NETWorks Spring 2008

8/7/2019 NETWorks Spring 2008

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THE SCIENCEENGINEERING &TECHNOLOGYMAGAZINE FORNORTH EASTENGLAND

ISSUE 5SPRING2008

MEDICAL

DEVICES AND

INSTRUMENTATION

ISSN 1753-6677

HYBRID

INTELLIGENT

SYSTEMS

SPACE

TECHNOLOGY

PROVIDES

COSMIC VISION

CANCER TEST

BREAKTHROUGH


2/25

Medical devices and instrumentation are fields of science that affect all of us Im

sure we all remember sitting in bed ill as a child with a mercury thermometer in

our mouth. Nowadays that thermometer looks very different. What is really

intriguing is how expertise in one area is applied to another: the Durham University

Centre for Advanced Instrumentation develops instruments for telescopes that

compensate for the blurring effects of the Earths atmosphere. Theyre now

applying that expertise to illnesses that cause our vision to become blurred.

Then there is Seaward, an instrumentation company in Peterlee that supplies

every single Air Force base in the US, and is now turning its attention to medical

applications.

Unlike some scientific endeavours, medical devices are right here right now

even the most cutting edge research in the regions universities is pretty close to

market. And in NETWorks some of the most successful companies in the region

tell us whats already here in this sector, which is flourishing at the moment.

The team at Cels has been invaluable in its support for this issue - Im delighted to

announce that Mike Asher, CEO of Cels, will be the guest editor of the next issue

of NETWorks which will feature biotechnology. Mike will be the first guest editor of

NETWorks and we all look forward to welcoming him to the NETWorks team.

CJ

Contributors

Mike ParkerMike spent a decade in national, regional and local journalism culminating in his

appointment as Business Editor of The Northern Echo. He was named North East

Business Writer of the Year before joining the North East Chamber of Commerce

where he was responsible for a threefold increase in publicity and press coverage.

Andrew WoodAndrew has lived all over the world working and writing for the process industries,

including a stint as head of global corporate media relations for Dow Chemicals.

Andrew was editor-in-chief of Chemical Week, the world's leading chemical

industry magazine for 10 years before relocating back to the North East.

Editor Catherine Johns Scientific Advisor Professor John AnsteeDeputy Editor Rob Heslop

NETWorks is published by Distinctive Publishing Ltd24 Lancaster Street, Summerhill, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE4 6EUTelephone 0191 298 3571

Managing Director Barrie Miller Creative Director Martin WilliamsonSales Director John Neilson

For all enquiries including editorial, subscription and advertising please contactDistinctive Publishing.

With thanks to all our contributors.

Front cover image - Northumbria University

NETWorks is supported by NETPark www.uknetpark.net

Letter from the Editor

01

What is reallyintriguing is

how expertisein one area is

applied to

another


3/25

08

03 05

10

14 18

24 27

30 32

3634

NSTARNEW CONCEPTS

IN MEDICALINNOVATION

SPACETECHNOLOGY

PROVIDES COSMICVISION

ROCKET MEDICALCUSTOMER FOCUS

PAYS DIVIDENDS

ABOUT NETPARK

NHS INNOVATIONSNORTH

ASSIST CANCERTEST

BREAKTHROUGH

CELS

AIDING THE AGEING

PATENTS ADVICECENTRE

INTELLECTUALPROPERTY FOR

SMALL BUSINESSES

UNIVERSITY OFSUNDERLAND

HYBRIDINTELLIGENT

SYSTEMS

NORTHUMBRIAUNIVERSITY

A VALUABLE SHOT

IN THE ARM

CELSAWARDS

RECOGNISEHEALTHCARE

TALENT

HART BIOLOGICALSLEADING THE WAY

IN MEDICALDIAGNOSTICS

06

12

20

28

33

38

SEAWARDACHIEVING

SUCCESS INTESTING

CELSBUSINESS FOR LIFE

40 42

UKTILOOK BEFORE

YOU LEAP

CELSREGIONAL

FINALISTS SWEEPNATIONAL AWARDS

43APPLIED

NEURODIAGNOSTICSTHE EYES HAVE IT

FOR VISUALRECOGNITION

SPECIALISTS

HELIOSWHEN ONE SIZE

DOES NOT FIT ALL

TEESSIDEUNIVERSITY

CHANGING THELIVES OF THE

ELDERLY

SRGNE SCIENCE

SALARIES RISING

NEWCASTLEUNIVERSITY

BIOMEDICAL ANDBIOMOLECULAR

SCIENCES

NEW CONCEPTS IN

MEDICAL INNOVATIONNorthStar Equity Investors (NSEI) is helping exciting

new concepts in medical innovation become

commercial success stories. NSEI manages the

10m Proof of Concept Fund, designed to catalyse

new technology, and the 23m Co-Investment Fund

which provides equity of between 100,000 and 1M

to help fast growing companies reach their

potential.

The Proof of Concept Fund was instrumental in UK

Haptics development of prototype software that has

evolved into Virtual Veins, a leading edge 3D virtual

reality training software for the nursing profession.

Virtual Veins provides state of the art training in

venepuncture, enabling nursing students to perfect their

technique without risk to patients. UK Haptics has gone

on to secure substantial private investment and close its

first sale.

The 500,000 contribution from the Co-Investment

Fund towards a 1.4m funding round will help Teesside

based Femeda launch its new female health products

into clinics nationwide. Femeda Ltd has developed a

revolutionary disposable device that will allow thousands

of women to overcome the suffering caused by urinary

incontinence.

Based in Cramlington, Applied Neurodiagnostics Limited

secured 590,000 from NorthStar Equity as part of a

1.2m investment to pioneer medical devices that use

revolutionary eye tracking and pupil measuring devices

as base technology. The company is set to launch the

PLR60, a new device set to improve the way optometrists

determine the presence or absence of damage to the

retina as part of a patients routine eye test.

The number of companies to receive NSEI support is

growing. Over 131 firms have been recipients of Proof of

Concept Fund investments, while the Co-Investment

Fund has backed 23 high growth ventures. NSEI is

always keen to hear from ambitious entrepreneurs with

a keen eye for commercial success.

Gary Todd

of UK Haptics

and Lord

Robert Winston

DURHAMUNIVERSITY

THIGH BONESCONNECTED TO

THE HIP BONE


4/25

This is an opportune time for NETWorks to review the sector of medical

devices and instrumentation: its predicted that companies in this sector are

likely to outperform the broader stock market in 2008 with a 9% growth

forecast for the coming year.

Some of the most interesting venture capital deals signed over the past year inEurope have involved companies in this sector, and annual medical devicesoutput in 2007 has been estimated at 71 billion.

Globally, Europes medical devices manufacturing market is the second largest,and with an ageing population leading to increased spending on healthcare andwith health consciousness moving up the political agenda, it seems reasonableto expect continued expansion.

Last autumn, a list of key technologies named in a Council for Science andTechnology (CST) report as being vital to Britain's economic future included

medical devices for improving health care and the prevention, diagnosis andtreatment of disease. Of course, you cant diagnose, monitor and treat withoutdeveloping analytical technologies and manufacturing the appropriate devicesand instruments.

New technologies, new tools, methodologies and processes can make themanufacture of existing products more efficient and new products possible.Improved processes can lead to bigger production volumes, which in turn canlower unit costs.

Its a global business - one where we compete with companies all over theworld. One interesting example I came across recently was the ChanghuatCorporation Berhad in Malaysia. Previously, the Corporation had focussed oncomponents for the automotive and electronic appliances markets. Now, toremain competitive in the plastic injection moulding industry, it has adopted along-term strategy which will see it introduce a range of disposable medicaldevices products.

I would encourage you to read on and learn more about whats happening in theregions universities and Centres of Excellence, and the pioneering work beingcarried out by innovative North East companies.

Comment

from

Professor

John

Anstee

CUSTOMER

FOCUS PAYS

DIVIDENDS FOR

ROCKET MEDICALBased in Washington, Tyne & Wear, Rocket Medical isan award-winning designer and manufacturer ofmedical devices.

Founded in 1964 it concentrates on a number of core

areas cardiothoracic, infertility, oncology and womens

healthcare.

High grade clean rooms provide for the assembly of an

increasingly wide range of complex products Rocket

Medical currently offers 1900 different product lines

and with a customer focused ethos, the company is

always open to new product ideas from customers.

Rocket Medicals products include operating theatre

consumables, cardiac and thoracic drainage catheters,

chest drainage systems, Oocyte harvesting systems

and embryo transfer catheters for IVF, and a range of

fetal monitoring devices for labour wards.

Since its inception, the company has assembled a

remarkable range of manufacturing skills these include

large scale injection moulding, complex insert moulding,

extrusion, CNC punching and drilling, and RF/Induction

polymer manipulation.

With its own design team utilising the latest in CAD

software and rapid prototyping systems, Rocket

Medical succeeds in manufacturing well designed

products of the highest quality, delivered on time and at

a sensible price.

Using external specialist companies and universities

allows it to expand its capabilities and it retains a flexible

approach that encourages product customisation.

Nominated in seven categories in the 2007 Best Factory

Awards, Rocket Medical carried off, for the second time,

the Innovation Award and now the Most Improved

Factory award to add to a previous Best Small

Company award.

To find out more visit www.rocketmedical.com

05

John is Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences,

Durham University and the Scientific Director for

NETPark. Until his retirement in July 2004, he held the

position of Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Subwarden at

Durham University.

He is a graduate of the University of Nottingham (B.Sc., Ph.D.), a

Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, a Fellow of the Zoological

Society of London and a Member of the Society of Experimental

Biology. He holds directorships in a number of companies associated

with scientific research and Technology Transfer including the Centre

for Process Innovation (CPI) Ltd, the Centre of Excellence for Life

Sciences (CELS) Ltd, the Company of Biologists Ltd and is a former

Associate Director of County Durham Development Company. He is a

Deputy Lord-Lieutenant for County Durham.

PROFILE - JOHN ANSTEE


5/25

Mike Asher is CEO of Cels and has over 20 yearsexperience in business, of which 14 have beenspent running international science and healthcare-related businesses.

Mikes experience in the health industry includesworking on a consultancy basis with the NHS todevelop a strategy aimed at delivering greatercommercial focus to its procurement activities.Before that he ran medical diagnostics companyDrew Scientific Group PLC which specialised in

diabetes and haematology testingsystems. As Chief ExecutiveOfficer he achieved sales growthof 400 per cent from 2.5 to 12.5million in just five years. Mike hasalso held positions with healthcarecompany Coulter Electronics Limited, where hesuccessfully developed operations and customerservices internationally.

PROFILE MIKE ASHER

aged over 65 in the UK has grown by a staggering

31%, from 7.4 to 9.7 million, while the over 85s have

grown to a record 1.2 million. In the North East the last

three years alone have seen a 2% increase in the

number of over 60s. In order to address this significant

demographic change, Cels has joined the ActiveAge

programme as a strategic partner. This organisation

aims to draw together international experts, industry

innovators, thought-leaders and frontline practitioners

from the public and private sectors to discuss policies,

strategies and practical solutions to ageing related

problems.

Incubation, stem cells, assistive technologiesCels has

packed a lot into 2007 can they keep up the pace for

2008? Youd better believe it, says Mike, We have a

remarkable team of people in place at Cels and a

healthcare sector that is leaping from strength to

strength.

Find out more in the next issue of NETWorks. To find

out more about the healthcare business opportunities

available in the North East visit www.celsatlife.com

The Business for Life Awards are featured on page 30.

This is an exciting time for the life science and healthcare

markets, both in the North East and nationally, and Cels

continues to demonstrate remarkable achievements in

this field.

Our strategy is to support businesses, work with the five

North East universities, as well as associated outstanding

academic research centres and the NHS in the region

explains Mike, and that remains at the heart of

everything we do, we are here to ensure that the regions

healthcare economy can compete with the best in the

world. If I had to pick out some highlights of last year I

would choose the opening of the GMP facility, our new

incubation facilities, the RegeNer8 programme, the Active

Age Summit and the first ever Business for Life Awards.

The North East science community recently welcomed

Sir David King, the governments Chief Scientific Adviser

to the region, marking the formal opening of a new

facility designed and built to produce stem cells to

current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) standard.

The new facility will allow academics and clinicians to

produce biologics at the standard required for use in the

treatment of patients. Although a number of other

universities and NHS trusts in the UK are building similar

facilities, this is one of the largest. It is unique in that it

allows scientists to produce treatments based on both

embryonic and adult stem cells in separate areas. Sir

David King commented These facilities are not just

critical to the wealth of our economy but also the future

health of ours and other nations.

Whilst in the region Sir David King also officially opened

state-of-the art business incubation facilities, Cels at

Newcastle, at Newcastle University, designed

specifically to help develop scientific ideas and early

stage life science businesses identified as having

significant commercial potential. As well as providing

assistance on aspects of early stage business, such as

funding, marketing, business planning and

commercialisation, Cels has a variety of on the ground

projects to support all healthcare businesses.

At a regional level, Cels continues to work in close

partnership with the North East Stem Cell Institute

(NESCI) to draw together stem cell expertise throughout

the region, with the aim of converting stem cell research

into cost effective and ethically robust solutions to

combat degenerative and other diseases.

Cels continues to advance this area, more recently

helping to launch a virtual centre called RegeNer8, set

to bring together the work of top scientists throughout

the North of England to further their work in regenerative

medicine. Cels, alongside Leeds-based BITECIC

(Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Centre of Industrial

Collaboration), has played a pivotal role in this project,

funded by the Northern Way, the consortium of the

three Northern development agencies including One

NorthEast.

RegeNer8, The N8 Centre for Translational Regenerative

Medicine is the focus of collaboration between industry,

clinicians and academics at the norths eight most

research-intensive universities, known as the N8. Cels

has provided RegeNer8 with business and marketing

support to translate its world-class expertise into new

regenerative medicine products and therapies.

Another area of healthcare that Cels focuses on is

assistive technology. The first annual ActiveAge Summit

took place in Newcastle in November, and it brought

together internationally renowned experts on ageing,

who joined together to discuss how technology can be

used to help sustain a high quality of life for an

increasingly ageing society. This is an important issue

because over the last 35 years the number of people

Cels has been tasked by One NorthEast to stimulate a year on year increase in the

economic contribution of the life science and healthcare markets to the region of

1.2 billion by 2015. NETWorks spoke to Mike Asher, Cels Chief Executive Officer,

about how Cels is driving growth in this sector.

BUSINESSFOR LIFE INNORTH EASTENGLAND

07


6/25

AIDING THEAGEING

Over the last 5 decades there has been a 45% increase in the number of people aged over 50. By 2031 this is

projected to rise by another 36% according to the Office of National Statistics. The world is facing the challenge

of a rapidly ageing population, with increasing cost and manpower pressures on healthcare and social care

providers. The UK currently leads the world in the use of technology to support older people, but new

applications of technology are needed if the true benefits are to be realised. The Cels Assistive Technology Lab

(ATL) project seeks to build on the North Easts existing academic and industrial strengths in this area and to

position the region as the leading region in the UK in the emerging field of gerontechnology.

09

Provision of effective care for older people requires

involvement by a large number of stakeholders; older

people themselves, clinicians and health professionals,

care workers and occupational therapists, informal carers

and family members, technology providers and product

designers, health economists and policy makers. Through

the ATL project, Cels is building a powerful network of

stakeholders, both within the North East and beyond, to

develop product and service solutions that are truly

effective.

At the policy/strategy level, Cels is the strategy partner

within ActiveAge, a research network of private and public

organisations interested in the impact of the ageing

population. Key areas of focus for ActiveAge research and

ATL include:

1. Mobility both personal mobility and public and

private transport. Staying mobile and socially active is key

to a healthy old age, but becomes increasingly challenging

with the impact of chronic age-related conditions.

Case Study 1 Keeping In Touch Everyday (KITE)

This is a user-centred design project in collaboration with

Newcastle University involving people with dementia andtheir carers. The aim is to enable them to continue to

undertake normal activities (driving, walking and exercise)

in safety using GPS/GPRS technology. This project

includes social scientists, computer scientists, product

designers, technology SMEs and local user groups. The

involvement of people with dementia and their carers in a

user-centred design project is challenging and is a unique

approach to the support of people with this chronic

condition.

2. Wellness putting the focus onto preventative

healthcare and maintaining wellbeing, rather than treating

chronic conditions.

Case Study 2 Advanced interactive Digital Exercise

Prescription Technologies (AiDEPT)

Cels is supporting a project involving a local SME and

researchers at the University of Teessides Department of

Sports Science. The team has developed a prototype

system combining an exercise bike, heart rate monitor

and immersive computer game to promote safe exercise

for people under exercise referral programmes. The

game is used to engage users and promote programme

adherence. The system is currently being used in a real-

world user trial within a commercial gym environment.

3. Work the combination of longer life expectancies and

declining birth rates in recent decades will fundamentally

change the proportion of people in work compared to

those in retirement.

Case Study 3 Research Report

Business and technology consultants within Cels have

researched and published Technology To Support the

Ageing Global Population 2007 to 2027 - created to

research and understand the issues of wide-scale

adoption of Assistive Technology solutions, considering

barriers such as end-user design, technology challenges,

sustainable business and service models and the issues

of infrastructure.

4. Community social inclusion is widely believed to be

another key factor in ageing successfully. The risk of socialisolation grows as we age, especially with the loss of a

spouse and other friends. Social isolation is as much a risk

in urban environments as it is in sparsely populated rural

areas.

Case Study 4 Circles of personal movement

Cels is working with researchers in the People And

Communications Technology Lab (PACTLab) group

within the School of Psychology at Northumbria University.

The project is using advanced GPS/GPRS movement

tracking to record the movement of a group of older

volunteers over time. The research project seeks to

understand the relationship between wellbeing,

geographic areas of movement, levels of activity and

degrees of social inclusion by mapping movement

between necessary trips (e.g. to the GP surgery) and

leisure trips.

The next phase of the ATL project will continue with this

work and will extend to developing and co-ordinating

larger-scale community-based trials of telehealth and

telecare systems, working with partners at the Institute of

Ageing & Health at Newcastle University, Newcastle City

Council, County Durham PCT and the NHS.

Cels is also widening its network of collaborators, forging

links with major players in the field of ageing and

technology research, including MIT AgeLab, the University

of Florida and the Continual Health Alliance (an

international association of over 100 major technology

companies, led by Intel). Cels has also been instrumental

in the establishment of the Assisted Living Innovation

Platform programme by the UK governments Technology

Strategy Board and aims to be actively involved in

projects funded by that programme.

Through all of these activities Cels ATL has gained a deep

understanding of the challenges posed by an older

population, the difficulties faced by older people, and of

the potential of technology to address these challenges.

This is complementing the development of the Campus

for Ageing and Vitality within the Newcastle Science City

programme, positioning Newcastle and the North East at

the forefront of a major new global industry sector.

For further information on ATL visit www.celsatlife.com

or call 0191 211 2560


7/25

It was exciting to see the activity of the regions

healthcare sector celebrated at the Cels Healthcare

Networks Business for Life Awards in November. Of

note was the fact each of the five category winners was

a manufacturing company, reminding us just how

valuable this traditional sector is to the North East. The

winners on the night suggest there is very little

traditional about modern manufacturing.

These high performing companies are as likely to be

involved with digital networks, product data

management and rapid prototyping as they are with

installed plant and material processing. Increasingly,

companies that count themselves as manufacturers are

actually venturing into the complex terrain of a product-

service mix where the focus for the business is shifting

to improving innovation and customer service.

This places new demands on companies to explore the

opportunities to develop new products and services that

address changes in the external business environment.

New legislation and regular changes in the way the

healthcare markets are structured, means that tracking

and responding to these opportunities needs

commitment to invest in expanding R&D activities.

Two of the five winning companies at the Business for

Life Awards are engaged in significant R&D programmes

and deserve enormous credit for recognising howimportant R&D is to sustainable growth. Both Applied

Neurodiagnostics Ltd and UK Haptics, winners in the Start-

Up and Innovation categories respectively, are actively

engaged with the Cels/Northumbria University InSTeP

program. InSTeP ensures that their innovative products,

although brand new, are tried-and-tested for market.

Funded by One NorthEast and the European Regional

Development Fund, InSTeP is managed by Cels to

provide a unique collaboration of regional healthcare,

engineering, product development and design

professionals. The delivery of InSTeP client projects is

led by Northumbria Universitys Centre for Design

Research and also brings in other regional partners

including C2M (UK) Ltd, INEX, Kinneir Dufort, NHS

Innovations North and Newcastle Universitys Resource

Centre for Innovation & Design.

According to Dr Mark Jarvis, InSTeP Programme

Manager at Cels, InSTeP is having a real impact on

North East companies developing new products in the

healthcare sector, The initiative has enabled innovative

concepts to become truly market-led products that will

make a significant contribution to the growth of the

regional economy. If companies are to maximise the

market potential of medical and healthcare products,

user focused design is of central importance. InSTePs

unique multidisciplinary development model provides a

high level of added-value to companies in the North

East by the application of design combined with end-

user consultation and sector knowledge. This is clearly

borne out by the experiences of the companies

involved.

Case Study - UK Haptics Ltd: Medical Device Adaptor

for Haptic Training Suite

The InSTeP initiative allowed us to make tangible a vital

part of our device, and has really fast-tracked the

development of this product.

Gary Todd, Managing Director, UK Haptics Ltd

The Brief

InSTeP was approached by UK Haptics to develop a

medical instrument adaptor for a new medical training

and evaluation tool. It enables users wearing 3D glasses

to manipulate a Haptic Pen in the real world, whilstseeing this as a medical tool or piece of equipment in

the virtual environment. Users can practice and be

assessed at performing clinical procedures, with the

Haptic Arm providing real physical feedback to give the

sensation of true interaction with the virtual environment.

The Project

UK Haptics was funded through InSTeP to work with

the Centre for Design Research to develop a new

multifunctional adaptor. It would allow the user to hold

and manipulate real medical tools whilst performing the

virtual procedure. Though initially focussed on the

attachment of cannular needles, the design was future-

proofed to enable the attachment of as-yet-unspecified

devices. InSTeP liaised with partners to produce a rapid

prototype of the solution, enabling evaluation in the

context of UK Haptics current system.

A VALUABLE SHOT

IN THE ARM FOR

THE HEALTHCARE

SECTORMatthew Lievesley from Northumbria Universitys Centre for Design Research

looks at the impact of design in an increasingly successful sector.

The Outcome

The speed of development and the provision of a

physical prototype enabled UK Haptics to progress

distribution talks with potential international partnerswhilst attending a leading US-based haptic conference.

The system has now been sold to a number of

commercial and research clients, while the adaptor

prototype is currently undergoing initial user and safety

testing.

To find out more about the InSTeP initiative and

opportunities to fund development projects, contact Mark

Jarvis at Cels on 0191 211 2606 or Bruce Watson at the

Centre for Design Research on 0191 243 7063.

The Centre for Design Research is a fifteen-strong

multidisciplinary design team at Northumbria University

which works with both private and public sectors to

develop better products and services.

For more information about Applied Neurodiagnostics

Ltd, see page 43.

11


8/25

Its the simplest things that can make a difference to

peoples quality of life a new fixing that can work on

fractures of brittle bones, even an improved carpet

underlay that prevents injuries from falls in the first

place. The practical application of our research into

products that improves peoples well-being and saves

our health service money is one of the most rewarding

things for the team here at the University of Teesside.

This reward has been the result of intensive studies into

hip biomechanics, leading to a great advancement in

the understanding of how bones can fracture but then

repair themselves. A natural progression from this

activity has been the move into other important research

topics such as minimising this type of damage in the

elderly due to falls.

Currently the team is working with Leyland Rubber

Components Ltd in Lancashire to secure a Knowledge

Transfer Partnership programme to test different

materials that could minimise the risk of fractures when

the elderly fall.

The NHS invests large amounts of money treating hip

fractures in elderly people caused by falls. In 1994,60,000 patients were treated in the UK at a cost then of

742 million and this is predicted to rise to 117,000 by

2016. Overall, over 50% of fractures are due to falls

from tripping at home, which rises even further for

patients older than 75 years of age. Slippery flooring

and unsuitable footwear are major factors contributing

to the onset of fractures in the home.

This is backed up by a report by the Royal College

Physicians published in 1989, which stressed that even

a small percentage reduction in the incidence of hip

fractures would save several million pounds in health

care costs. Unfortunately conventional underlays offer

poor energy absorption when the elderly fall, and vinyl

floors are even poorer at reducing the energy that may

fracture a hip in an elderly person falling onto it.

Our job is to help test other materials that provide a

much higher energy absorption and which can be

fabricated as underlays. Usually, the testing of these

materials is done with flat conventional impact test

machines but we developed a computer model from

anatomical data to simulate patients falling onto different

materials of different thickness to ascertain the most

appropriate mechanical properties. We have an existing

test rig to validate the peak force values, energy

absorption, HIC derived from an accelerometer and the

compression set properties, and to design a

flooring/underlay area and measure the traction forces

of pushing wheelchairs and hoists.

Another innovation that will help prevent fractures is the

design of a new hip protector attached to the skin.

The current designs of hip protector pads are

incorporated into garments - compliance with

continuous wearing of these garments is extremely poor.

The new design will encompass the most mechanically

desirable features and entail the production of a

composite layered shaped pad that would be attached

by adhesive on the skin on both hips under clothing.

This type of pad will stay in the correct position for up toa week, it will need no maintenance, will be waterproof

and will reduce the likelihood of a hip fracture.

The SDMA (Surgical Dressings Manufacturers

Association) recommended the University of Teesside

mechanical test rig should be used as the standard

against which all hip protectors manufactured in Europe

are compared, despite stiff competition from various

groups originating from Italy, Switzerland and Germany.

The Test Rig has now been commissioned, and a

commercial service has been provided to manufacturers

who wish to test their hip protectors using the standard

test rig and procedures.

In order to help understand the nature of the

biomechanical problem, a deep understanding of the

fracture process is required, and this has been achieved

via the teams link up with respected medical

practitioners and scientists. One of the key achievements

of the team has been the linking together of this medical

research with the application based materials testing to

produce real world solutions that have a sound theoretical

basis for their development and implementation.

Such innovative thinking has resulted in several other

partnerships to provide workable, scientifically proven

solutions to medical issues. One of the closest

relationships over the years has been with Professor

Julian Minns, inventor of the Minns knee replacement,

former employee of the Newcastle General Hospital

(Regional Medical Physics Unit). Several such solutions

are now routinely used in rehabilitation, surgical

intervention, and injury prevention throughout not only

the UK but the rest of the world. David Muckle, former

England football team doctor, has also helped provide

clinical guidance in projects involving the knee and other

sports related issues, and several links have been

forged with manufacturing companies to provide input

to existing and new products in order that they may

address the biomechanical issues most effectively.

One of the key considerations in medical device design

is the variation of circumstances and individual

requirements that each particular problem presents

we are after all, very different to one another, with very

different issues affecting our personal medical condition.

Finding the optimal treatment to suit each individual

patient is crucial to his/her subsequent quality of life but

there is an urgent need to define more clearly the roleand type of surgical intervention in the management of

proximal humeral fracture. Recent work is underway

with Dr Amar Rangan of James Cook Hospital to

evaluate the current humeral fixation techniques

available to orthopaedic surgeons for their effectiveness

at maintaining the integrity of the humerus and enabling

full functional movement under physiological, cyclical

loading.

The team is also very proud of the latest project

another Knowledge Transfer Partnership, this time with

Stockton Casting Company Ltd which has helped the

flourishing SME enormously. Funding has been secured

from One NorthEast to research new designs and

materials for a compactor tooth and

design function analysis.

I guess in the end it all comes down to healthy

bones for as long as possible, thats what this team

is about.

CHANGING THELIVES OF THEELDERLY

Professor Farhad Nabhani has been at the forefront of biomedical research in the NorthEast for over twelve years and has an international reputation for excellence, includingcollaborative work with institutions in Denmark, Canada and Holland.

His research has focused upon several areas of biomechanical interest with specialemphasis on the role of the patella, the ankle, and the back. Professor Nabhani wasinstrumental in attracting the 19th International Conference on Flexible Automation and IntelligentManufacturing to the University of Teesside: FAIM 2009 will run 6th 8th July 2009. For more details visitwww.faim2009.org

PROFILE - PROF. FARHAD NABHANI

A team at the University of Teesside is improving the lives

of the elderly with its work into biomechanics. Farhad

Nabhani, Professor of Biomechanics and Manufacturing inthe School of Science and Technology, explains how.

13


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probably involves these neurons. The Hybrid Systems group

builds computational models of these processes and tests them

in robotic models.

The MiCRAM project, funded by EPSRC, is another

collaborative interdisciplinary project performed between the

University of Newcastle, School of Neurology, Neurobiology and

Psychiatry and the University of Sunderland, Centre for Hybrid

Intelligent Systems, School of Computing and Technology. The

overall aim is to study sound processing in the mammalian brain

and to build a biomimetic robot to validate and test the

neuroscience models for focused hearing. We collaboratively

develop a biologically plausible computational model of auditory

processing at the level of the inferior colliculus (IC). This

approach will potentially clarify the roles of the multiple spectral

and temporal representations that are present at the level of the

IC and investigate how representations of sounds interact with

auditory processing at that level to focus attention and select

sound sources for robot models of focused hearing.

Intelligent Systems knowledge transfer projects in the North

East and UK have brought benefit to both large companies and

SMEs, including intelligent software to predict distortion in the

manufacturing processes for printed circuit boards (XAct PCB

Ltd); an intelligent pattern matching algorithm for increased

security for credit and cash cards now being further developed

with a major bank (PinOptic Ltd); and an intelligent pattern

matching algorithm for the selection of personal vehicle

registration numbers (National Numbers Ltd). The OVER Project

aided West Midlands Police with a sophisticated forensic

computing system for crime data analysis. The HAPPI project

applied Natural Language Engineering (including

psycholinguistic databases) to simplify language in timely

material (online news) to make it accessible to individuals with

alexia as a result of stroke. Furthermore, Hybrid Intelligent

Systems contribute extensively to knowledge transfer via project

collaborations with BT, Reuters (natural language

processing/classification), ActiveMedia and BAEsystems

(cognitive robotics), Sage (data mining), and Nonlinear Dynamics

in the North East (statistics knowledge transferred to

biotechnology).

In the Centre for Hybrid Intelligent Systems we always aim at

linking our research to teaching and reachout in order to

enhance the students experience. Todays knowledge-based

society provides students with exciting future-oriented job

opportunities in education, research and industry. Typical are the

interdisciplinary advantages which can be gained by integrating

knowledge from Computing, Cognitive Science, Engineering,

Life Sciences, Business, Human Computer Interaction, and

Robotics. Therefore for October 2008 we have designed a new

MSc programme, MSc Integrated Information Engineering. The

programme is a new synthesis of interdisciplinary areas with a

clear application focus. The programme emphasises the

integration of established computing and engineering concepts

with novel forms of neural learning, artificial intelligence and

human-computer interaction. Topics include understanding

users, internet interaction design, e-technologies for

management, interactive robots, intelligent systems, and

ambient systems. In additional research, professional and legal

issues are an integral part of the curriculum. We welcome

enquiries from interested MSc students.

For further information contact Professor Dr Stefan Wermter or

visit www.his.sunderland.ac.uk

HYBRIDINTELLIGENTSYSTEMS

15

Professor Wermter, Chair in Hybrid Intelligent Systems at the

University of Sunderland, explains the necessity of integrating

many different fields of science to produce more intelligent

systems.

For many future computing applications such as adaptive

software products for business industry, smart more

autonomous automotive vehicles, ambient home environments,

social robots, and interactive data mining for interdisciplinarybusiness applications, we will need Hybrid Integrated Systems

where systems benefit from the hybrid integration of various

components: Software Engineering, Wireless Sensors

Networks, Human Computer Interaction, Engineering, and

Intelligent Learning Systems for automatic adaptation. In the

future a greater need is expected for more selfadapting,

selforganising, selfevaluating organic and hybrid computing

systems based on novel forms of adaptive computation and

integration for larger embedded integrated information and

engineering systems.

The Centre for Hybrid Intelligent Systems in the School of

Computing at the University of Sunderland has an international

reputation for their research and development in these systems.

The Centres objective is to research the foundations,

representations and applications of hybrid systems in order to

support various themes in information systems, engineering and

interactive systems, in order to solve complex real world

problems.

Encompassing the fields of Cognitive Science, Engineering, Life

Sciences, Business, Human Computer Interaction, and

Robotics, the foundation and motivation for our research often

comes from natural systems, e.g. biological systems, neural

systems or cognitive performance. We want to exploit these

foundations in order to build more sophisticated adaptive

interactive systems, learning agents, self organising information

systems and robotic engineering systems. For building such

nature-inspired computing systems we embed neural, statistical

and/or symbolic representations into knowledge-based adaptive

information agents. Applications include intelligent information

systems, interactive systems, adaptive engineering, data/text

mining systems, cognitive and neuroscience-inspired robots,

speech/language systems, intelligent web agents and hybridtechniques for medical diagnosis.

We are coordinating and participating in several EPSRC and

European research projects on neural networks, hybrid

architectures, condition monitoring, neural robotics, vision and

natural language engineering. In 2003/2004 Intelligent Systems

won the British Computer Science Societys Machine

Intelligence Award for their work on neural networks. The team

has coordinated the very successful EU MirrorBot project and

are currently coordinating the EU project NESTCOM.

In the NESTCOM project, coordinated by the Centre for Hybrid

Intelligent Systems, in collaboration with MRC Cambridge and

University Parma, focus on the central question what it means

to communicate. As our main focus we explore the

characteristics of human communication and their relationships

to the role of networks of mirror neurons. These neurons spike

when a primate performs an action leading to a reward and

when it observes another primate taking that action. They have

been found in monkeys in Area F5. Area F5 is important in

humans, because it is Brocas area, playing a role in speech,

and suggesting that mirror neurons are central for action

understanding, imitation and communication development. The

development of speech in human infants seems to involve an

understanding of the reward system of the other mind, and


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11/25

Figure 1: Green laser launched to a height of 10km from the

4.2metre diameter William Herschel Telescope on La Palma inthe Canary Islands. The laser forms a guide signal with which to

control the telescope adaptive optics system which was also

built by the Durham University.

Figure 2: High speed low-light level imager. The camera uses a high speed

CMOS imaging chip and a customised field programmable gate array (FPGA) to

enable image capture, pre-processing and data reduction all at real-time rates.

The device is intelligent enough to selectively read out small regions of interest

around objects of interest (e.g. bacteria) and follow their movements dynamically

at extremely high speeds. (photo courtesy Durham Smart Imaging)

Figure 3: Capabilities of the CfAI precision optical engineering laboratory which

can provide individual design, manufacture, metrology and test/qualification

of new products or perform a full end-to-end development of new

technologies and ideas.

19

The Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) ofDurham University was one of the first tenants atNETPark and now houses around 20 full-time staffwithin the NETPark Research Institute. NETWorksspoke to Professor Ray Sharples about the world-class research group.

The CfAI has an international reputation for the design

and construction of instrumentation for astronomy at

optical/infrared wavelengths and is supplying facility-class

state-of-the-art instrumentation to many of the worlds

major observatories, including the twin Gemini telescopes

in Hawaii and Chile, the European Very Large Telescope

in Chile and the James Webb Space Telescope due to be

launched into orbit in 2013, as a replacement for the

Hubble Space Telescope. The groups activities are built

around a core programme of instrumentation R&D funded

by the UK Research Councils, which involves the

investigation and development of novel instrumentation

techniques, particularly in the areas of Adaptive Optics

and Spectroscopy.

Many of these techniques also have spin-offs into other

scientific and industrial applications such as low light

level imaging and high resolution imaging. The

technique of adaptive optics was developed to correct

for the blurring effects of the Earths atmosphere on

telescopes observing the heavens from a ground-based

site. Using this technique, in combination with artificial

laser guide stars [Fig. 1] to control the deformable

adaptive mirrors in the system, has enabled

astronomers to obtain pictures from the ground with

even better sharpness and acuity than is available from

much more expensive space-based satellites. This

technique can also be applied to studies within the

human eye where fixed aberrations of the cornea, and

dynamic effects due to muscle contraction or the fluid

within the eyeball, have thus far limited the detail with

which ophthalmologists can study the light sensitive

retina at the back of the eye. Scientists at CfAI are

transferring their knowledge of adaptive optics into

medical physics to allow the design of a new generation

of ophthalmic instruments which will enable early

diagnosis and treatment of both retinal and other

diseases, such as diabetes.

In addition to adaptive optics, CfAI has recently begun a

range of vision science projects including assessing

potential optical aids for age-related macular

degeneration, which affects a large fraction of elderly

patients, and disability glare due to light scattering within

the eye. One of the key technologies which has emerged

from the groups research programme is the development

of a range of intelligent extremely fast (up to 1000 frames

per second) smart cameras [Fig. 2] which can be used

to improve the sensitivity of a variety of diagnostic tools in

medicine and biology. Members of the group have

recently formed a spinout company, Durham Smart

Imaging, to exploit the commercial potential of this

technology. These applications will soon be strengthened

by the establishment of a Biophysical Sciences Institute

at Durham University, which will bring together

researchers from many scientific disciplines to focus onproblems at the frontiers of biophysics and biotechnology.

Manufacturing is another key area where advances

must be made if new technologies are to be transferred

into the mass market. The CfAI has a unique range of

ultra-high precision machining and metrology equipment

at NETPark [Fig. 3] which it uses to manufacture

advanced optical systems for ground and space-based

instruments. The ability to create arbitrarily complex

compound lens elements in metal moulds has opened

up the possibility of replicating much more sophisticated

image correction lenses which can better correct a

wider range of vision defects in the eye. These tools will

enable new concepts in image correction to be brought

to the marketplace and truly bring a clearer cosmic

vision to all of us.

SPACETECHNOLOGYPROVIDESCOSMIC

VISION


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In every US Air Force Base, there is an instrumentation

product that comes from County Durham. Andrew

Wood talks to Rod Taylor, managing director of

Seaward about how his company has achieved this.

Rod Taylor, managing director of County Durham-based

Seaward Group, has grown his company from humble

beginnings in the early 1980s into a leading supplier of

electrical testing equipment, employing more than 150.But Rod has not only achieved professional successhis

personal efforts in supporting local business, particularly

his role in encouraging firms to work more closely with

young people, was recognized with an MBE in the 2008

New Year Honours List.

The company was originally formed by Jimmy Seaward,

a retired ICI engineer, who was making voltage testers in

his garage in Stockton. Rod, who was then working as

an electronic engineer, bought the business from

Seaward in 1982 for just 5,000 and moved it to equally

humble surroundingshis own coal shed. Sales

expanded rapidly, and the company eventually moved to

its current location at the South West Industrial Estate in

Peterlee.

The secret of Seawards success has been to focus on

higher-value, niche markets, and avoiding those where it

can only compete on price. We do not operate in a

particularly high-growth market, Rod says. In fact many

parts of the market are relatively mature. So we focus on

markets where we can demonstrate differentiation, such

as testing for medical equipment, and where customers

value innovation that gives them efficiency and

productivity benefits, he says.

Despite its relatively small size, with sales of about 12million, Seaward has been able to succeed in a market

that pits it against major international rivals that are many

times its size. Products from Seaward are used to ensure

that products ranging from household electrical devices

to hospital incubators are safe to use. It also provides

equipment to test the skin of the Airbus A380, and it

supplies every US Air Force base with reference

temperature measuring equipment.

Rod is a big fan of the North East, and particularly

County Durham, as a place to do business. Theres a

good supportive network here, and local agencies such

as CDDC and One NorthEast are really on the ball when

it comes to helping business, he says. Seaward was

recently awarded 200,000 grant from One NorthEast as

part of a program to develop the next generation of

medical testing equipment.

ACHIEVING SUCCESSIN TESTING(WITH HONOURS)

Whats really interesting about Seaward is that it has

resisted the trend by companies to shift manufacturing

to areas of lower-cost labour, such as China. About

90% of what we supply is made in Peterlee, Rod says.

Our business is a mix of lots of products, each

produced in a low-to-medium volume. The labour

content is only about 10%-15% of the finished product.

It is much more important to have the flexibility than to

focus only on labour costs, he says.

And the workforce of the future is where Rods attention

is now focused. He took on this issue through the

development of Aspire, a campaign launched in 2004

that encourages employers to work closely with young

people to help raise educational attainment targets in the

region. Through Aspire, students are offered real work

experience. It helps make them more upbeat about

their prospects, he says. His work with Aspire was key

in receiving the MBE.

Rod is himself upbeat on Seawards prospects, and aims

to double its sales in the next 3-4 years through a

combination of developing new business areas and

making acquisitions. The company is especially keen to

supply the market for green energy, such as testing

equipment for wind turbines. It has set its own green

targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions and

making sure its products are carbon neutral.

There are some great opportunities out there, and we

feel we are in front in the key areas, Rod says. The

Seaward Group comprises four companies. In addition

to Seaward, Cropico and Clare Industrial produce testing

instruments for the manufacturing industry and Rigel

Medical supplies the biomedical testing market.Dedicated to reducing test time, Rigel Medical is a

market leader in providing electrical safety solutions and

has built on one of the longest established brand names

in the industry. Back in the 1970s, Rigel launched the

worlds first IEC 601 electrical safety analyser and Rigel

Medical continues the commitment to providing

Innovative and Portable Biomedical Test Equipment.

Within the next two years, the IEC 62353, a dedicated

International Standard for Routine Electrical Safety

Testing, is expected to provide guide lines in making

dedicated Safety Testing routines for BioMedical Test

Equipment designed to IEC 60601, and to meet the new

test requirements, Rigel Medical has launched the Rigel

288 Portable Electrical Medical Safety Analyser.

For further information visit www.seaward.co.uk


13/25

23


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From green fields to dynamic

science park in next to no time

The first building, the NETPark Research

Institute was opened in 2004. 2200 sq m

specifically designed for R&D and low

volume complex equipment prototyping

and manufacture. Leased to Durham

University for two world-class research

groups: the Centre for Advanced

Instrumentation and the Semiconductor

Crystal Growth and Ceramics Group.

The Innovation Village will also be completed

this year. 5 bespoke R&D pods for growing

and/or investing companies, developed by

Helios City. The total size will be 2500 sq m -

units in multiples of 250 sq m

Swiftly followed by Phase 2 of

the NETPark Incubator. Total

projected size 2252 sq m, funded

by Durham County Council, One

NorthEast and ERDF.

Phase 1 of the NETPark

Incubator followed a year later.

1600 sq m of office, work and

laboratory space and meeting

rooms. Already 100% committed

with 11 companies including 2

regional centres of excellence.

This year NETPark will be the fastest-growing science park in the UK.

Construction of the Plastic Electronic Technology Centre (PETeC) will be complete this year.

A 3,000 sq m national flagship facility for the development and exploitation of direct write

technologies and flexible functional materials (FFM); revolutionary technology that

independent forecasts predict will be a 16 billion industry by 2015. Managed by Cenamps

and CPI, the centre is 1 of only 4 currently being built in the world.

NETPark is North East Englands science, engineeringand technology park for the commercialisation ofcutting edge R&D. Companies thrive at NETParkbecause of:I State of the art facilities and room to grow on a

prestige siteI Low operating costs

I Excellent transport links

I A skilled workforce

Companies at NETPark have access to cutting edgeresearch from 5 universities within 30 minutes drive andtailored business support that enables them to achievetheir potential. They are part of a like-mindedcommunity that enables each company to flourish,grow and compete with the best in the world.

NETParks focus is on the physical sciences,particularly plastic electronics, microelectronics,photonics, nanotechnology, and their application in thefields of energy, defence, and medical-related

technologies.

13 hectares (Phase 1) are already fully serviced andanother 3 hectare area is in the process of being madeavailable.

NETPark is developed by a partnership led by DurhamCounty Council including Sedgefield Borough Council,One NorthEast and all 5 regional universities.Management and promotion of NETPark is in the handsof County Durham Development Company, DurhamCounty Councils inward investment arm. Helios Cityis the preferred developer for Phase 1.

For more information, visit www.uknetpark.netoremail [email protected]

ABOUT NETPARK...

25


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INTELLECTUALPROPERTY FORSMALL BUSINESSES

Your idea is your property!Get patent protection for your business.

The need to obtain protection for product designs and

intellectual property is greater now than it has ever been.

A growing awareness of the benefits of patent protection

and information can mean thousands saved in product

marketing and research costs. Patent information is of

value to major companies, researchers, individual

inventors, R & D departments, students, SMEsyou.

Patent documents hold a wealth of technical and

commercial information. 80% of the information they

provide does not appear in any other published form.

They can keep you up to date with the latestdevelopments in technology, product production and

competitors activities.

If you have a new invention it could be to your advantage

to apply for a patent. This will allow you to manage how

it is used and who uses it. The type of protection you

need will depend on what you are protecting and how

you will use it. Often more than one type of Intellectual

Property may apply to the same creation. Properly

protected and exploited it gives businesses a competitive

edge in the market and adds real capital value to the

business.

The Patent Advice Centre is a unique service temporarily

relocated at the University of Northumbria on the first

floor of the library. As part of the Patent Library Network

it is ideally placed to help anyone within the North East

decide which Intellectual property protection they might

need for their idea Patent, Design registration,

Copyright or Trade Mark and to check that nobody else

has thought of it before them.

Our services include:

I Information and Advice on all aspects of Intellectual

PropertyI Document Supply

I Commercial Patent & Trade Mark searching

I Current Awareness a patent monitoring service

enabling clients to follow patent applications in the

required field as they are published

I Assistance in searching we will show you how to

carry out a patent search

I Intellectual Property Office literature and application

forms

If you have a query please call us on 0191 260 3250

or e-mail [email protected]

www.newcastle.gov.uk/pac

COMMERCIAL SERVICES:I Patent search

I Trade mark search

I Current awareness a patent

monitoring service enabling clients

to follow patent applications in the

required field as they are published

I Document Supply

FREE SERVICES:I Access to patent databases

I Assistance in searching

I Basic advice

I Application forms

I Intellectual Property Office Literature

PATENTSadvice centre

PATENTSadvice centre


16/25

ENVELOPEROOFSSingle ply light grey membraneWALLSWhite acrylic render on blockwork, Blue Staffordshire brickworkplinth.

CURTAIN WALLINGDouble glazed dark grey curtain walling systemSOLAR SHADING (2 storey units)Dark grey powder coated aluminium solar shading

M&E SPECIFICATIONMECHANICAL SERVICESAssisted natural ventilation to office area, mechanical extract toWC areas, LPHW Heating, hot and cold water

ELECTRICAL SERVICESMains, fire alarms, small power, intruder alarm, disabled refuge,general lighting, emergency lighting and data containment

INTERNALSTRUCTURALSteel frame, load bearing ground floor slab, raised access first floorPre-cast concrete stairs and metal balustradesPARTITIONSMetal stud walls to core areas with insulation

INTERNAL DOORSTimber veneered flush doors with softwood frames and stainlesssteel ironmongeryLIFTSKone Lexia 420, stainless steel/ powder coated metal wall finishes

FLOOR FINISHESGeneral Areas Grey carpet tilesWC Areas Ceramic floor tilesWALL FINISHESGeneral Areas white paint finish

WC Areas white ceramic tilesCEILING FINISHESGeneral Areas - Armstrong suspended ceilingWC Areas moisture resistant tilesWC FIXTURESIntegrated plumbing system, white vitreous Armitage Shanks ware

INNOVATION VILLAGE POD SPECIFICATIONWHEN ONESIZE DOESNOT FIT ALL

Helios City is the preferred developer for phase 1 ofNETPark. Mike Parker spoke to Trevor Cartner, directorof Helios City about his innovative developments.

The team at Helios City knows that a one size fits all

approach does not work, especially when building premises

for the most cutting edge science and technology firms.More than any other companies, these firms have very

specialised requirements and their premises must be made

to match. Helios City has designed the NETPods at the

Innovation Village, part of NETPark, to be as individual as

the companies that occupy them. Each pod is a bespoke

unit fitted out to the companys requirements. As Trevor

Cartner, director of Helios City explains, Every science or

high-tech firm is completely different so we have to work

extremely closely with each company to ensure their pod

is built to their exact specifications. It is this individually

tailored approach that sets the Innovation Village apart from

other science parks and makes the pods equally suitable

for young companies outgrowing their original premises as

well as for multinationals looking to invest in a site at the

most exciting science park in the country.

The NETPods are built to the specifications of the

company but they must also meet a range of

environmental requirements and standards set by

NETPark. Thus the Village is carefully landscaped, and

the building materials used are intended to have

minimum impact on the environment. This demanding setof design criteria proved challenging but Helios is well

equipped to meet these demands. Having been selected

ahead of 60 other companies to take on the original

development of the site at NETPark, the team is well

versed in the aims and the overall ethos of NETPark. As

Trevor Cartner explains, NETPark is going from strength

to strength and now that the Innovation Village is on the

way we feel extremely confident that the NETPods will be

well received by prospective tenants. The NETPods have

been designed to accommodate the individual

businesses and with their vast range of facilities, and the

wealth of networking opportunities available, I know that

companies will flourish here.

For further information visit www.uknetpark.net or

email [email protected]

29

Photo by NAPPER


17/25

AWARDSRECOGNISEHEALTHCARETALENT IN NORTHEAST ENGLAND

31

The winners of the first ever Business for Life awards,recognising the most revolutionary healthcare companiesin North East England, were announced at a high-profileceremony in Newcastle upon Tyne. Celebrating thesuccess and strengths of the North Easts healthcare andlife sciences industries, the Business for Life Awards arefast becoming a key factor in cultivating future businessachievement in these sectors throughout the region.

Mike Asher, CEO, Cels said Cels strives to support and

grow the regions healthcare companies. These awards

have been introduced not only to recognise and reward the

North Easts top companies in the industry, but also to act

as a benchmark for the regions rapidly developing

healthcare sector.

The award categories included:

I Export Achievement, for maximising opportunities to

exploit and develop new markets or other areas of

international trade

I Innovation, for the development of an innovative

technology, design or process

I Outstanding Growth, awarded for consistent, sustainable

and profitable growth

I Partnership with the NHS, for the development of

collaboration with the UK National Health Service

I Business Start-up award, for promising newly established

companies in the healthcare sector

I The Honorary Chief Executives Award was presented

for outstanding achievement and contribution to the sector.

And the winners wereExport Achievement

- Hart Biologicals

Hart is a manufacturer and supplier of specialised biological

reagents for the monitoring of blood coagulation disorders,

oral anticoagulants and anti-platelet drugs in surgery,

laboratory and clinic environments. Hart have increased

their export sales by 47% in the past year and have

identified 4 new markets for their products, marking them

out as the clear winners of this category.

Innovation

- UK Haptics

UK Haptics develop virtual reality training solutions for

practice based learning and skills rehearsal in medical and

clinical situations using 3D virtual environments to create life

like simulations. After receiving the award, Gary Todd, MD

of UK Haptics commented We are delighted to have won

the award for innovation, it is a great achievement for UK

Haptics in the face of stiff competition and the awards really

put the North East in the spotlight with regard to its

excellent healthcare sector.

Outstanding Growth

- ImmunoDiagnostic Systems (IDS)

IDS is a specialist manufacturer of manual healthcare

diagnostic kits focusing on bone metabolism. IDSs flagship

products identify the presence of Vitamin D in human

serum. As vitamin D relates to the regulation of calcium it is

being increasingly linked to the prevention of various

cancers as well as being a factor in diabetes and heart

disease. By creating closer relationships with distribution

partners IDS have seen turnover increase by a massive

22% in the past year, and 49% the year before which

marked them out as the leader in this category.

Partnership with the NHS

- Peacocks Medical Group

Peacocks Medical Group measures, manufactures, and

supplies complex bespoke orthotic devices to patients and

hospital trusts throughout the UK. One area of particular

concern is the provision of pressure relieving diabetic

footwear and insoles to patients who are at risk of

ulceration. Peacocks have been working on a pathfinder

project with the Diabetic Clinic at Newcastle Hospitals NHS

Trust. Chris Peacock, Group MD commented: Peacocks

were delighted to win the award for partnership with the

NHS at Cels award ceremony. Peacocks was founded in

1903 and has been working with the NHS since its

inception in 1948. We are thrilled to have our hard work

recognised. In this modern globalised world you have to

always be one step ahead of your competitors. We hope

that this award will highlight to people that we have a world

class service right here on the doorstep.

Business Start Up

- Applied Neurodiagnostics

Applied Neurodiagnostics is a young dynamic company

whose main aim is to develop and manufacture medical

devices using as a base revolutionary eye tracking and pupil

measuring devices. They are developing the Pupilmetrix

PLR60, a visual field test device used to determine the

presence or absence of damage to the retinal nerve fibre

layer as part of a patients routine eye test. Keith Morris,

General Manager said: Winning the award was a surprise

given the other finalists and is a tremendous boost for us as

a very young company. It is recognition of the teamwork

between all our employees and our partners in developing

our PLR60 product.

Chief Executives Award

- Harlow HealthcareA major manufacturer and supplier of specialist products to

both the public and private sectors including manufacturing

and exclusively supplying the new Personal Child Health

Record, a product used by every mother and new born

child in the UK. The company also designs, manufactures

and distributes the UK national standard growth charts for

height, weight, head circumference and bmi. With an

expanding business they are about to bring on line 35,000

sq ft of new build warehousing, production and offices in

South Tyneside, a reflection of their commitment to the

provision of a print management service to the health

sector. John Short of Harlow stated: We are pleased and

delighted to receive this great accolade which is a true

reflection of the hard work put in by all the people who have

worked for us and with us over the past 60 years.

The winners of the awards were entered into the National

Medilink Awards. Mike Asher said: All of us at Cels are

delighted to celebrate the successes and achievements of

our companies in the north east healthcare and life

sciences sector at the awards ceremony.

He continued The event surpassed all expectations, and

our congratulations go to the winners and finalists in what

was a very closely fought competition. We look forward to

supporting the companies and wish them every success at

the national finals.

The awards were organised by the Healthcare Network, a

support service for the regions healthcare companies run

by Cels, the organisation driving the growth of the

healthcare economy in North East England. They reflect

the regions growing healthcare and life science economy.

Thriving in recent years, this sector currently includes world

leaders in biologics manufacturing and successful

companies in the fields of medical devices, assistive

technology and health informatics.

The competition attracted key support from UK Trade &

Investment, sponsors of The Export Achievement Award,NHS Innovations North, sponsors of the Innovation Award,

Sintons Solicitors, sponsors of the Outstanding Growth

Award, the North East Strategic Health Authority, sponsors

of the Partnership with the NHS Award and Marketwise

Strategies who were sponsors of the Start-up Award.

To find out more about health, healthcare and life sciences

and the support available in North East England visit

www.celsatlife.com.


18/25

LEADING THEWAY IN MEDICALDIAGNOSTICS

Located in Hartlepool, Hart Biologicals Ltd was foundedin August 2002. Although still a young company, themanagement has extensive experience in the fields ofclinical sciences and diagnostic reagent manufacture.

That wealth of experience has produced early success

and in the first ever Business for Life awards organised

by Cels last November, Hart carried off the Export

Achievement award.

The awards celebrated the successes and achievements

of companies in the North East healthcare and life

sciences sector, and the Export award, sponsored by UK

Trade & Investment, recognised Harts work in developing

new markets. The company manufactures a range of

clinical laboratory diagnostic products suitable for the

worldwide healthcare market.

Indeed as Managing Director Albert Pattison, whose

background is in biochemistry and haematology, explains:

Exporting has always been part of the company's

business plan and lies at the heart of our long term future.

In Europe the countries we export to include Germany,

France, Italy, Austria and, further afield, we also export to

India, Hong Kong and Australia.

The company is rapidly expanding its global presence

through a policy of enlarging and strengthening its

international distribution network, and developing

strategic alliances and partnerships with people and

organisations where there are common business

interests.

Providers of key pathology laboratory services to NHS,

Independent and Private Hospitals and Primary Care

Trusts, the company operates at the leading edge of

medical diagnostics and is an integral part of the North

Easts successful and thriving healthcare sector.

The sector contributes 8 billion to the regions economy

and is responsible for employing 172,000 people. .

As Mr Pattison outlines the companys operations: We

specialise in the manufacture of clinical diagnostic

reagents for use by hospitals, GPs and pharmacies which

are used to help test and monitor people who suffer from

blood coagulation disorders or are due to undergo major

operations such as heart bypass surgery.

We also supply equipment and reagents for testing

patients who are taking the anticoagulant drug warfarin

after having suffered from thrombosis, heart valvereplacement or other cardiovascular problems.

Our company strategy is to develop diagnostic assays

within particular, well-defined sectors where the

experience of our management team can be maximised

to bring added value to orders and contracts by offering

more than simply a manufacture and supply facility.

The Hart Biologicals range of products focuses on key

areas of the haemostasis field:

I Anticoagulant drug therapy monitoring through the

Manchester Capillary PT Reagent kit and associated

products.

I Platelet function testing through the platelet

aggregation and Ristocetin Co-Factor range of

reagents.

I Assessment of congenital or acquired clotting factor

disorders through the provision of high quality factor

deficient plasmas.

I Quality Control and Reference plasmas for routine and

specialised assay types.

For further information concerning Hart Biologicals Ltd, its

products and services, please contact:

Hart Biologicals Ltd.

Units 13-15, Newburn Bridge Industrial Estate,

Mainsforth Terrace, Hartlepool TS25 1TZ

T 01429 271100 F 01429 277085

www.hartbio.com

BIOMEDICAL ANDBIOMOLECULARSCIENCES ATNEWCASTLEUNIVERSITY

Newcastle Medical School is one of the mostprestigious in the country. At Newcastle we offer arange of undergraduate programmes leading to a BSchonours degree.

Courses include:

I Biochemistry, Biochemistry with Immunology

I Biotechnology (with or without industrial placement year)

I Biomedical Sciences (4 year MSci also available)

I Genetics, Human Genetics

I Medical Microbiology and Immunology

I Pharmacology

I Physiology

The courses reflect our research strengths in the

biosciences and are informed by the latest

developments. Our focus on excellence and skills

development ensures our graduates are well-equipped

for employment in a range of careers.

Why Newcastle for the Biomedical and Biomolecular

Sciences?

I Outstanding score in the national Quality Assurance

Agency subject reviews in the Biological and Medical

Sciences, reflecting excellent teaching and student

support and first class facilities

I Top scores (5/5*) in the latest national Research

Assessment Exercise for Medical and Biological

Sciences

I Research-led teaching and a final year project in a

University Research Institute ensures exposure to

state of the art knowledge and technologies

I Postgraduate opportunities available for PhD or

Masters study in Biomedical and Biomolecular

Sciences

I Flexible programme; sharing of first year modules with

a range of bioscience degrees allows students to

transfer between courses at the end of the first year

I Students may apply for transfer to Medicine or

Dentistry (limited number of places available on acompetitive basis)

I Strong links between basic science and medicine

ensuring relevance of degree programmes

I One of the UKs top Universities for technology

transfer (see www.ncl.ac.uk/business/success)

I Newcastle has been designated one of six Science

Cities

The City

Newcastle is a great city and has been described as

one of the most exciting, friendly and cosmopolitan

cities in the UK. It is set against the backdrop of the

beautiful Northumbrian countryside, in easy reach of

beaches, hills and moorland. Newcastle has excellent

links with the rest of the UK and Europe and a relatively

low cost of living.

Our students

We welcome applications from well-qualified and

enthusiastic students from the UK and overseas. Our

normal A level offer is ABB (AAB for the MSci) and we

are happy to consider applicants with other

qualifications. Bursaries are available for international

students.

www.ncl.ac.uk/biomed/undergrad

For more information please contact Dr Christopher

Baldwin, [email protected], telephone

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NHS INNOVATIONSNORTH ASSISTCANCER TESTBREAKTHROUGH

High definition ultrasound technology for early detectionof cancers is close to becoming a reality thanks toexperts at Newcastle General Hospital and technologytransfer organisation NHS Innovations North.

The new techniques will allow doctors to be able to

probe deeper into the body and produce clearer images

of potentially diseased organs.

Retired consultant clinical scientist, Tony Whittingham

developed the imaging technique with the assistance of

technologists George Mitchell and Michael Feeney at the

Regional Medical Physics Department based at the

hospital. The team, however, is remaining tight-lipped

about how the scans work until the final patent

application is filed.

The technique won recognition at NHS Innovations

Norths Bright Ideas in Health Awards, the annual

innovation competition for the regions 70,000 NHS staff.

Now the method, along with equipment adapted to carry

out the procedure, is due to be patented in the coming

months. This will safeguard the intellectual property on

behalf of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS

Foundation Trust as well as encouraging suitable

organisations to become involved in commercialising the

technology for worldwide use.

Traditional diagnostic ultrasound has been around since

the 1960s and is used worldwide as a matter of routine

to help clinicians assess the health of internal organs. It

involves running a probe adapted to transmit ultrasound

waves over the skin, in order to create images of bodily

tissue that are interpreted by those skilled in the field. It

is used in a variety of fields of medicine, including theimaging of unborn babies and the diagnosis of tumours.

Tony explained: "With ultrasound at the moment, the

deeper you go into the organ the poorer the images. Our

new techniques will make it possible to see areas of the

body we have previously never been able to scan

successfully in terms of obtaining a clear enough image.

Having worked in medical ultrasound for 35 years, I

have come to know the limitations of current techniques

and I am optimistic that what has been developed will

make a real difference.

We hope this is going to make a significant contribution

to patient health worldwide, by making the detection of

deeper tumours easier, in liver or eye cancer for

example.

With the expert help and financial support of the team

at NHS Innovations North, a patent filing is imminent.

Their involvement has been crucial in taking our ideas

this far, and we are delighted that NHS Innovations North

is now seeking commercial partners to take the idea

forward.

NHS Innovations North is the intellectual property

management service available to all NHS Trusts in the

North East of England, and helps NHS employees bring

their ideas to life. By protecting the intellectual property

associated with an idea - for example by patenting - and

then licensing the idea for manufacture to an industrial

partner, NHS Innovations North seeks to further develop

the knowledge economy of the North East. Their remit is

to improve healthcare and generate revenue for both the

NHS and the licensee.

As one of a network of nine regional innovations hubs

across England, funded by the Department of Health,

the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills and

One NorthEast, NHS Innovations North was set up in

2001. The service is delivered on behalf of the NHS by

RTC North, one of the most successful technology

transfer companies in Europe with many years

experience of this field.

Since its inception NHS Innovations North has built up

an enviable reputation as one of the leading innovation

hubs in the country, with many technologies being

transferred from the regional NHS into the commercial

arena.

Director of NHS Innovation North, Dr Richard Hoare, said

of the unique opportunities available to industrialpartners:

We welcome contact from any regional company that

seeks new product ideas in the medical related field or

would like help accessing the healthcare market. Our

service and team will actively support these companies

in taking on new technology, providing the likes of

market research and the negotiation of licensing

agreements

This years Bright Ideas in Health Awards will take place

at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead on the 8th May 2008.

The 10,000 prize fund will be used to recognise a

winner and two runners-up in each of the two categories

- innovative technologies & devices and innovative

service delivery.

Backed by the regions NHS Trusts, this years Bright

Ideas in Health Awards are sponsored by the Cels

Healthcare Network North East, Urquhart-Dykes & Lord

LLP Patent Attorneys, Watson Burton LLP Law Firm, One

NorthEast, Hargreaves Elsworth Patent Attorneys and The

Centre for Design Research at Northumbria University.

For more information on how NHS Innovations North can

assist your organisation, please contact the team on

0191 516 4400, email:

[email protected] or visit:

www.nhsinnovationsnorth.org.uk

Dr Tony Whittingham, front, and senior technologists

Mike Feeney, right, and George Mitchell

Picture: Leanne Holcroft Traditional ultrasound machine in use

35


20/25

THIGH BONECONNECTED TOTHE HIP BONE...

Professor Unsworth has been studying human joints for

most of his academic life. His specialism is biotribology,or understanding the lubrication, friction and wear in

human joints. He is still enthused by the possibilities of

new types of artificial joints and is particularly keen onlearning from biology in order to make artificial joints

last longer.

When I first started researching in this field, Professor

Unsworth said, surgeons were reluctant to put artificialjoints in to people under 55 years old because of how long

these joints would last. Nowadays much younger sufferers

demand these joints and over the last 50 years, when life

expectancy has increased by a further 10 years, the

demands put on these joints are much greater.

Artificial joints have come a long way since ivory was used

back in 1891 to replace the worn out femoral head. Total

joint replacements are now common and joint resurfacing is

becoming popular because of the minimal bone removal

and excellent early results. In the early 1960s ultra high

Documents

NETWorks Spring 2008