Lifetime Achievement Award

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David Flinchbaugh

Title: CEO and Founder
Industry: Medical Devices and Systems
Type of Organization: Manufacturing, Product Development, Inventing, Education
Major Product/Service: UroCycler Automatic Bladder Management System; Balloon-less catheters
Expertise: Dr. Flinchbaugh has over 40 years experience with Fortune 500 Companies. He is the Inventor and Pioneer in laser/acousto-optic signal modulators for communications, radar, sonar and large-screen t.v. displays. Dr. Flinchbaugh specializes in medical instrumentation for aiding vision and for prevention purposes.
Geographic Area of Distribution: International
University/Degree: B.S., Union College, Schenectady, New York; M.S.; Ph.D., University of Connecticut, 196; P.E.; E.M.T.
Born: Poughkeepsie, New York
Hobbies/Sports: Swimming, EMT, CPR, First Responder, photography, aviation educator, Eagle Scout, scouting education
Work History: Dr. Flinchbaugh developed a production plan for fabricating semiconductor PNP transistors using indium-doped, controlled diffusion growth junctions in germanium in 1957. From 1956 through 1957, he built a transmission electron microscope and conducted the first magnetic field strength and coercive force measurements of single-domain nanoparticles/crystals of iron grown on a molten metal cathode at Union College. At Argonne National Labs in 1958, he prepared a publication describing measurements of the thermal photo-neutron production contributing to the power generated by the first U.S.A. Nuclear Breeder Reactor. In 1960, his optical pumping measurements led to the first U.S. patent application for a Dual Resonant Cavity Cesium-Ion LASER, preceding all such patent applications or issued patents worldwide, at the United Technologies Research Labs. From 1960 through 1978, Dr. Flinchbaugh was the first person to commercialize the technique of laser AM, FM, polarization and phase modulation as well as for spatial laser beam steering, using the interaction with ultrasonic waves for the technology which he popularized as “Acousto-Optic” laser modulation, for numerous practical applications in communications and large screen displays. In 1980, he designed the first successful, clean, all-electric computer controlled, human interfaced, precision nuclear service robot “Remotely Operated Service Arm” (ROSA) for Westinghouse Electric Corp. which used by Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Semens, and most nuclear electric power generating facilities worldwide. For the past 31 years, Dr. Flinchbaugh has created the first and only known patient-safe automatic bladder management system for patients who must wear an indwelling urinary catheter in order to live. Known as the "UroCycler®," he was issued 7 patents and 4 trademarks to describe and protect its important attributes. This system has been granted 7 U.S.F.D.A. certifications of approval for safe patient use and efficacy.
Honors & Awards: The UroCycler medical system received the highest award from the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation and a monetary grant from their Foundation, The Stevie Award, the daVinci Award for assistive technology, the Governor’s Best New Product Award, the National Society of Professional Engineers best new product award, an R & D 100 Magazine Award, the Medical Design Excellence Gold Award, and the Governor Gilchrist Humanitarian Award among others
Published Works: Invented Cs-Ion laser, 1960; 12 patents; 24 foreign patents; 266 inventions; 125 papers; 7 co-authored books
Career Accomplishments: Dr. Flinchbaugh won a radio amateur hour competition with five performances, was sponsored to play classical piano music on his own short Saturday morning program, and won 9 gold medals for classical music performances. He also composed, copyrighted and performed music and lyrics for church and wedding events in several states and served as a substitute organist for several local churches.