Neurosurgeon Harold Hess is the inventor of Enduralock, a vibration-resistant custom fastener for the aerospace industry—that also has potential applications in automobiles, trains, farm machinery and bridges.

Enduralock utilizes the same proprietary technology that Hess used to create a fastener to lock in spinal implants.

“In both cases, you want a fastener that you don’t have to worry about loosening,” Hess said. “The beauty of the product is that it provides the features of a weld, but you can easily take it right off.”

Hess credits the Entrepreneurship Scholars Program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for helping him develop a business plan for Enduralock in 2013. This year, he’d like to complete formal testing of prototypes.

“People often ask, ‘What does a neurosurgeon know about aerospace?’” he said. “But if you have a great product, then you can assemble the appropriate team to get the job done,” including hiring “a very experienced aerospace engineer.”

“We’re having some discussions with an aerospace fastener company— I’m under an NDA, so I can’t say which. They have told us that Enduralock is a unique fastening solution. And I did have a discussion with a senior engineer for Pratt & Whitney, who thought that it could definitely have an application in jet engines.” // twitter.com/Enduralock