True, I am simpifying the issue. But medical device manufacturers should still be happy to take on new risks. See this article, even though it's an editorial:

True, I am simpifying the issue. But medical device manufacturers should still be happy to take on new risks. See this article, even though it's an editorial: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/17/opinion/the-myth-of-the-medical-device-tax.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/17/opinion/the-myth-of-the-me... It may be that existing products can simply be iteratively 'improved' and that doesn't cost much on the R&D side and is far less risky. I suppose market forces would favor the corporations that are protecting their existing revenue streams, at least in the short term. I would approach your university's IP office to discuss possibly funding the product. That's how large institutions do it. If you are in the private sector, then unfortunately it's up to you to 'sell' the idea to somebody. Maybe you could find some ventures capitalists who also 'coincidentally' happen to be diabetics?