Diamedica, the designer/manufacturer of anaesthesia and respiratory solutions based in Bratton Fleming in North Devon, has won two out of the six awards at the recent Africa Healthcare Summit in London: the International Innovation of the Year and the Solution of the Year.
Diamedica won the awards for its Helix Portable Ventilators. Their design builds on earlier ventilators made by the company and includes similar gas-efficient techniques identified in the peer-reviewed AAGBI journal, Anaesthesia. Feedback from customers plus continuous assessment, testing, research and development have resulted in a ventilator that has become the first choice for humanitarian responders in disaster situations, while it is also ideally suited for use in hospitals in low resource settings.
Ventilator hallmarks
Designed for versatility, the Helix Portable Ventilators, which are suitable for adult, paediatric and neonate patients, can be used as standalone equipment, or in conjunction with Diamedica’s Portable Anaesthesia systems. The ventilators do not require electricity because they will use drive gas from any source – oxygen concentrator, cylinder or air compressor – and the additional Helix Compressor Pump will run the ventilator for up to 20 hours continuously on a single charge. That this award was given at a summit gathered to serve Africa was particularly encouraging to Diamedica.
Managing director Robert Neighbour said: “Post-operative ventilation or ventilation in ICU is often unavailable in low resource settings, resulting in unnecessary deaths. This product is specifically designed to fill that gap.”
The practicalities of the ventilator are manifold, whether for emergencies, or in remote situations where there is no electricity. Each ventilator is a time-cycled, volume-limited pressure generator and has been designed to enable the driving gas to be used to maximum efficiency. As an additional contribution to efficiency, the oxygen driving the ventilator is recycled by being collected and returned to the breathing circuit to supplement the inspired oxygen concentration.
Prize giving
The judge at the Africa Healthcare Summit confirmed the ventilators’ excellent qualities saying: “The International Innovation of the Year goes to Diamedica. They use innovative technology to create robust equipment that incorporates clever features to ensure the equipment continues to work when electricity or oxygen supplies fail.
“In many parts of the world, hospitals have to provide services in conditions that are far from ideal, and in which much standard hi-tech medical equipment is unsuitable and fails to function for long.
“In contrast, their equipment is designed for simplicity, economy and reliability. It provides affordable solutions for hospitals where infrastructure is lacking and resources are limited. It can be maintained and serviced using resources or skills that can be found locally.”
The judge added: “Diamedica is also taking The Solution of the Year. This company specialises in the design and manufacture of anaesthesia and related equipment that will function reliably in harsh environments and areas of limited logistical support. The company exports almost 100% of its output from its Exmoor base in Devon (UK) to over 70 countries, half of them in Africa.
“This company deserves an extra round of applause.”
Helix ventilators are already being used in a number of low-resource areas, and user feedback has been very positive. There are two Helix ventilators in Diamedica’s range:
- Adult/Paediatric
- Paediatric/Neonate
For more information visit diamedica.co.uk.
