Empathy-Driven Engineering: How I Invented Arthritis Relief Gloves - Téa Phillips

How does a mechanical engineer create medical gloves that help thousands? Thea Phillips, founder of ATS Innovation, shares her journey from university competition to FDA-approved product with Metaflex gloves.

Key takeaways:

- The "Five Whys" method that revealed why arthritis patients skip exercises

- Why diverse teams (engineers + nurses) create better healthcare solutions

- How she navigated FDA approval without expensive consultants

- The emotional moment that made her quit her engineering job to launch

For engineers who want to turn class projects into real-world solutions.

Connect With Thea Phillips:

Website: https://metaflexglove.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsphillips

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Thea Phillips and Metaflex Gloves

02:45 The Journey to Mechanical Engineering

04:41 Collaboration Across Disciplines

07:35 The Five Whys of Problem Solving

11:21 Engineering School's Impact on Business

15:03 Learning from Nursing Students

16:54 Functionality and Specifications of Metaflex

20:04 The Inspiration Behind Metaflex

25:10 Evolution of Metaflex Design

27:35 Celebrating Innovation and Future Releases

28:37 Balancing Emotion and Technical Problem-Solving

31:10 Empathy in Design and Overcoming Challenges

34:26 Navigating FDA Approval and Manufacturing Challenges

40:37 Pitching to Investors: Selling Yourself

47:38 Resilience: The Key to Success

48:53 Turning Ideas into Products: Customer Interviews

50:08 Innovation in Healthcare: Making Lives Better

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