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We’re talking about biomedical technicians that are already doing this maintenance, already doing this work.
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Wiens: We’re not talking about just anyone fixing these devices. Wood: Do the manufacturers have a point - they spend years of research and millions of dollars on these devices - do they have a right to protect that intellectual property? We’re better at hosting and sharing collaborative service information than a medical device manufacturer is, so let us do what we do well, and then let them focus on their work. To that extent, we are enabling that competition, but I would hope that the manufacturers see this as a service that we’re providing. Wiens: There’s a tension where the manufacturers don’t want to share the service information because it will enable competition. Wood: Not only are you not monetizing it, is there a chance that you will get in some kind of trouble or get sued over this, considering, like you said, these expensive service contracts that manufacturers would prefer to be selling? They need a central, easy-to-search repository. The biomeds tell me that that’s what they really need. We have information on thousands of devices from hundreds of manufacturers all in one place. It’s been an absolutely huge project - larger than, I think, any one manufacturer could have done. I took close to half of my team off of their normal work for the last couple months to do this. We’re not running advertising, we’re paying for everything out of pocket. This is maybe one of the stupidest business ideas I’ve ever had. Wiens: We have no business model for this. Molly Wood: Is there any benefit to you at iFixit to do this, just out of curiosity? You’re not charging hospitals for access to this? But you have this trend toward more locked-down systems manufacturers have been taking freedom away from hospitals. But the hospitals have highly qualified, highly trained biomedical technicians already on site that can do the work. They would prefer them to be on service contracts and pay very expensive rates. Apple doesn’t want you to fix your iPhone, and Medtronic doesn’t want hospitals to fix their equipment.
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Kyle Wiens: This is part of the broader trend in products where manufacturers have been locking down repairs.
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