For nearly four decades, Albert K. Chin, MD, has worked to build a bridge between mechanical engineering and medicine. He has combined his medical experience with his rigorous engineering background, spending his career creating functional, real-world devices that tackle some of the most challenging problems in cardiovascular and general surgery.
Early Education and Transition to Medical Technology
Dr. Chin’s journey began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1975. He followed that up with a Master of Science in mechanical engineering in 1976 from Stanford University.
However, driven by a desire to apply his engineering education to human health, Dr. Chin pursued coursework in human biology at Stanford before earning a Doctor of Medicine from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine in 1983. He later participated in a surgical residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital in 1985 at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
From 1978 to 1989, Dr. Chin conducted cardiovascular research alongside Dr. Thomas J. Fogarty. During that time, he realized the potential of medical device design and shifted his focus from surgery to medical technology, where he aimed to engineer medical tools that could benefit millions of patients.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Years
In 1989, Dr. Chin co-founded Origin Medsystems Inc. It launched his career, which would be spent building and guiding a host of innovative healthcare ventures. From 1994 to 2009, he served as vice president of research at Guidant Cardiac Surgery, chief innovation officer at Boston Scientific Cardiac Surgery and chief innovation officer at Maquet Cardiovascular.
Ultimately, Dr. Chin’s passion for turning medical needs into practical technology led him to co-found numerous startups. Today, he continues his inventive work as co-founder and chief innovation officer at PercAssist Inc., FemDx Medsystems Inc. and Orare Medsystems Inc. To date, his work has resulted in 243 U.S. patents.
Recent Projects and Publications
At PercAssist, Dr. Chin continues to actively develop technologies for direct cardiac compression (DCC), an important heart support system for patients in advanced heart failure. His work in the field led him to author a textbook chapter on ECMO technology, published in March 2026.
Additionally, Dr. Chin has recently addressed ventral hernia repair. By designing a laparoscopic, zip-tie-style fastener that distributes tissue pressure more evenly than with traditional sutures, he has helped to create a minimally invasive procedure that allows patients to recover faster and return home the same day.
Community Service, Awards and Personal Hobbies
Dr. Chin’s lifelong dedication to biomedical innovation has earned him widespread recognition, including the Stanford University Ideals of Entrepreneurship Award in 2007, the Boston Patent Law Association’s Invented Here! Top Award in 2018 and the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.
Beyond developing biomechanical products, Dr. Chin also contributes to academic and civic communities. He previously served on advisory boards for the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, and as an advisor in an entrepreneurship program at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine.
He is also an accomplished musician, having served as a church organist and played violin in a local symphony orchestra in Grand Junction, Colorado. Today, he stays active by playing piano and maintaining a daily exercise routine.
