think about medical device development.
In this episode, we breakdown:
The Next Wave of Balloon-Based Technologies
→ How integration of electronics and balloons is revolutionizing treatments
→ Why new energy delivery methods are attracting billion-dollar acquisitions
→ Deep dive into cryo, RF, and pulse field ablation approaches
→ The engineering challenges of combining soft materials with electronics
Mastering Medical Device Manufacturing
→ Critical collaboration strategies between contract manufacturers
→ How metallization on balloons is changing the game
→ Breaking down technical barriers in profile reduction
→ Why design for manufacturability can make or break your startup
Navigating Contract Manufacturing Relationships
→ Why transparency trumps secrecy in early development
→ Common pitfalls startups face when selecting partners
→ The hidden advantages of mid-sized manufacturers
→ How to structure your RFQ process for success
Market Insights & Future Trends
→ Why neurovascular is the next big frontier
→ How outpatient migration is driving innovation
→ The evolution from cardiovascular to neurovascular applications
→ Emerging opportunities in visualization and sensing
Building Technical Credibility
→ The power of specialized technical content
→ Why depth beats breadth in medtech marketing
→ Building trust through expertise sharing
→ Engaging with sophisticated audiences
Best Quotes:
"Adding sensors to balloons, adding cameras to balloons... you're going to see more and more devices mounted to the body of balloons. It really is next level."
"Don't try to be too cute on the timeline... these aren't investors. Just be completely honest, be like 'yeah this is our timeline.' If it's fundraising dependent just tell them that - they understand, they're running businesses."
"I am much more in the hack and harvest camp where you're like 'hey let's see if we can get some stuff, cut it open, glue it together, make it work' because I feel like it's such an application - nothing's static, balloons are moving, they're flexing, they're bending, they're inflating."
Key Insights for Innovators:
- Start with hack-and-harvest prototypes before full-scale development
- Share therapy details early with manufacturing partners
- Consider mid-sized manufacturers for better startup support
- Build design for manufacturability into early development
- Focus on scalability in initial designs
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FIND STEVE MAXSON ON SOCIAL LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stevemaxson1 Steve’s podcast: www.youtube.com/@stevemaxson1
FIND SPENCER JONES ON SOCIAL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-jones-... XO Medtech LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xo-medtech
Episode Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction & background
2:15 - Balloon-based energy delivery deep dive
7:00 - Clinical use cases
14:08 - Contract manufacturing collaboration examples
18:35 - Future market trends discussion
23:50 - Technical content marketing insights
27:35 - Advice for medtech startups
