Novel Medical Device Designed by 'The Dead'Novel Medical Device Designed by 'The Dead'

Demonstrating that a good idea can come from unlikely sources, a keyboardist, a roadie, and a real estate developer have developed a medical device that alleviates discomfort often associated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatments for sleep apnea. The interesting story of how Jeff Chimenti, a keyboard player for various bands alongside the remaining members of the Grateful Dead, along with roadie friend A.J. Santella and real estate developer Billy Procida, created a simple solution for CPAP masks is detailed in a fascinating little piece on Forbes.com.

Back in 2007, Chimenti's mother experienced extreme discomfort and cuts from the  mask she wore at night to receive CPAP treatment for sleep apnea. Frustrated at seeing his mother suffer, Chimenti sought a material to act as a buffer between the mask and his mother's face. Consulting Santella, the band's instrument technician, Chimenti explained that he needed a material that would adhere to the skin without a friction-causing adhesive. After only 30 minutes, Santella suggested the use of a gel material employed for vibration dampening on drum heads. 

Upon seeing positive results with Chimenti's mother, Chimenti and Santella brought in Procida and quickly moved forward with the device design. "In under a year, it went from an idea to an FDA-approved product," Chimenti told Forbes. "The aim wasn't to start a business, it was just to help my mom. But when we saw it was working, we figured we ought to give it a shot." The inventors sold the idea to ResMed in 2010, which named the product Gecko.

This is a great success story for several reasons. First of all: How often does medical device development intersect with the entertainment industry and, more specifically, iconic rock bands? Not too often. But more importantly, Chimenti and his partners show how concepts for great medical device design can really come from anywhere. After all, being personally affected by a medical issue is a great motivator to find solutions to existing problems. And because these men were not materials scientists or design engineers, they also had a fresh perspective to offer and were not constrained by common engineering materials. Instead, they came up with an unlikely medical material in the form of a material used on drums, ultimately applying what they knew to the medical device industry. 

In the end, this product may not exactly change the world. But it can alleviate discomfort for the millions of patients that may be experiencing mask discomfort. And that's likely music to these patients' ears, at least. --Shana Leonard