PHILTER™
Cofounder and Chief Technology Officer John Grimm shares his insights on technology and inventing as he charts a new path for microfiltration.
Tell us about your role at PHILTER and your background as an inventor.
JOHN GRIMM (JG): I am the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder here at PHILTER, where I lead R&D and product development. I have about 60 granted utility patents over the past 30 years across different industries, mostly focused on life saving medical devices such as IV pumps and cardiac devices. I also worked for the Department of Defense, doing R&D for the government.
How does that varied experience shape your approach at PHILTER?
JG: I’ve taken around 150 products from ideation to commercialization and learned a lot along the way! My biggest takeaway from all of it is embracing setbacks. Some people hear that and cringe, but it’s music to my ears. Setbacks are just part of the learning process. And they can be expected up to the point at which time the product is ready for market. Embracing setbacks is how you get better. From a sketch on a cocktail napkin to seeing a product come off the production line, there’s a lot of trial and error in there. If not, I don’t know how great the end-product is going to be. I put this quote in our office, “Failure is success in progress.” Once you wrap your mind around that, you can charge ahead.
Tell us more about microfiltration and the discoveries you’re making.
JG: Microfiltration is exciting to me because the common knowledge is that you can make filtration only so small. But I get excited about asking ‘How far can we go, what’s next, how can I push the technological boundaries?’ In our case, we asked ‘What’s another way to eradicate harmful airborne particulates in a very small space?’ We had hit a point where we recognized certain methods were as small and effective as we could get them. So then we made a huge push into active filtration technology, using an entirely new means of eradicating airborne particulates. And then we ask, ‘How small can we make that?’ It’s a whole new frontier of filtration—filtering electronically. This is exciting because it has applications in several large markets. Initially we are working in the vape industry and examining ways of adapting the technology to integrate it into a device, which no one else has done. But that’s just scratching the surface of how this technology can be applied. There are several other markets to create products for. I love being able to look forward…and active filtration technology is where we’re headed.
What types of challenges have you faced in R&D and product development so far?
JG: Testing was a challenge because the equipment we needed didn’t exist. There are aerosol generators and other devices which test the performance of vaporizers for the inhale. But there was nothing that tested the exhale. And it’s critical that we understand everything we can about the physiology of the exhale. Things happen in your body that alter the size and composition of the aerosol, which we want to measure. So we had to invent our own testing apparatus…and we came up with the Artificial Lung Testing Apparatus or ALTA. It mimics the human exhale at scale and gives us data points on variables like temperature, humidity, pressure, and velocity. It gives us the ability to gauge efficacy and real-time feedback as we evolve our technology platform.
Secondhand Smoke is something you’re passionate about addressing…
JG: I am the only one of seven siblings who doesn’t smoke. One of the things that irritates me most is breathing someone else’s smoke. But still, I feel it doesn’t make sense to prevent people from having the right to smoke or vape. I just don’t want to be the recipient of the choice someone else makes. So personal freedom on both sides is very important to me. What excites me about this technology is that it’s an opportunity for people who consume and those who don’t to be able to coexist, and that’s especially important for those that need to consume medicinally. As a Military veteran I can appreciate how some veterans benefit from consuming cannabis to address medical symptoms. We have a real opportunity to reduce harm and make a major shift in how we interact together.
What are your interests outside of your work at PHILTER?
JG: Fitness is a huge part of my life. I love CrossFit-type workouts, lifting weights. And anything outdoors and beach-related like surfing, paddleboarding, wake boarding. And of course, anything gadget-y or building. I’m restoring my ‘65 Mustang. When my kids were little, they asked for a mini plastic skateboard ramp. I built an Olympic-sized, wooden 18’x24’ half pipe in the backyard. It was a few years before they were big enough to drop in! I’m also involved in the community, especially charity work with veterans. That’s probably my biggest community activity at the moment.
