Brandon Johnson will never forget the fear on the face of the patient transported into the MRI department one night with a delicate spinal cord injury. He and other medical staff gathered around the older woman to cautiously hoist her onto the table and place pillows and sponges under her for the required position for the scan. Stakes were high due to her limited mobility and the risk of causing further damage.

“Although we did the best we could with the industry options available at that time, the patient’s critical condition highlighted how outdated and inefficient the methodology was,” said Johnson, then an MRI technologist. “This wasn’t an isolated incident, it happens all the time. But it was the first time I vividly remember walking away thinking there had to be a better way.”

As a result of that night six years ago, Johnson is now focusing all his energy on making his solution to the problem available to patients. It is a groundbreaking MRI patient positioning system he invented called KyphoLift. The device retrofits all existing MRI machines and eliminates the need for manual lifting, reduces re-scans and helps MRI staff work faster, safer and smarter. The early market acceptance of KyphoLift internationally has enabled Johnson to recently switch from working as Radiology Safety and Compliance Officer at the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City to work on KyphoLift full time.

As with most new inventions, the road from brainstorming an idea to bringing it to market was arduous. He ruminated on the problem. He sought advice from trusted mentors like Troy D’ambrosio at the Lassonde Institute and the Technology Transfer Office at the University of Utah with the support of Satoshi Minoshima.

“They were phenomenal,” said the Bountiful father of two. “They guided me along the way and helped me file two provisional patents. At the time, I had no idea what a patent was or any of the other steps necessary and I’m glad I didn’t. I might have been too overwhelmed to proceed.” 

After creating the company, work was started on prototyping and manufacturing of the commercial product by Turner MedTech, an Orem manufacturing company.

“It feels like a miracle I made it through those hurdles,” said Johnson. “They say a typical medical device takes five to seven years to bring to market and $1 to $3 million and I was able to do it for much less, but only because I didn’t know any better or how to quit. Fortunately, the MRI world is hungry for this device and sales indicate its growing success.” 

Johnson encourages others to imagine how they might be the means of improving some process in their work. He places a big emphasis on helping others with their ideas and sharing his. 

“I feel like inventions come from a creative space inside,” Johnson said. “And once you give yourself permission to believe you’re smart and capable of coming up with an idea, your brain will help you. Maintaining good intentions toward others also has a serendipitous effect. I’m not paranoid about others benefitting from my ideas. I think it puts power behind them.”

In addition to flying around the country to demonstrate and teach MRI technologists how to use his device, Johnson has four other patents that he hopes to bring to market.

Being a medical device manufacturer is not his ultimate goal, however.

“My goal is to do as much good as I can,” he said. “It’s not to have five houses and a G-wagon. My ultimate goal is to help other people when needed. Creating medical devices is a means to an end. Of course, I want them to be successful and make a lot of money, but all for a higher good.”