They Had a Better Option for Kids’ Hearts. It Wasn’t Profitable Enough.

What if a better option for kids with congenital heart disease exists—but there isn’t enough money in it?Alan O’Donnell returns to The Device Girls to take us inside the world of pediatric heart surgery and the hand-built conduits being used to replace pulmonary valves. He breaks down how these devices are built in the OR, why some children may face multiple major surgeries as they grow, and the expandable conduit he’s developing with the hope of eliminating at least one of those operations.The conversation also gets into the uncomfortable economics of medical innovation. Alan shares why one promising manufactured conduit was reportedly discontinued despite good early results, the cost difference between hand-built and commercially available options, and how profitability, insurance, and access can influence which technologies actually reach patients.Plus, Alan shares why he built hundreds of conduits in his basement to perfect his technique, what it takes to earn a surgeon’s trust, and his goal of making this technology more accessible around the world—especially in places where children still lack access to pulmonary valve replacement.This is a conversation about innovation, access, money, and one question that’s hard to ignore: when better patient care is possible, what happens when the business case isn’t there?Don’t forget to subscribe! We drop new episodes every Thursday @3:00pm CST with inspiring stories, expert advice, and real talk designed to elevate women in medicine. ***Views Expressed Are Our Own***Connect with us:Instagram: @sarahekruse @haleygibssonfit #WomenInMedicine #MedicalSales #TheDeviceGirls