Your best bet is to apply for SBIR's or STTR's from the NIH to develop
a prototype (unless you already have one, but you can still apply if
you have a good enough idea). If you want to start a business, you'll
need to hire (or convince to work for free) some Mechanical and
Electrical engineers (if you don't think you can make it yourself), as
well as some computer scientisits (or one of each may do, depending on
how ocmplex the device is).
If you want to turn this into a business, then you'll need to
incorporate, deal with a lot of legal issues, find funding, etc. If
you just want to license it to a company, then you'll have to come up
with a good reason why the potential company should buy it (i.e., it
will increase their sales by $X a year and it fits in well with their
portfolio of products).
Either route you go, you are going to need to get a patent on this
idea (if you already haven't). If you don't, a large company could
simply steal the idea, and if you try to sue, they'll likely destroy
you with their massive legal department. And if you, incorporate and
start a business, the same deal goes. Also, if you try to raise money
for the company, a patent also makes your company look a lot better.
Also, you're going to need a functioning prototype. If you sell off
to a company, they'll want to know that your idea actually works.
Also, it will be worth more if they already have a function version,
its less work that they have to do. Same thing with starting a
company, its always a good idea if you have a working prototype to
show investors, to show that you're not just a pipe dream.
So, it looks like you should be looking for some engineers who are
willing to build a working prototype, and a lawyer who will be able to
file your patent (unless you feel confident doing these by yourself).
Hope this helps. |
