Ask HN: What are startups working in field of Bionics and Biomechatronics?

5 points by ak93 10 years ago | 6 comments

I am quite interested in those field as well as interested in working for a startup. I want to know what is the future scope in those fields?

officialchicken 10 years ago |

A lot and not enough. My guess/hope is 40% of south Florida startups? 80% of Minneapolis St. Paul startups? 33% of San Diego startups? Look around those locations and Boston.

I used to do surgical AR. The immediate-now-future is nanodevices, rDNA pharma / gene therapy, and more exotic chemistry. Hardware and software only play a supporting role and smaller role in the final clinically approved therapy. No matter your background all require organic, molecular and various biochemistry or medical skills - probably not as much mechanical engineering as you hope now that CRISPR is here.

ak93 10 years ago | |

But what about more hardware oriented bio support system. BIO+ MECHNICAL/ MECHATRONICS Like prosthesis, bionics arms, artificial limbs etc? The one you mentioned is more on bio and chemistry side which I don't have a long term focus and interest.

officialchicken 10 years ago | | |

I would guess that the ability to grow new limbs and organs in a e.g. a petri dish is the end goal and where a lot of current development efforts are. My feelings are really influenced by a couple of ME's I've worked with with decades experience between them - they want to move towards software or biochem, the writing is on the wall. The only way you can do implements or tools is when you work with the creator of new medical procedures and they need something that doesn't exist - and willing to wait 5-10 years for it to pass FDA approval.

The DoD and VA are doing a lot of amazing work with biomech and limbs, if that's you're interest.

somesaba 10 years ago |

I was thinking about this today. Neuroprosthetics with feedback is the most exciting. The type where people can actually sense touch on the prosthetic limb...but it's probably still in the "research" phase. Any startup trying to do this may need to work with a doctor. You may also need to do surgery to access the nerves...or maybe there's a better way..

I'd love to work on something like this too!

ak93 10 years ago | |

Exactly, neuriprosthetics is one, we also have exoskeleton, soft bionics too.. I think it's a pretty wide and active field to work in.

wprapido 10 years ago |

israeli re:walk is perhaps the biggest player in the exoskeleton field