'Stang - thanks for the kind words, know that I feel the same about you. In my mind you are the Gandolf of this board - the wise and powerful wizard.
My contacts at both companies are VP level sales/strategic account/contract managers. Neither offered a reason why no single port offering up front. JnJ seemed confused by the term "single port". This may have been honest ignorance or NDA. Medtronic outright claimed they are not working on it. JnJ seemed excited to bring in the VERB nerds for a meeting - could be informative.
I see one of three scenarios:
1 - They are lying and are working on a direct single port competitor, somehow working around existing patents, or considering buying the tech.
2 - They are working on high-level, out of the box future tech competitor that will leap-frog and obsolete single port tech (e.g., what CDs did to Laserdisc). Perhaps something that utilizes existing body cavities, avoiding new holes, like prostate removal through the Urethra.
3 - They are indeed focused only on multi-port offerings, as you mentioned the patent hurdle was too great for single port. R&D for a multi-port in and of itself must be a huge undertaking so it would make sense not to spread those resources too thin at first. They may not see single port as viable at this point (their folly!).
I believe for now #3 is true. However if I were being paid by Titan to provide a SWOT analysis I would list #2 as a clear and present threat. With VERB's future-tech focus it makes sense they would be exploring leaner, more cost effective high-tech solutions. As a TMDI investor this is material. However I don't believe any relevant product offerings will occur soon enough to disrupt SPORT's prospective launch and ascent as a novel technology.
