How to Innovate as an Anesthesiologist: Guidance From the American Society of Anesthesiologists Committee on Innovation.

Abstract

While the field of anesthesiology has a storied history of innovation, especially related to patient safety, contemporary anesthesiologists face growing barriers to innovation from complex regulatory requirements and financial constraints. The Biodesign framework offers a systematic approach to medical technology development that can be applied to the perioperative space to address these challenges. This process begins with identification and screening of high-value clinical needs, followed by generation and evaluation of potential solutions, and culminates in strategy development, business planning, and fundraising. Each stage is designed to guide clinicians from early observation through translation into viable technologies. By adopting this structured method, anesthesiologists are well-positioned to transform clinical insights into scalable solutions, ensuring the specialty continues to advance patient safety and care in the face of evolving clinical demands.