‘Think tank’ to be opened in former school
A think tank for medical professionals and researchers with ideas for “simple,” but not-yet-invented, medical devices that will be manufactured in Fayette County is opening in the former Durbin School in Bullskin Township. Officials of the Walnut Hill Medical Trust will announce their plans today at the former school.
“We create ideas,” said Patrick McArdle, the trust’s principal investigator who said he’s already developed 16 product ideas. “Simple stuff, really simple stuff made of things that already exist.”
He said 20 doctors and researchers will use the facility to “talk and think” about products for hospitals and ambulances.
“It’s just a place for us to gather,” McArdle said, adding the trust will then contact local manufacturers about producing the devices.
Retired Dr. Joann Andiorio, a former president and chief executive officer of Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, is CEO of the trust. She will talk about the trust’s plans at today’s 10 a.m. press conference.
McArdle, a former cardio vascular perfusionist for Pittsburgh hospitals, said ideas could also come from anyone working in the medical field and they would retain majority ownership of the product without any financial investment.
The trust would develop the product and seek out a local company to manufacture the product at no cost to the person who dreamed it up, he said.
He said 24 ideas are waiting for to be turned into working devices.
“We’re ready now,” McArdle said. “We’re so ready it’s unbelievable.”
He described simple products as those made of “plastic and wire.” Two of the products are a wireless monitoring devices and a non-clogging infant brain shunt.
If all goes well with these “simple” products, the trust plans to move into more complicated equipment. That might require outside specialists to start and monitor manufacturing, McArdle said.
He said the trust selected the old Durbin School after finding property suitable for a think tank environment in Allegheny County too expensive.
Fayette County’s low taxes and need for jobs attracted the trust, he said.
The trust might rent out the huge school building, which features elaborate woodwork and sits on a 35-acre lot with an iron gate in front, for wedding receptions and business conferences on weekends, McArdle said. The trust plans to use it on weekdays.