Claude Vidal

ViR Engineering
Santa Barbara, CA

Education MBA, University of California, Los Angeles, 1977 MSME, California Institute of Technology, 1969 Engineer's Degree, Ecole Centrale of Paris, France, 1968 Special Awards Member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Management Honorary Society, 1976 Fulbright Scholar, 1968-69 Full Scholarship from Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, Paris, France, 1968-69 Professional Experience ViR ENGINEERING, INC. (http://www.vir-eng.com) - Santa Barbara, California PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER, 1984 to Present. ViR Engineering is a boutique consulting firm exclusively dedicated to developing mechanical medical devices which its principals find challenging on behalf of clients whom they find interesting and whose sizes range from large corporations to start-ups, including virtual companies using ViR as their engineering arm. ViR has developed a wide range of products, from high volume disposables to implants, many for minimally invasive procedures and including several surgical instruments with sophisticated mechanisms. Using state-of-the art designing and prototyping techniques, ViR strives to minimize the lead-time from concept generation to market introduction. Occasionally, Mr. Vidal also serves as expert witness in patent and product liabilities cases. AMERICAN HOSPITAL SUPPLY CORP. (acq'd. by BAXTER 1986) - 1972 to 1984 Heyer-Schulte Division (acq'd. by Mentor 1984) - Santa Barbara, California VICE-PRESIDENT, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, 1980 to 1984 Heyer-Schulte product line was composed of silicone implants for the Neurosurgery, Gastroenterology, Plastic Surgery, Urology, and Oncology markets, as well as the Jackson-Pratt wound drainage devices. Responsible for Business Development, Applied Research, and Product Development, as well as for a Custom and Special Products design and manufacturing department generating annual sales of $1,000,000. Pharmaseal Division - Glendale, California DIRECTOR, NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, 1977 to 1980