£2m for scientist who made diabetes test kit from a toy
He wins huge payout from Unilever three decades on
A SCIENTIST who used bulldog clips and glass slides from his daughter’s toy microscope to design a pioneering blood testing kit has won a £2million payout from Unilever.
Professor Ian Shanks devised the method to monitor glucose levels in diabetics while working for the multinational at its laboratories in Bedfordshire between 1982 and 1986.
The invention has since made Unilever an estimated £24.3million but all he was paid was his £18,000 salary and a company car. Yesterday – after a legal battle that saw his claim rejected by the Patents Court, High Court and Appeal Court – the Supreme Court ruled that Professor Shanks was entitled to £2million.
Judges said that Unilever had enjoyed ‘outstanding benefit’ from the patents it held for the invention and the scientist was entitled to a fair share.
The court heard that Professor Shanks built the prototype – for what would become known as the electrochemical capillary fill device – at his home using microscope slides and plastic film, held together with bulldog clips.
He had been inspired to create a system to measure glucose levels in blood or urine after seeing diabetes monitoring work at a university.
He also developed a similar system called the fluorescent capillary fill device.
Professor Shanks initially turned to the Patents Court in 2006 seeking a share of the millions made by Unilever, but his claim was dismissed. He then went to the High Court and Appeal Court, where his case was again thrown out.
However, five Supreme Court judges yesterday ruled that the earlier decisions were wrong.
Lord Kitchin, who was on the panel, said: ‘In October 1982 Professor Shanks built the first prototype of his invention at home using film and slides from his daughter’s toy microscope kit, and bulldog clips to hold the assembly together.
‘I would allow Professor Shanks’ appeal,’ he added.
‘In my judgment the Shanks patents were of outstanding benefit to Unilever and Professor Shanks is entitled to a fair share of that benefit amounting to £2million.’