Business
Doctors' punch line: biopsies made easier
■ A South Dakota physician starts a company selling dermal biopsy punches.
By Karen Caffarini — Posted Nov. 3, 2008
Making sidelines pay
Doctors who branched out beyond running their practice tell why they did it, how they did it, and what you should know before you do it.
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Name: Samuel Huot, MD
Specialty: Family medicine
Location: Rapid City, S.D.
Company: Huot Instruments, LLC, currently makes two types of dermal biopsy punches to remove lesions (link).
The Rotary ElliptiPunch has a rotating blade and elliptical shape that can be used for larger lesions.
The Wittenberg VisiPunch, developed by Rapid City dermatologist Greg Wittenberg, MD, is a circular dermal biopsy punch with "windows" in the blade that makes it easier for the clinician to see the lesion being removed. Other dermatology-related products are planned.
The products are made at a factory in Milwaukee that employs about 15 people.
Annual revenue: Less than $5 million.
Why he started the business: "Although I'm a family physician, I do a lot of biopsies. I thought an elliptical shaped punch would make it easier to remove larger lesions," Dr. Huot said.
Dr. Wittenberg, an associate of Dr. Huot's, came up with the idea of putting windows on the side of a punch. They thought their ideas were sound, and brought them to two local engineers. "We had the vision. The engineers had the ability to take our ideas and turn them into products," Dr. Huot said. "It was serendipity that we all happened to be in the same community."
The company has U.S. and international patents on both products, Dr. Huot said.
Why he continues to practice: "This is just a sideline. I don't see myself as an inventor. I've always seen myself as a doctor and always will."
Words of wisdom: "If you have an idea that you think is a good one, bring it to people with business and engineering skills who can help you. There is always someone in your community -- whether it's big or small -- with this expertise."
