Expert Details
Product Design and Development; Plastic Part Design and Molding; Expert Witness, Patents
ID: 730059
Texas, USA
Expert has designed several devices currently in use in the medical and health fields. For clients such as CooperSurgical, Applier Diabetes Research and the US Army, he has designed complex monitor enclosures, insulin delivery systems, reservoirs, infusion pumps and breathing assistance devices, to mention a few.
Expert is the principal inventor on 36 US patents. He has assisted in the writing and preparation of drawings for those and other patent applications. He has written and filed provisional patent applications. Additionally he is called upon frequently to evaluate patent coverage and possible infringement. He is not an attorney but has become skilled at interpreting claim coverage and is often successful in designing products which compete with patented devices without infringement.
Expert has performed product development for several clients beginning with ideation sessions and proceeding through product definition, phase gated process development, multifunctional teams and into profitable production.
Expert is proficient in SolidWorks 3D software and has used it as his principal means of part/assembly design for over 10 years. He also has contracted rapid prototypes utilizing CNC, SLA, SLS, FDM and others to prove and refine his designs. He is competent in creating working prototypes as well as appearance models.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1967 | Degree: BES | Subject: Mechanical Engineering | Institution: University of Texas/Austin |
| Year: 1980 | Degree: MFA | Subject: Painting and drawing | Institution: University of Texas/Austin |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1976 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: President | Department: Engineering |
Responsibilities:Managed engineering and design consulting businesses since 1976. He has served clients in fields ranging from aerospace to sanitary services to medical monitoring and instrumentation. He has utilized his extensive experience in engineering, product development, manufacturing and aesthetics to bring over 20 products from concept to commercial success. He is the principal inventor on 37 US Patents and has drafted Provisional Patents and served as the Expert Witness for a patent infringement law suit. He received major industrial design awards including the IDSA IDEA Award and the ID Magazine Gold Award. Additionally, he has consulted in the US, South America, Europe and the Pacific on design, tooling and manufacturing issues.Major Clients Athena GTX Inc. Medical Diagnostic Equipment Manufacturer Designed Enclosure and mechanical components for Autonomous Critical Care System, Office of Naval Research/Athena GTX. This state of art system is used to monitor and treat combat casualties autonomously while they are being evacuated from battlefield by drone. Designed enclosures for wrist watch type medical monitor. Designed mechanical enclosure for Wireless Vital Signs Monitor. US Special Operations Command, Medical Product Support, Designed TacVac, light weight, compact, portable, battery powered suction device. Designed PSID, compact, light weight IV Bag Pressurization Device. Both systems deployed to medics in Iraq and Afganistan Strain Measurement Devices, Inc. Designed enclosure for “FlowDAQ” fluid flow measurement device with multiple input/output connectors and touch screen display. Designed disposable fluid flow measurement cartridge primarily for blood and IV fluids. Summit Oilfield Equipment. Designed thermoset molded TorqGlider™ Oil Well Centralizer to maintain proper spacing of oil well caseing downhole. Omneotech, Inc. Designed RescueCath endotracheal tube cleaning device Cooper Surgical, Inc. Designed Mystic II™ Birth Assist Device, second generation of device designed for Prism, Ltd. Designed mechanical enclosure (including main monitor housing, hand held remote, and two scales) for Lumax and Lumax EMG monitors female incontinence diagnostic instrument. Design included aluminum chassis, connectors and mounting of printer, bar code reader and all internal components. Applied Diabetes Research Designed ThinSet Insulin Infusion device & Insulin reservoir for use with insulin infusion pumps. Offered lower cost, high quality alternative to proprietary systems. Program resulted in 8 patents. Managed tooling through Chinese mold makers. Provided engineering support until product purchased by ViCentra of Netherlands. Mystic Pharmaceuticals Designed several intranasal cartridge dispensers to deliver medical compositions to the nasal mucosa. Resulted in patent Prism Ltd. Designed Mystic™ Suction Birth Assist Device, a manual suction pump to assist in birth of babies. A much less traumatic method that forceps. Placed and approved tooling in China prior to shipping to US. Colin Medical Instruments Designed enclosure and all internal mechanical components for Prodigy™ Vital Signs Monitor. Coordinated tooling in China and US. Scott Paper, SaniFresh Division Chief Engineer (long term contract) Managed Engineering Department of 2 Engineers, 2 Design Draftsmen and 1 Technician. Designed Push Twin Pak, Windows™, SureTouch™, 500 MINI, New 800ml and SaniTuff™ II, soap dispensers for Sani-Fresh. Invented and designed CleanWorks concentrated cleaning chemical delivery system. Received IDSA IDEA Award and ID Magazine Gold Award. Managed over $2,000,000 in tooling investments in the US and Pacific. Resulted in 24 US patents granted Consulted and advised Scott’s European divisions on design, manufacturing and tooling. Conducted preliminary visits and evaluations for Scott of potential corporate acquisitions, primarily in Europe. Managed Quality Assurance Department LifeQuest Medical Designed Osteo Injector device to inject medication into the bone marrow. For use when circulatory system has collapsed. Artcarved Class Rings Designed wax casting and finishing production line for new line of high school class rings. Southwest Research Inst. Designed Cricothyroid Cannula/Catheter for High Frequency Jet Ventilation system to provide oxygen to victims of poison gas exposure. Ford Aerospace Designed plastic enclosure for NASA MSC fiber optic communications system including rack mount and free standing options, and internal chassis and EMI shielding. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1974 to 1976 | Employer: Valley Faucet Division of US Brass, Inc. | Title: Senior Design Engineer | Department: Engineering |
Responsibilities:Designed faucet and plumbing products. Created and designed a new 90% molded plastic dual control faucet. Lead process of reducing costs by converting metal parts to plastic and created standards for managing outside suppliers of injection molded components. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1971 to 1974 | Employer: Glastron Boat Company | Title: Senior Engineer | Department: Engineering |
Responsibilities:Designed injection molded components including locker doors, vents, hatch covers, controls, etc. for fiberglass pleasure craft. Developed and managed tooling and molding suppliers. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1970 to 1971 | Employer: Teledyne Mecca | Title: Chief Engineer | Department: Engineering |
Responsibilities:Managed engineering department of custom molding company. Designed parts for clients and designed molds and fixtures for manufacturing. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1968 to 1970 | Employer: Barrier Corporation | Title: Manager | Department: Molding Division |
Responsibilities:Managed manufacturing plant with 5 injection molding machines, 3 compression molding machines and vinyl coating process. Assisted customers with design for manufacturability. Acquired tooling for all operations. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1967 to 1968 | Employer: General Dynamics, Fort Worth | Title: Engineer | Department: Human Engineering & Life Support |
Responsibilities:Engineer in Crew Station Design, F111 Program. Performed ergonomic studies, wrote combat training missions, designed control panels, participated in crew safety procedures. |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2008 to 2017 | Agency: US Special Operations Command | Role: Medical Product Design and Prototyping | Description: Provided design and prototypes for combat casualty care devices. |
International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 1993 to 1997 | Country / Region: Europe | Summary: Consulted and advised Scott’s European divisions on design, manufacturing and tooling. Conducted preliminary visits and evaluations for Scott of potential corporate acquisitions, primarily in Europe. Visited/inspected tool shops and coordinated tooling in China. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, University of Texas/Austin, 1978 Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, full scholarship, 1978 Ford Foundation Fellowships, University of Texas/Austin, 1979 Vermont Studio Colony, scholarship 1987 |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Professional Engineer, State of Texas, 1973 to present |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| IDSA IDEA Award and the ID Magazine Gold Award Expert Design, Bally Design, Scott Paper Co. |
| Medical / Professional |
|---|
| Professional Engineer, Texas, 1973 to Present |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| 36 patents |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Expert served as expert witness in successful defense of patent infringement law suit, lasting 2 years, resulting in withdrawal of claims by plaintiff. Disassembled, photographed and examined linear actuation device at core of infringement assertions. Created approximately 100 illustrations and graphics to explain non-infringement and to describe prior art. Prepared and submitted initial Rebuttal Report and 3 Supplemental Expert Reports. Researched difference in German Utility Model and patent. Was deposed twice. Additionally created a declaration in support of a re-examination request to USPTO. As a result, the USPTO issued an Office Action, rejecting all claims, thus invalidating the patent itself. |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| Expert has sourced injection molding tooling in the US, Europe and Asia. He has visited prospective suppliers and evaluated their facilities and expertise. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Expert frequently prepares illustrations of his designs to aid in design reviews or as marketing materials. He is proficient in photography and Photoshop and an expert model maker. |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| German | Basic level communication |
Fields of Expertise
industrial design, plastic component design, plastic part, plastic product, plastic product design, plastic product development, product design, new product design, medical device design, patent infringement, patentability evaluation, computer-aided design patent figure, development engineering management, new product development, 3D design, rapid prototyping, commercialization, snap-fit, ideation, design for cost, design for manufacturability, design for assembly, product cost reduction, design for manufacture and assembly, hinge, medical device, human factors engineering