73-year-old surgeon with a sharp mind
Grandfather of three and award-winning inventor shows no sign of slowing down
JOHOR BARU: He has won 10 medals at the International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland, and consultant surgeon Datuk Dr Siow Kuang Ling shows no sign of slowing down at age 73.
His inventions, inspired by simple everyday experiences, needs and observations, range from multifunctional bottle caps to liquid dispensers.
Since he started taking part in the international exhibition in 2011, he has won nine gold medals and one bronze.
This year alone, at the exhibition’s 45th edition, the grandfather of three bagged three golds – one each for a “double-swing” hygienic smart bottle cap, a multifunctional hygienic smart cap and an accurate liquid measuring device.
His measuring device, which dispenses the exact amount of liquid needed by holding the bottle upside down before pouring, also won the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Invention Award.
Irked by the sight of houseflies buzzing around open soy sauce and condiment bottles at hawker stalls and burger stands, Dr Siow was inspired to create a bottle cap that swings open when the bottle is tilted and shuts itself when the bottle is upright.
“I often eat out and I always notice houseflies around the condiment bottles at hawker stalls, which is quite unhygienic.
“That’s where I got the idea of inventing smart caps that close and open with the bottle’s movement. The cap also prevents the liquid from dripping and trickling down the outside of the bottle,” he said in an interview recently.
He added that the smart caps also have an internal lock which prevents ants from crawling into the bottle.
He urged the younger generation to be active in coming up with inventions and not to give up the moment they encounter a stumbling block.
“I started late, at age 60, but that did not stop me from making mis- takes and learning new things.
“I had to study the technical aspects of my concepts – for example, researching air pressure and the movement of liquids – in order to make my inventions function well,” he said.
Some of his creations have been sold to a food processing company and a multinational.
He said his inventions could be used in various industries, such as medicine, cooking and cosmetics, to facilitate measurement and quality control.
Dr Siow, who still performs surgery, said he spends a couple of years on each invention, from conception to completion.
He added that he has no desire to stop exploring and inventing as long as his health permits.
“I have not thought of retiring. Many of my peers, who used to be inventors, have chosen to sit back and enjoy their retirement,” he said, adding that he plays golf and exercises to keep fit.
Dr Siow has his own hospital in Johor Baru.