Episode 90 | Miniature Robotics in Medicine | Torrey Smith
In this episode, I spoke with Torrey Smith, co-founder of Endiatx, creators of Pillbot, a tiny robotic pill you swallow that swims around your stomach to perform medical exams without sedation or hospital visits. Torrey started his career in aerospace engineering but moved into medical tech after losing a family member to cancer.
We talked about:
- How Pillbot could replace traditional endoscopies with a simpler at-home option
- Challenges Torrey faced miniaturizing the robot and navigating FDA regulations
- Lessons learned from working at multiple medtech startups before founding Endiatx
- Advice for medtech founders looking to innovate in a regulated space
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Machine Minds Show Introduction
04:19 Med Device Start-up Scene
11:06 Being exposed to people constantly saying like what’s your next startup
19:36 Leave the employee mantra behind
28:07 Started with big prototypes
38:03 Lab the vast majority of patients
45:08 Tiny robots in the brain
49:14 New products and commercial viability etc
Where to Find the Guest:
Connect Torrey Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torreypsmith/
Connect Endiatx on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/endiatxinc/
Company Website: https://www.endiatx.com/
Machine Minds:
Samson Rose: https://samsonrose.com/
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/machine-minds/id1697983733
Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0
Let’s Connect on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/machinemindsshow/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtoroosian/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/machinemindsshow/