| Taking an idea or invention from a concept through to production is an immense task, even if the product already exists in some form. A well known example of the difficulties involved are reflected in the experience of James Dyson in his autobiography “Against the Odds”. Even though the vacuum cleaner had already been invented and could be found in various forms on any high street, it still took Dyson over 5 years of development and 5,127 prototypes to bring his product to market. In fact, the vast sums of money spent on protecting his ideas with patents that almost left him bankrupt. Dyson also found little support for his ideas in the UK and was forced to go overseas to Japan so that his product could be realised.
There are many similarities between the development of the Dyson Vacuum Cleaner and the Agatha Oral Hygiene System (AOHS). Highlighted are some of the key differences, explaining why it has taken so long for the AOHS to be developed.
- Unlike the Vacuum Cleaner that has, in principle, been around for decades there is no previous oral device that allows for fluid-feed and suction at the same time. As a result, all development regarding the AOHS is complex, pioneering and without any previous benchmarks or guidelines to follow.
- The target consumer for the AOHS is primarily hospitalised patients unlike the vacuum cleaner whose consumer is the general public. The need for our product to be completely safe before it is released can not be overstated and is more crucial to our success.
- The primary users of the AOHS are healthcare professionals. Over the years the product has undergone many design changes most of which are a direct result of consultations with medical professionals. The product is now completely different both in its design and in the way it operates compared to the prototype shown to investors in 1999.
- Clinical trials have also given us more information about the way in which the product will be used in a work setting. This has led to improvements that will lead to greater efficiency and ease of use for health professionals as well as meeting their high standards of performance.
All the changes that have created a product that is tested and ready for market must be underpinned with patents not just for the UK but for all the developed countries in the world.
There are currently 5 different types of patents surrounding the AOHS that have been added as better process and manufacturing methods become apparent. They help not only to extend the timescale of the protection provided, but also to increase the strength of the patents making them more difficult to be attacked by competitors.
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