Surgical safety device is his invention, but ENT is what he does

After becoming concerned about wrong-site surgery, a St. Louis doctor invented a device to keep patients safe.

By Pamela Lewis Dolan, AMNews staff. Dec. 3, 2007.

Making sidelines pay
Doctors who branched out beyond running their practice tell why they did it, how they did it, and what you should know before you do it. Contribute

Name: Richard A. Chole, MD

Specialty: Otolaryngology

Location: St. Louis

Company: CheckSite Medical Inc., a medical device company that uses sensors and microchips to add an "extra layer of safety in the preoperative process." It uses a microchip bracelet around the patient's wrist, and two sensors on either side of the operating room door. The surgeon deactivates the microchip after all preoperative steps, including verification of surgery site, have been taken. If the microchip is not deactivated, an alarm will sound as the patient is wheeled into the operating room.

Annual revenue: Approximately $200,000.

Why he started the business: Dr. Chole said he became aware of a number of problems with wrong-site surgery a few years ago.