What if the biggest barrier to medical innovation isn’t science, but everything around it? In this episode, veteran R&D leader Kyle Lapin unpacks the hidden friction behind getting orthopedic devices from sketch to surgery. He exposes why most ideas never make it, how red tape quietly kills progress, and why solving the right problem is more radical than inventing the next “big thing.” We move a fictitious product through the development process, highlighting the frequent pitfalls of being first to market, and discuss how packaging failures have led to the bankruptcy of entire companies. This isn't just a technical chat; it’s an inside look at the human, strategic, and systemic challenges that shape what actually reaches patients.