A Moment of Inspiration

A wonderful piece on Inc.com highlights how a moment of inspiration — extracting a cork from a wine bottle — resulted in The Innovation Story of the Year — a new way to safely extract babies stuck in the birth canal. Also reported in the New York Times last month, the story of Argentine car mechanic

Phil McKinney

6 Jan 2014 — 2 min read

A wonderful piece on Inc.com highlights how a moment of inspiration — extracting a cork from a wine bottle — resulted in The Innovation Story of the Year — a new way to safely extract babies stuck in the birth canal. Also reported in the New York Times last month, the story of Argentine car mechanic Jorge Odón illustrates the unpredictable nature of innovation.

The Moment of Inspiration

After viewing a YouTube video about removing a cork from a wine bottle, Odón says his subconscious made the jump to the birthing process. He built the first prototype in his kitchen, using a glass jar for a womb, his daughter’s doll for the trapped baby, and a fabric bag and sleeve sewn by his wife as his lifesaving device. The bag was inserted into the bottle, inflated around the doll's head, and then both items were pulled out of the bottle.

Innovation does not belong to R&D, it belongs to innovators who get inspired and then invent a new product.

Phil McKinney

With some refinements, the current Odón Device features a plastic bag inside a lubricated plastic sleeve that is placed around the head of the baby, inflated until it grips the head, and pulled until the baby emerges. The device has the full support of Dr. Mario Merialdi, the World Health Organization's (WHO) chief coordinator for improving maternal and perinatal health.

Many companies invest heavily in research & development laboratories, hoping to innovate products like the one created by Odón. But as Dr. Merialdi succinctly put it:

“This problem needed someone like Jorge. An obstetrician would have tried to improve the forceps or the vacuum extractor, but obstructed labor needed a mechanic. And 10 years ago, this would not have been possible. Without YouTube, he never would have seen the video.”

Innovation does not just belong to R & D, it belongs to innovators around the world who get inspired by what they see, such as a YouTube video, and then dream a new product.

For me personally, asking the right questions has been the tool I use to find inspiration. If you want to learn why and how this works, then download this PDF.

Blog design How To find inspiration innovation story innovation story of 2013 inspiration inspired moment of inspiration Odón prototype

Phil McKinney Twitter

Phil McKinney is an innovator, podcaster, author, and speaker. He is the retired CTO of HP. Phil's book, Beyond The Obvious, shares his expertise and lessons learned on innovation and creativity.

Comments

Leadership Beyond Position and Title

Imagine wielding the power to influence the world, not from a grand podium, but through everyday actions that spark change. Leadership isn't confined to the corner office—it flourishes in the heart of those who dare to inspire. You hold that power. The question is, will you step forward and lead?

28 May 2023

Paid Members Public

There Is No Such Thing As A New Idea, And That's Ok.

It's time to think differently about what is a new original idea. Instead of creating something entirely from scratch, focus on finding fresh connections between existing ideas. By combining pre-existing elements in innovative ways, you can create something unique that has never been seen before!

9 May 2023

Paid Members Public

The Punctuality Paradox: The Ethics of Time

Time is our most valuable resource, yet it is finite and fleeting. It cannot be saved, paused, or rewound. It is constantly moving forward, regardless of how we use it. Therefore, we must use our time wisely and purposefully to make the most of every moment.