Our History

Today’s world is very dynamic and often unforgiving. Henry Ford said, “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” In today’s business world are you afforded that option? Over the last 14 years Quest had helped over 300 companies innovate, accelerate, and succeed. Past Clients include fortune 500 companies as well as small startups. Relationships, experience, and innovation define Quest.  Founded in 1995 by a group of product development specialists with strong backgrounds in engineering and the physical sciences, Quest has stood the test of time and remained a leader in the design of products as well as their manufacturing. Since, the organization has grown to include 20-year veterans in the medical device arena. The core team has worked together for over 20 years helping bring products to market with their desire to provide customer satisfaction through problem solving, thoughtful design, and timely delivery. Quest has maintained their focus on these values as the company has grown. Quest has served organizations quietly in the background outside of the public eye as a contract product development firm. Our success in development of medical devices is the result of offering an environment for each employee that provides diverse technical challenges, professional growth, and financial security with a balanced life.

 Milestones in Quest’s Medical Device Development

Year       Activity

1995       Quest Founded
1998       Start its first in vitro diagnostic instrument capable of running 300 tests per hour
2000       Completes their first in vitro diagnostic instrument design
2001       Designs of a trans-dermal charger for an implantable hearing device
2001       Development of a device for respiratory trainer
2003       Design of a system that ablates the outer layer of epidermal skin to enhance drug delivery
2004       Design of an Electrocautery device for therapeutic tissue welding utilizing Pulsed Arterial Welding
2005       Competition of an in vitro coagulation diagnostic instrument for the Point-of-care market
2005       NIH SBIR Phase I: Cardiac Synchronization Technology for PEA Patients
2005       NIH STTR Phase I: Micro-Flex Technology for Early Detection of Lung Cancer
2006       Electrical design for the cellular imaging of skin cancer tumors
2007       Re-engineers a drug delivery device
2007       Designs a system to locate the port on implanted insulin infusion pumps
2007       NSF STTR Phase I: Force Feedback Control of a Shape Memory Alloy Catheter for Micro-surgery
2008       Creation of a complex manufacturing fixture for an endoscope application
2008       Design of the electronics and software for a therapeutic device that treats Parkinson’s disease
2008       Development of a therapeutic device for the podiatry market
2008       Design support associated with the development of a neurologic testing system
2008       Grant awarded by the State of Colorado for commercialization of Quest's MicroFlex technology
2008       NSF STTR Phase IB: Force Feedback Control of a Shape Memory Alloy Catheter for Micro-surgery
2008       SBIR Phase II: Cardiac Synchronization Technology: Improved Therapy for Pulseless Cardiac Arrest
2008       NIH STTR Phase II: MicroFlex Tools to Improve Sinus Diagnostics and Surgery
2008       Quest establishes a seperate manufacturing LLC
2009       Quest completes the design and development of a new instrument in 35 weeks
2010       Due to growth, Quest moves to a new integrated facility
2010       Quest begins ISO-13485 and AS9100 certification process.  Approval anticipated in September

The Quest Companies

The Quest Companies focus on three different areas  of expertise, product development, technology transfer and transitional manufacturing.  Below is a description of these three areas of expertise and the supporting organizations.

Quest Product Development Corporation

Quest’s service business follows a contract product development model based on time and material costing. Quest works with prospective clients to identify the scope of work that represents a whole or part of a program. Quest will write a proposal outlining the scope of work, the estimated cost of the contract design activity and a schedule. During the proposal generation process prospective clients develop a relationship with Quest that endures throughout the program. Once the proposal is accepted the real work begins. Typically a traditional approach is utilized consisting of planning, design, prototype build, verification, and validation. Throughout the process many reviews occur. In reality there is often iteration within each of these major phases and between the phases which is highly specific to the program. Upon the completion of the design verification, the technology and engineering work products (drawings, models, code, etc.) are transitioned to the client, or into Quest Manufacturing, LLC or another manufacturing facility. This is outlined in more detail in Our Process. Under this business model we have served many organizations (Past Clients) from fortune 500 companies to startups.

Quest Technology

Currently a part of Quest Product Development Corporation, this element of our business is focused on the identification of technology at academic and other institutions and transitioning this into a product. As part of this effort we may write SBIR/STTR grant applications. Quest has achieved a success rate of 70-80% over the past few years with total awards in excess of $5M. The engineering required is often very challenging and presses the technological envelope. We invite you to review Quest’s Technology for further details and to Contact Us should you have interest in transitioning technology with Quest.

Quest Manufacturing, LLC

In 2008 Quest opened its contract manufacturing operation, Quest Manufacturing, LLC. This expansion of our business model is to address the transition to manufacturing with the support of the original design team provided by Quest Product Development Corporation. The inclusion of the original design team ensures that critical information about the design is captured in the creation of the manufacturing process. The design team follows the product into the Transitional Manufacturing operation to ensure this process is correctly defined. It is not Quest’s long-term objective to operate a high volume contract manufacturing facility. The purpose of the Transitional Manufacturing operation is to address initial manufacturing issues and establish a stable process with the support of the original design team. Once these issues are corrected, the device master record may be transitioned to another high volume manufacturing facility or to the clients manufacturing facility.

Be sure to visit our Contact Us page to tell us about your organization and how Quest might support your needs.