(Tuesday morning, 16 October 2018)

"Off we go?"
"Are you recording all this?"
"Then I have to be careful what I say."
"Wait a minute, press pause, I have to turn off my cell phone."

The MIETHKE developers Robert and Christian are sitting relaxed across from me, waiting for me to ask the first question for our very first official interview. We've never done anything like this before. But why not take a look behind the scenes and ask the developers themselves what makes them move when spending months on working on ideas, refining processes, experiencing setbacks or encountering resistance that might have nothing to do with development? Both have their office right next to mine, and I can't remember any loud swearing from next door in all those months. Why not? Was it not there? Or do they swear quietly? I'll find out.

I still remember an e-mail you sent in spring... it said, when the M.blueis finished, there will be celebrations... Isn't it finished or did the party take place without me?

Robert laughs: "Yeah, depending on how we look at it. It's already developed, and also approved, but our work isn't quite finished yet. But we're still celebrating and then you’ll get an invitation."

Christian: "We are now working at full speed on delivering the first valves so that our new valve can also prove itself in the clinical routine. That means: series production. We are also responsible for ensuring that such a development is smoothly transferred into the series production. As soon as the packages with the first orders have left the company, an essential part of the project is completed. And then the party can begin."

Christian Gleumes started as an intern at MIETHKE in 2010. He stayed as a working student and later wrote his master's thesis here at MIETHKE. Today, he is Deputy Development Manager and Head of PMO.

Robert Bialas has been a development engineer and project manager with us since 2014.

When did the idea of developing the M.blue come up for the first time? Or was it rather a “must” to come up with a new and progressive idea?

Christian: "Already when we developed the proGAV 2.0 in 2012/2013, it became clear to us that the M.blue would have to come. Even more: that in the end it would be the more important valve."

Robert: "Yes, a real aha moment for us."

Why?

Robert: "The decisive factor was the idea that our proSA is actually the more innovative and for the patient himself the much more important valve, since it is the only valve in the world that allows the opening pressure to be adjusted for the upright position. Eventually, this is the body position in which you are much more dynamic, in which more happens - differently for everyone - and in which the need or even the necessity for individual adjustability is therefore much higher. Overdrainage is a danger which - already physically justified – particularly occurs in the upright position of the body. The proSA was good and followed absolutely the right basic idea, but with all the improvements that we were about to integrate into the proGAV 2.0, it became increasingly clear to us that these innovations could result in an even better adjustable gravitational valve. - And out of these thoughts a real project was born".

Who actually had the idea for the M.blue?

Robert: "80 out of 100 ideas come from our CEO... But in this case it was actually almost a collective brainwave."

Christian: "The decision to integrate a differential pressure unit in addition to the adjustable gravitational unit was essential. This turned a proSA with proGAV 2.0 features into an independent valve concept. The best of both worlds, so to speak, which we then further refined. This applies to the M.blue as well as to the associated M.blue plus Instruments..."

Is it important among developers, WHO had the brilliant idea?

Christian: "Absolutely. We deliver a real battle and keep a tally and the winner gets some new potholders at the end of the year. Haha, no, seriously: it's important, but if you're having this conversation with both of us now, we're representing the whole team that contributed to the development."

Robert: "Everything we do here is always a joint effort. Interdisciplinarity and a change of perspective are key - and it actually always takes time: to put together the right team, to let ideas grow, to test them, to discard them and to take them up again, to make no mistakes and ultimately also for the documentation, which is necessary and complex. This was also the case with the M.blue. As with other projects, the direct line to the doctors helped us a lot during the development. We have often sought the dialogue with neurosurgeons - at congresses or also during visits here in our house. Requirements, wishes and feedback on individual development steps have been incorporated directly into the product. That is always important for us and our work!

What is so special about M.bluefor you?

Christian: "On the one hand it's the fact that all the good ideas of the other valves and the associated measuring and adjustment instruments were combined and then refined even further. On the other hand, an enormous transfer of knowledge took place in this project. This means that we also looked at the entire production chain of the valve and the instruments and brought steps that had previously been carried out by external partners into our company. Even though this procedure was time-consuming, it was worth it: not only in terms of know-how, but also in terms of quality."

Were there moments when you just couldn't get any further? And are these rather gaps in finding ideas, such as a writer's block or everyday hurdles like stubborn suppliers or difficult regulations?

Christian: "Of course we had those moments. Everything else would be fibbed. When we started developing the M.blue, we had so many parallel projects that we couldn't focus on them. This is why we started off by not getting anywhere. Yet that wasn't due to the lack of ideas. It was more like we had too many of them."

And he cannot help but grinning. That is almost everyday life here for us. "The project really got going when we managed to focus on the – at the time still nameless – M.blue."

Robert: "That's true. I remember another such moment. When I presented my first thoughts about the new instruments at the very beginning and told them about my idea of integrating a float - similar to the one that is built into the instrument today - I couldn't really get our boss enthusiastic about it. But then I ignored the alternative ideas and simply tried the float/swimmer. And it worked. Actually really good. With small adjustments, it is now an essential part of the compass."

How do I have to imagine the procedure of such a development process?

Christian: "In the beginning there is the idea, then we go into feasibility and are able to check whether the idea can work at all. Once that's clear, the official development process begins and so does the documentation obligation. From now on every step is documented, checked and secured several times. However, preparation for approval not only includes a functioning product but also proof that the manufacturing processes all function reliably. This means that we developers are also responsible for transferring the development to production and documenting it accordingly. We do this in close cooperation with quality management and production. Only then the file will go into approval as a large joint effort of many departments."

So how long did it take from the idea for the M.blue to today?

Christian: "About three years."

Is that fast or slow?

Robert: "That's good."

What was your most uplifting moment in all this time?

Robert: "Two things: the good feedback from the doctors last year at the first official presentation of the M.blue with the instruments and - much longer ago - an appreciative remark by Christoph (editor's note: our CEO) about the float/swimmer in the compass."

Christian: "Right, I can still remember that. One of the best moments for me wasn't too long ago and it's a bit following. In summer, a hydrocephalus patient who has our products implanted, did an internship in our Research & Development department. Of course, she also came into contact with the M.blue and the M.blue plus Instruments - and was totally thrilled. She even did a usability test with some colleagues, which she planned and carried out herself. To see her intuitively handling of the instruments, her enthusiasm and of course the faultless function - that was really impressing."

Why is the M.blue blue?

Christian laughs: "... because somebody thought we should try something with color."

Robert: "... we colored it gold just for fun. Christoph and our product management thought it was cool. But you guys from marketing department weren’t convinced. And somehow you won through in the end..."

Christian: "We just tried a few things. In the end, it was blue and therefore completely in the MIETHKE dress."

So that's just the result of random attempts?

Christian: "No, not really. But trying it out was fun."

Robert: "Blue means something to us: it stands for harmony, trust, ... blue is also often the associated color for water and that's what it's all about. It's about brain water and about a valve that you can rely on and that accompanies you confidently for a long time, even beyond growth and changing life circumstances. Blue simply suits this valve and us."

That's actually a nice ending. But one more thing interests me: Why have I never heard you swear? You always seem balanced - how do you manage that?

Robert: "That may sound flat now, but we're just having fun at doing our job. Of course we are also in a bad mood sometimes and of course there are setbacks. But that's part of the job as well as it is in life. The basis has to be right - and it does absolutely... and with Christian and you and the others anyway."

Christian: "I couldn't have said it better. Maybe it's because we've been sitting in an office for so long? The job is fun and we give people the opportunity to have a largely normal life again with our products. This gives meaning and motivates enormously. In addition, we have nice nice colleagues... and also good coffee. There's hardly any reason to swear. Well, and maybe it just isn't our way either... Maybe we swear quietly to ourselves…sometimes, but rarely".

You’ve got a point there. Finally, will you tell me what your next project is?

Christian: "That's still a secret."

The interview was conducted by Josefine Kehl, projectmanager marketing at MIETHKE.