Interaction between anesthesia technology innovators, manufacturers, and purchasers.

Levels of public and private funding for anesthesia services and health research reflect their value to the patient, the payor, and society. Improvements in anesthesia depend heavily on technologic advances. This article presents practical realistic assessment of medical innovation and barriers to its commercialization. Innovation by either academia or industry working in isolation is not possible. Innovation, education, and commercialization are interdependent and contribute to medical progress only when applied as a whole. Subordinating productive relationships between anesthesiologists and industry representatives to concerns of conflict of interest potentially puts diminishes the value of medical services, including anesthesia.