SmallTech Extended Team Profile

Frederick Stawitcke, Ph.D.

Dr. Stawitcke has extensive experience developing early-stage medical device technologies from concept into robust performance and low cost, often with a focus on the control, measurement, movement, and thermal conditioning of gases and liquids.  His technical contributions at HP Labs ranged from development of “smart” respirator and infusion pump designs to non-invasive cardiac blood flow measurement technology.  While there he also served as a project manager and directed the 30-member Medical Department, providing new technologies to HP’s Medical Products Group.  At Agilent Labs he conducted analyses of a MEMS fluidic-optical telecom switch.  While at HealtheTech he led the project to develop a novel optical gas sensor from concept through prototype manufacturing process.

Most recently he worked in the solar energy field at OptiSolar, developing mathematical models and finite element simulations of thin film a-Si solar panels and vacuum chambers for vapor deposition systems; developing custom electrical interconnections and process equipment for their low cost, automated manufacturing including ultrasonic welding and laser ablation.Dr. Stawitcke has been granted 11 patents; and holds an SB in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the MS and PhD degrees from Stanford University.

Specialties:

• Mechanical design, analysis, experimental measurements, and system-level design with extensive experience in the control, movement, and thermal conditioning of gases and liquids.

• Technical analysis and model-based design, including simulations and finite element analyses coupled to experiments.

• Tools included SolidWorks CAD, Mathcad, Matlab, LabView.

• Finite element analysis (FEA) software tools included COMSOL/FEMLAB Multiphysics, COSMOSWorks, FLOW3D, and ABAQUS FEA.

• Extensive knowledge of respiratory and cardiovascular system physiology and medical monitoring device technology.

• Conducting external technology and market surveys and due-diligence reviews for candidate products.

• Management background includes strategic planning, project planning, team leadership, cross-organizational collaboration, and building customer relationships.

Work Experience:

• OptiSolar, Inc.

• NASA Ames Research Center

• HealtheTech, Inc.

• Hewlett-Packard & Agilent Technologies – Corporate Research Labs                                          

Education:

• Ph.D. - Stanford University, Mechanical Engineering.

Dissertation - An Improved Method to Control Ventilators Used for Life Support.

• M.S. - Stanford University, Mechanical Engineering.

• S.B. - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering.

Professional Achievements:

• Charter Member of the Society of Technology for Anesthesia, past Member-at-Large of the Board of Directors (industry representation) and Chairman of the Research Committee.

• 11 US patents held.