Commercializing the echocardioscope: A case study in biomedical technology transfer

The echocardioscope does not meet reasonable criteria for a profitable investment opportunity for most companies. While a demand for the product is a necessary condition for profitability, it is not sufficient. There has to be something at work on the supply side, some significant patent, or an opportunity to achieve a cost advantage based on volume, or something to prevent other companies from being able to produce the same product at the same or a lower cost.