Airway Medical Team ‘thrilled’ at £260k to bring lifesaving device to market
ABRISTOL-BASED company that has developed a medical device to clear blocked airways has secured £260,000 of grant funding.
Airway Medical will use the Innovate UK cash, which was secured as part of a nine-month project with the University of Portsmouth, to bring the product to market, it said.
The Airway Medical Suction Unit, a piece of suction and oxygen therapy equipment that can be used in emergencies and for chronic conditions, already has an international patent pending.
The University of Portsmouth will help take the product from early-stage design to product launch next year.
Simon Hall, founder of Airway Medical, said: “We are thrilled to have won the grant and be able to accelerate the development of our device. It has the potential to make current electric and battery technology obsolete.”
Cheltenhambased engineering business Versarien is also involved in the project. Scientists and engineers at the firm will be developing an antiviral and antibacterial protective coating for the device.
Its team of production engineers will also be manufacturing the first prototypes for clinical trials in 2021.
Paul Denney, head of technology deployment at Versarien, said “This is an extremely exciting and important project to be involved in at this time.”
Ken Garner, chief executive of Airway Medical, said: “Winning this funding from Innovate UK illustrates the importance of the unique collaborative environment we have in and around Bristol and the South West.
“The business support ecosystem is second to none, enabling us to accelerate the rate at which we can grow, bring our product to market, reduce risk and raise awareness of both us and our products.”
The Airway Medical project is one of more than 1,000 UK projects to receive funding from Innovate UK’s Sustainable Innovation Fund.
The £191million fund is being used to finance research and devel
opment projects over the next two years.
Dr Ian Campbell, Innovate UK executive chair, added: “In these difficult times we have seen the best of British business innovation.
“The pandemic is not just a physical and mental health emergency but one that impacts society and the economy as a whole.
“Airway Medical, along with every other initiative Innovate UK has supported through this fund, is an important step forward in driving sustainable economic development.”