Tag: ITM News

Scientists at Birmingham’s Healthcare Technologies Institute and King’s College London are working on a solution to improve the seal and fit of facemasks used in hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis.

Since the onset of the crisis, the subject of personal protective equipment (PPE) has become a key discussion point. Over recent days the focus has been on the supply of facemasks that allow healthcare workers to interact safely and perform procedures on COVID-19 patients. As the crisis continues to evolve, it is clear there are additional issues with prolonged wear of these masks, (i.e. abrasion and bruising of facial tissues) which has generated much interest on social media, with images of distressed healthcare workers circulating widely.

Drawing on the experience and ingenuity of the Academic Centre of Reconstructive Science at King’s College London, the teams have initiated a collaborative project to explore the feasibility of providing person-specific reusable, medical grade silicone seals to fit with the generic facemasks currently used in the NHS.

The silicone interface, which is being designed by researchers from the Centre for Custom Medical Devices at BHP founder-member the University of Birmingham, would help to improve the mask seal thereby reducing exposure risk. In tandem, personalisation has the advantage of reducing fitting time and improving comfort while reducing skin abrasions for NHS users.

Making use of the 3D capture technology at the Academic Centre for Reconstructive Science, individual faces would be digitally captured and the silicone seals 3D printed to fit the individual’s face.

Professor Owen Addison from King’s College London said: “We are exploring a number of novel approaches to improve facemask effectiveness. It is crucial we collaborate to push these vital projects forward, to better protect frontline healthcare workers during the pandemic.”

“Bringing together our collective expertise has enabled us to rapidly push forward these potential live saving innovations” added Dr Sophie Cox who leads the Centre for Custom Medical Devices at the Healthcare Technologies Institute in Birmingham.

“Our researchers brought together their 3D printing expertise and design knowledge to rapidly create a promising prototype customised mask seal.”

Led by Dr Trevor Coward and Professor Owen Addison from King’s College London, and Dr Sophie Cox and Professor Liam Grover from the Healthcare Technologies Institute at the Institute of Translational Medicine, in the past week their teams have:

i) Developed a promising approach to capture facial form digitally using a smartphone to provide a highly accessible method to complement their established 3D camera techniques that are used clinically.

(ii) Initiated computer aided design to identify how to fix a person-specific silicone face seal that matches an individual’s face to the periphery of masks being used by NHS workers.

(iii) Manufactured a prototype version of their custom interface ring capable of affixing on to a model mask.

Over the coming week, the team plans to begin 3D printing their novel design in silicone and conducting feasibility testing. The team which includes young UK scientists from the University of Birmingham; Luke Carter, Morgan Lowther and Dan Wilmot, are also looking at adaptions of their approach to develop new mask designs that could be manufactured quickly in a distributed supply chain and deployed during this crisis.

MD-TEC, our Medical Devices Testing & Evaluation Centre, recently came together with a host of local medtech and life sciences organisations to showcase the unique insight, expertise and assistance the team can offer.

The MD-TEC Connect event included talks from industry experts; 1:1 advice sessions, and presentations on the Centre’s ability to bring medical devices to market quickly and at reduced cost.

One of of the presenters was Keith Fawdington, Managing Director of Uvamed Ltd, who spoke to attendees about his experiences of MD-TEC and the opportunities working with the Centre has provided.

Uvamed has developed an innovative method of storage for anaesthetic drugs, using standardised colour coding of different drug types to help avoid errors during the administration of medication.

Funding through the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020 (ERDF) enabled Uvamed to conduct a usability study within the MD-TEC simulation theatre. During the study, the video footage captured an error that occurred during the standard practice scenario (with medication stored in the usual method), which was not replicated when the Uvamed colour coding method was used.

Conducting usability studies throughout the prototyping and development process of devices can help innovators save money on large commercialisation costs, as well as increasing its market success.

Also keen to share her positive experience was Dr Cat Anderson, founder of Focus Medical, who is working with MD-TEC to develop of her novel combination of a medical device with an anti microbial formulation to treat embedded chronic urinary tract infections.

“We were delighted to meet with so many local businesses, and look forward to working with a number of them in the near future.

“Since opening in January 2018, we have focused on supporting Small and Medium Enterprises through the process of testing, regulatory approval and commercialisation.

“Our facilities are also open to any and all staff interested in developing a medical product commercially.”

Dr Tom Clutton-Brock, MDTEC Clinical Director

MD-TEC has also supported early stage start-up companies such as Ostique, who are developing a range of temporary embossed stoma covers to improve quality of life for the thousands of people across the UK who require stomas.

MD-TEC, based in the Institute of Translational Medicine (ITM) on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham site, is funded by ERDF to support industry, clinicians and academics develop their medical devices.

MD-TEC facilities, which include a simulated operating theatre, intensive care ward area and laboratories, as well as scientific, clinical and regulatory consultants, are available for any staff interested in bringing a medical product through the approvals and commercialisation process quickly and easily.

MD-TEC currently has funding to support any company or individual based in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) area, with alternative grant proposals available for those not based in the area.

If you are interested in finding out more, visit the MD-TEC website or contact the team at MDTEC@uhb.nhs.uk

Birmingham Health Partners and the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) – both based within the ITM – have reinforced their strong working relationship through the appointment of BHP Managing Director Dr John Williams to the WMAHSN board.

The appointment is part of a wider restructure which has seen four new strategic roles created, which reflect the priorities of the new five-year licence period for the WMAHSN – approved by NHS England last year as part of a ten-year vision to drive health innovation and stimulate economic growth.

Dr John Williams has a wealth of experience from a career in academia researching physiology, to a number of strategic positions in the professional biomedical sector at The Wellcome Trust and the Academy of Medical Sciences. These roles encompassed policy communication regarding major government reviews, launching strategic research initiatives as well as grant development and a strategic framework refresh of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

John’s broad range of experience and insight developed over his extensive career in the biomedical sector is of great benefit to both BHP and the WMAHSN. Working with the board and executive, he manages the relationships with and between partners, new and existing stakeholders and industry partnerships. Alongside this John plays a central role in creating and developing the BHP business plan and delivering strategic objectives set by the board.

Tony Davis, previously the Commercial Director with the WMAHSN, now becomes the Director of Innovation and Economic Growth. Kate Hall joins as the new Director of Implementation and Adoption. Rob Chesters will support them as the new WMAHSN Chief Operating Officer.

John and Kate will be joining the WMAHSN for two days a week while continuing their current roles at Birmingham Health Partners and UCL Partners respectively.

“The new appointments are great additions to the WMAHSN, each one recognised regionally and nationally for their contribution to healthcare and healthcare innovation.

“Our ambition is to stimulate the health and wealth of our region through innovation and so we wanted to take an innovative approach to our leadership model, creating a strong, high profile team that reflects the priorities of our new five-year licence and confidently navigates any challenges ahead.”

 Professor Michael Sheppard, Chair of WMAHSN

Initially set up in 2013 to encourage health innovation and stimulate economic growth, the national AHSN Network is made up of 15 regional organisations. In its first five years, the WMAHSN supported 3,000 companies and supported projects in 770 sites across the West Midlands that benefitted nearly 70,000 people.

Tony Davis has been with the WMAHSN since it was established in 2013.  As Commercial Director he has been leading on wealth creation and the innovation pipeline development for the organisation. Before his role at the AHSN, Tony was the CEO of Medilink West Midlands Ltd and the Chair of Medilink UK, promoting the life sciences industry to government organisations and helping SMEs in the marketplace to grow their business.

Kate Hall started her NHS career a ward clerk and since then has worked within and managed many hospital services. She has an extensive background as a senior manager having worked in a number of senior operational roles and is particularly interested in building capability for leadership and improvement, methods for effective implementation and adoption and sustainability of change.

Rob Chesters was previously the Senior Innovation and Research Manager at NHS England, within the Innovation, Research and Life Sciences Group. Prior to that, Rob was a Senior Innovation Manager at the NHS National Innovation Centre, part of the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. He has a background in Innovation policy and adoption and has led the introduction of a wide range of technologies into the NHS. Rob is also experienced in Industrial Design specialising in Medical Product design, Assisted Living and Inclusive Design.

The new structure will come into effect in April 2019.

Research and innovation in medical technology has moved up a gear thanks to the launch of the MedTech Foundation – a group aimed at bringing together students, trainees and early career researchers to drive the translation of bench research to clinical practice.

The launch event was held at the Institute of Translational Medicine in January, hosted and supported by BHP founding members University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Birmingham and the NIHR Trauma Management MedTech Co-operative (Trauma MIC). The evening saw the launch of a string of workshops targeting innovators from varying disciplines, and presented them with unmet needs in three clinical areas by experienced clinicians:

• Vascular surgery
• Colorectal surgery
• Anaesthesia and critical care

The event was a great success and subsequent workshops will see attendees form groups and learn about various parts of innovation and development such as commercialisation, IP, branding and regulations. Each team will then produce a “solution” to one of the unmet needs presented by clinical experts, and pitch their idea to a panel for the chance to win seed funding and mentorship to further develop their medical device with the support of the Trauma MIC.

Are you interested in hearing more about the programme, coming to hear the project pitches, or being involved as a delegate or facilitator in future years? If so, register for further information or download the MedTech Foundation flyer.