Years ago I helped arrange for a company (Ideation) to work on an ongoing product problem that our top notch engineering staff couldn't economically resolve.

Ideation's approach, process, and tools were impressive. One key to their success is there ability to search for problem-related-exisiting-patients across disciplines (mechanical, electrical, chemical, ...). It didn't matter what descipline you defined your problem to be in. They came in on a contract that did not pay them a dime unless they successfully came up with a viable design solution. They got paid, and their solution was not in the materials descipline that we had be looking at for years.

I happen to be looking at Ideation's web site recently and found this quote, "It should be noted here that any single patented solution can be circumvented"

Given my experience with this company I take this statement seriously. Keeping in mind that finding a work-around for a patent is not free and takes time, in some cases buying a patent license is the best financial option.

Some good reading: http://www.ideationtriz.com/home.asp