Jay Martin

Vice President of Research & Development
Martin Bionics 

The Greek philosopher Plato stated, "Necessity is the mother of invention." Jay Martin recognized the intense need for prosthetics that would easily mimic the human body while working with patients at the Scott Sabolich Prosthetics and Research Center. In 2002, that need became the launching pad for Martin Bionics. Martin, an Oklahoma native who received degrees from the University of Southern California and Northwestern University, returned to Oklahoma after graduation with a passion for seeing significant advancement in the field of prosthetics.

Martin Bionics is considered a leading prosthetics research and development company that specializes in advanced technology designed to mimic the human body. The company's relationship with Scott Sabolich Prosthetics and Research Center allows Martin Bionics to couple advanced innovation with clinical practice. The clinical setting provides an environment where advanced solutions can be created using cutting-edge technology with real-world feedback.

Please describe your company's mission and goals.

Our ultimate goal is to give 100 percent functionality back to an amputee by innovation in next generation prosthetics. A component of our mission and goals is the ability to envision what prosthetics should look like 15 years from now and create those prosthetics in two to three years. We are working toward neural integration allowing the amputee to "feel" again with their prosthetic along with replicating biomechanical movements in all conditions - essentially, artificial intelligence for a prosthetic limb.

Where did the idea for your company originate?

I was working with Scott Sabolich on a clinical basis fitting patients with prosthetics. Scott Sabolich focuses on outstanding clinical care with as many patients coming from not only Oklahoma, but from all over the country. This gave me a strong perspective about the patients needs and proved conventional technology wasn't benefiting the patient in comfort and movement. I started to think about ways to bridge the gap between the actual prosthetic and how the body moves and how patients could experience a higher quality of life by becoming more mobile in their movements and comfortable in their fit.

What made you decide to start your own company?

First, I incorporated the vision I had for advancement in the field of prosthetics with designs I modeled while working on individual patient cases in a clinical setting. As Martin Bionics, we submitted grant requests and filed patents to establish the business infrastructure allowing us to fund research in modeling the human body through the creation of next generation prosthetics. The company began to thrive in a short amount of time. Our close symbiotic relationship with Scott Sabolich has provided the excellent clinical setting that allows innovation on a daily basis while Martin Bionics is able to work on large-scale projects which will eventually impact thousands of patients lives through advancement in prosthetics.

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur?

Live with vision and take risks. If you have a clear vision and are willing to step out and take the risk because you believe in your vision, then being fearful, unconventional, and uncomfortable will not stop you.

What makes the Greater OKC area a good place to start and grow a business?

The great thing about Oklahoma City is it is large enough to support and promote new business, but is "small" enough to give entrepreneurs an invaluable network of scientific and business professionals that come along side of you and encourage you and support you. Many have unknowingly mentored me the past several years. It is an outstanding community. The support of OCAST with funding was also a vital component of early success and pursuits.

What do you find personally rewarding about being an entrepreneur and growing your own company?

I enjoy the challenge of giving life back to people on a practical basis by developing the next generation of prosthetics. The task has been much more difficult than I could've imagined, but it is what drives Martin Bionics.

What is your... "If I'd only know then what I know now...?"

Replicating the movement of the human body through prosthetics is a lot more difficult than I previously envisioned. Along the way we have had a lot of "learning opportunities" that have improved our prosthetics and allowed us to create designs that are better. Some call it those "opportunities" mistakes, but they were all experiences that have made the company better.

What are some of the challenges that keep you awake at night?

Being tasked with creating something that people's lives depend on and the fact that there is so much opportunity for innovation in prosthetics definitely keeps me awake at night. Questions surrounding improved ways to mimic the human body are constantly running through my mind. We have also recently been asked by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is part of the United States Department of Defense, to help develop an upper extremity prosthetic that will be much more similar to the neural control of the real arm - to the point where an individual can play the piano or guitar. Many would say "it is not possible," but in the areas of technology DARPA specializes in making the impossible, possible. It is a great affirmation for Martin Bionics to be part of this project, but it also gives me a lot more to think about.

How has your position/responsibilities changed within the company?

I have maintained the position of an innovator - actually coming up with the new designs, steering the development efforts, and casting vision for our goals to accomplish. However, as my company has had opportunity to grow, I have been able to strengthen other crucial elements of the company, such as business development and engineering staff (electrical, software, and mechanical engineers) by bringing on leaders in their respected fields. Developing these types of advanced prosthetics takes a team of highly skilled experts in various fields, not just one person. Prosthetics of yesterday were largely mechanical based, or included simple electronics, but prosthetics of tomorrow involve a highly complex network of artificial intelligent control systems interacting with mechanical assemblies which are monitored by electronics and in return complete the internal sensory feedback loop or communicate with the body. I have hand-selected a solid team to accomplish such a difficult task.

How did you initially finance your company?

Through funding from OCAST grants and personal investment. If your vision is clear, part of the risk is putting your own money in the company to get it off the ground.

What are you most proud of?

The numerous times I have seen the result of innovation of our prosthetics by watching patients reactions and emotions when they walk again or do other things they haven't been able to do. One patient in particular stands out who had a type of hip level amputation that had made it difficult for him to have a working prosthesis so he was dependent on crutches for 18 years. When his shoulders had given out, he came back to see if there was something else that could be done. With the new systems that had been developed it was rewarding to watch him throw the crutches down and walk for the first time in 18 years. That is the importance of having a company that takes the innovation off the lab bench and have an immediate and significant impact in people's lives in the field.