Nasif Bin Saif - MandiGrip
What is your idea, and when did it start?
Our idea is MandiGrip, a novel concept for a surgical tool that we believe will revolutionize minimally invasive surgery. It's designed to be a sustainable, bio-inspired, and multifunctional laparoscopic toolhead. The core of the idea is to move away from the current standard of using multiple single-function instruments during surgery.
The concept really began to take shape during my doctoral research at London South Bank University's Mechanical Intelligence (MI) Research Group. Working with Stag beetles and their combat behaviour, made me ask, “if their design is so good for combat manoeuvres, why not see if they can be used for surgery?”. Since then, me and my colleague Zelin Wang, alongside our research group has been working tirelessly to turn this into a reality.
What was the inspiration behind your idea?
My inspiration comes directly from the natural world, specifically the incredible mechanics of a stag beetle's mandibles. I was fascinated by how these creatures can achieve such a powerful grip and perform a variety of complex manipulations with a single, elegant tool.
This sparked the thought: why can't we apply these highly evolved principles to surgery? I saw the potential to create a single, versatile instrument that mimics the efficiency and functionality of the stag beetle's mandibles, but for the operating theatre. It's a clear case of bio-inspiration – learning from nature to solve complex human problems.
Share the problem or need you are looking to address and how your business meets this need.
The problem I'm looking to address is a significant inefficiency in modern laparoscopic surgery. Surgeons currently have to use a whole array of single-function instruments for different tasks like grasping, cutting, and suturing. Constantly swapping these tools during an operation takes up valuable time, which can increase the risk of complications for the patient and drive up healthcare costs.
MandiGrip is our solution. It's a multifunctional toolhead designed to perform several of these tasks with a single instrument. My value proposition is that MandiGrip will make surgeries:
- Faster: By cutting down on the time spent changing instruments.
- Safer: By streamlining the surgical process and reducing the potential for errors associated with multiple instrument exchanges.
- More cost-effective: By replacing the need for numerous disposable tools with one durable, reusable instrument, which will lead to significant savings for hospitals.
My primary customers are surgeons and healthcare providers who are looking for innovative ways to improve surgical outcomes and manage their operational budgets more effectively.
What are your plans for the future? Or, what support would be most beneficial for your business next?
As we're in the early stages, our plans for the future are focused on development and validation. Our immediate steps include:
- Developing a functional prototype: We need to work on a clinically tested prototype that we can begin testing rigorously.
- Securing further funding: The prize from the South Bank Ignite competition has been a fantastic start, but we will need more investment to fund our research and development, and to navigate the stringent regulatory approvals for medical devices.
- Building our business case and networking: We are focused on developing a comprehensive business plan to attract the right partners and investors.
The most beneficial support for us right now would be to forge strategic partnerships with medical device manufacturers and experienced surgical professionals. Their expertise would be invaluable in refining the design of MandiGrip and helping us navigate the complex journey to bring it to market.
How has LSBU supported you in your entrepreneurial journey?
London South Bank University has been absolutely instrumental in my entrepreneurial journey. MandiGrip was born out of the incredible research environment at the university's Mechanical Intelligence (MI) Research Group, which is led by Dr. Hamed Rajabi. This group really encourages a culture of innovation and exploring solutions inspired by the natural world.
The support from LSBU's enterprise team has also been phenomenal. Winning the South Bank Ignite competition twice was a major turning point, providing us with not just prize money, but also a huge boost in confidence and visibility. The university’s programs have given us a platform to showcase our idea and have provided us with invaluable mentorship. The wider support network for student startups at LSBU, including access to workshops and guidance on commercialization, has given us the foundation and the tools we need to move forward with our vision for MandiGrip. We wouldn't be at this exciting stage without them.
Learn more about MandiGrip and Nasif's entrepreneurial story online at nasifbinsaif.com and hamedrajabi.com.
