From the Edinburgh Evening News.
Derek.
LIFE-SAVING medical equipment for heart patients usually involves
state-of-the-art technology costing thousands of pounds.
But the latest device created to save heart attack victims is made from no
more than a polythene sheet, some duct tape and a sandwich bag from B&Q.
Dr Mark Wilson believes his invention, using materials costing just £10,
could save thousands of lives if issued to ambulances.
The former Edinburgh surgeon, who now works as an anaesthetist at a hospital
south of the Border, was inspired by his previous work with US space agency
Nasa helping protect astronauts from developing osteoporosis. "It is a very
simple device which you could make in your shed," he said.
Assembling the "shock sheet" involves folding the plastic sheeting and
sealing it Blue Peter-style to create a plastic bag which fits over the legs
of a heart attack victim.
By attaching the bag to an air cannister, it can be inflated, squeezing the
patient's blood up from the legs to the brain - ensuring that the blood
supply to their vital organs is maintained until they get to hospital.
He said: "It is made from a sheet of polythene from B&Q which I sealed with
duct tape using my mum's sandwich bag sealer.
"I folded the polythene to create what are a bit like two Lilos, one below
the legs and one above, to create an airbag.
"It is attached to an air cylinder which is used to inflate it to increase
the flow of blood to the brain, although eventually I hope to create a cord
which you could pull, or a button to press, to inflate it."
Dr Wilson, who was a general surgeon at the old ERI, added: "At the moment,
95 per cent of people who suffer heart attacks in the street or somewhere
else outside hospital die because by the time they get to hospital their
brain has had it.
"It's an appalling statistic and we do very little to improve it."
Defibrillators only worked for some people, he added.
"What we need to do to increase survival is to maintain the flow of blood to
the brain and the heart during the patient's journey to hospital.
"CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) only gives about ten to 15 per cent of
normal brain blood flow.
"If this [his invention] was in an ambulance, it could be put on the patient
immediately and then the crew could get on with CPR as usual.
"Even if it only saves one per cent of people, which is probably what we are
talking about, that is an awful lot of people. There are about 160,000 heart
attacks out of hospitals in the UK each year."
Explaining his inspiration, Dr Wilson added: "I have worked with Nasa
looking at ways of manipulating blood flow to try and stop astronauts from
getting osteoporosis, because they don't have enough blood flowing to their
legs."
His invention has been praised by the charity Chest, Heart and Stroke
Scotland.
Spokeswoman Jan Buncle said: "We welcome the news that something as simple
and cost-effective as this could be used to help people who suffer heart
attacks when they are out and about.
"It is a very exciting innovation. I think more research needs to be done
into it, but in principle anything which can help maintain adequate
circulation and keep the heart and brain going until the patient gets to
hospital is a good thing."
Dr Wilson is one of 30 finalists shortlisted for the prestigious Medical
Futures Innovation Awards.
There are ten separate categories in the awards, plus an overall winner, who
will receive £10,000 to help develop their invention.
The finalists were chosen from more than 600 entries from leading figures in
industry, healthcare, academia and business, based on their invention's
ability to improve patient care, its novelty and its commercial potential.
The winner will be announced at a special awards dinner on October 30 at the
Royal Institute of British Architects in London