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Whatever works: Uncertainty and technological hybrids in medical innovation

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  • Barberá-Tomás, David
  • Consoli, Davide

Abstract

The persistent uncertainty that looms over the search for solutions to health problems offers important conceptual insights for the study of technological change. This paper explores the notion of hybridization, namely the embodiment of multiple competing operational principles within a single medical device, as strategy to deal with the practical shortcomings due to said uncertainty. The history of the development of the hybrid artificial disc affords the elaboration of an alternative view of hybridization and, at the same time, the articulation of a dualism between medical science as area of basic research (e.g. what disease is) and as practical knowledge (e.g. how disease can be tackled).

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  • Barberá-Tomás, David & Consoli, Davide, 2012. "Whatever works: Uncertainty and technological hybrids in medical innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 79(5), pages 932-948.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:79:y:2012:i:5:p:932-948
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2011.12.009
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    Cited by:

    1. Gagliardi, Dimitri & Ramlogan, Ronnie & Navarra, Pierluigi & Dello Russo, Cinzia, 2018. "Diffusion of complementary evolving pharmaceutical innovations: The case of Abacavir and its pharmacogenetic companion diagnostic in Italy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 223-233.
    2. Ronnie Ramlogan & Davide Consoli, 2014. "Dynamics of collaborative research medicine: the case of glaucoma," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 39(4), pages 544-566, August.
    3. Kafka, Kyriaki I. & Kostis, Pantelis C., 2024. "Unravelling the innovation puzzle: The interplay between uncertainty, economic institutions, and innovation performance in advanced and developing economies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    4. Ávila-Robinson, Alfonso & Islam, Nazrul & Sengoku, Shintaro, 2019. "Co-evolutionary and systemic study on the evolution of emerging stem cell-based therapies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 324-339.
    5. Blandinieres, Florence, 2019. "Anatomy of the medical innovation process: What are the consequences of replicability issues on innovation?," ZEW Discussion Papers 19-011, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    6. Ivlev, Ilya & Vacek, Jakub & Kneppo, Peter, 2015. "Multi-criteria decision analysis for supporting the selection of medical devices under uncertainty," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 247(1), pages 216-228.
    7. Thune, Taran & Mina, Andrea, 2016. "Hospitals as innovators in the health-care system: A literature review and research agenda," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(8), pages 1545-1557.

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