News Archive
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2011
Award for research into nocturia | December 2011
Hydration is a social activity | December 2011
Medical Innovation Winners 2011 | December 2011
The Hidden Dangers of Drug Abuse | November 2011
Optimising Medtech Development & Innovation Through Research | November 2011
Tact3 Newsletted Edition 8 | October 2011
BioMed Research Nurse explains importance of design of continence products | July 2011
FREE Health Talks for Women aged 60+ | July 2011
MediWales Review & Directory 2011-12 goes digital! | July 2011
Urology strategic roadmapping blog | July 2011
18th BUI Annual Scientific Meeting | June 2011
South West BioMedical Showcase | June 2011
Telford mum wears nappy for speech to MPs | May 2011
TACT3 Newsletter Edition 7 | May 2011
Bristol’s Innovation Showcase | May 2011
Improving Continence across Continents | April 2011
NICE Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme: New publication of process and methods guides | April 2011
Urodynamics Trainer wins Poster Prize at UKCS 2011 | April 2011
New funding for innovation for UK companies | April 2011
BUI now part of North Bristol NHS Trust | March 2011
New ‘Smart Underwear ‘ for incontinence pad users | March 2011
New! Bristol Urodynamics Trainer | March 2011
US Professor wins int' fellowship to collaborate with BioMed | March 2011
Desperate need for public loos | Feb 2011
Success for BioMed HTC Partner | Feb 2011
Incontinence: The Engineering Challenge VIII | Jan 2011
Happy New Year from BioMed | Jan 2011
2010
Market review of fluid dispensers and drinking aids | Dec 2010
South West BioMedical iNet | Dec 2010
NTAC Launches new How To Why To Guide: Non Invasive Bladder Analysis for Men | Dec 2010
“Awesome!” : the new Smart Port for suprapubic catheterisation | Nov 2010
Intermittent Catheter Market Currently Valued at $230 Million and Set to Double by 2014 | Oct 2010
Medical Innovation Competitions | Oct 2010
Underwear Recruits Required | Sept 2010
New Publication: | Sep 2010
BUI/BioMed at the ISC-IUGA conference in Toronto | August 23-27 2010
New Smart Underwear - Female Volunteers Needed |Aug 2010
BUI now part of North Bristol NHS Trust | Jun 2010
Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing (CEP) |May 2010
Throwing Down the Gauntlet |May 2010
TACT3 Newsletter |2006 - 2010
Getting Involved | May 2010
Products Update | May 2010
Fundraising | May 2010
BioMed Clinic | May 2010
2009
38th Conference of the British Society of Gerontology - Culture, Diversity and Ageing |
2 – 4 September 2009
Product Devices Report | February 2009
Medical Devices Clinical Study Day | January 2009
2008
The Top Ten research questions for Continence. Are they yours?
Your Views and the James Lind Alliance
BioMed Open Day | 14 February 2008
New Appointments - Debbie Lewis
Continence Awareness Week: BioMed talk to the Women's Institute| September
2007
Project Update | November 2007
Incontinence: The Engineering Challenge | November 2007
Pessary Study Day | October 2007
Recent Fundraising | September 2007
Join the Continence Roadmapping exercise NOW!
More Fundraising
New Awards
Help the Aged - Taking Control of Your Bladder booklet
New Appointments: Angela Hogg and Sarah Fowler
2006
Nurse Lead Appointment: Debbie Rigby
David Stickler wins IMechE Award
Advancing Continence Care Products and Devices in the NHS Meeting
New Appointments: Mr Azhar Khan and Dr Nora Sabbuba
Catheter Care in the Community - January 2006
2005
Professor Roger Feneley Honoured | November 2005
Official Opening of the BUI & BioMed | October 2005
Award for research into nocturia
Professor Marcus Drake in collaboration with David Cottrell and his team at Frenchay hospital have been awarded £103,908 from the MS Society to investigate the role of melatonin to alleviate nocturia. Nocturia is a sleep disturbance as a result of waking up with the need to pass urine. Melatonin is a hormone that controls our daily sleep and waking cycles. The study is a randomised controlled cross-over trial comparing oral medication of melatonin with placebo to see if melatonin can be used effectively to reduce nocturia symptoms and promote healthy sleep patterns.
For further information on this study, contact Rebecca_Smith@bui.ac.uk or tel: 0117 32 32186
Hydration is a social activity
A scoping study on hydration care of older people funded by North Bristol NHS Trust and Devices for Dignity HTC, and lead by Dr Helen Godfrey, UWE with a team from the BioMed, has revealed that the ability to keep hydrated is dependent of multiple factors including the availability of desired drinks, gettingappropriate help with drinking or having the correct drinking vessel and understanding the importance of keeping hydrated for health and well-being. More surprising was the importance of the pleasure associated with drinking as a social activity and the diminished experience if drinking became just a ‘chore’. A list of recommendations for management and practice form part of the study report.
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| For further information on this study, contact Elizabeth.dymond@nbt.nhs.uk or tel: 0117 32 35690 | |
Medical Innovation Winners 2011
The Bristol Urological Institute is a partner and member of the South West BioMedical iNets and MediWales. These organisations assist small and medium enterprises with innovation in the health and medical arenas. Both have recently held their innovation awards ceremonies and the winners will go forward to a National finals event in London in 2012.
Winners of the BioMedical iNet awards were Jeremy Warren, NanoSight; Roland Burns, Advanced Control Research Ltd; Trevor Langley, KWS BioTest Ltd; and Mark Moran, Hydrate for Health.
Winners of the Mediwales awards were ConvaTec Ltd, Microvisk Technologies, Chromogenex, Biotec Services International, Flexicare Medical, Calon Cardio-Technology and the NHS award went to Mr Richard Penketh, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
The Bristol Urological Institute would like to add their congratulations to all the winners.The Hidden Dangers of Drug Abuse
The Bristol Urological Institute held its 18th Annual Scientific Meeting on 9 November 2011. The topic was The Bladder; dysfunctional and diseased. The highlight was a session on the effects of ketamine abuse on the bladder. Ketamine is an anaesthetic that is sometimes used quite legitimately as a pain killer. However, recently it has become a recreational drug used by hundreds of young people, average age 26 years, but some as young as 14 years old.
Optimising Medtech Development & Innovation Through Research
10th Nov 2011
10:00am – 16:30pm
Bristol & Bath Science Park
Infrastructure (NOCRI) and HealthTech & Medicines KTN have launched a new series of regional workshops to support the medical technology industry. For the first time, the NIHR is providing companies with a comprehensive overview of the innovation landscape on a regional basis.
With speakers from the NIHR, industry, Department of Health and NICE, each event provides companies with a “route map” to successfully translate ideas into commercial products. To support the uptake of new technology into clinical practice, these events will highlight the importance of understanding unmet clinical need and the generation of appropriate clinical evidence for medical technologies.
This event being hosted the Biomedical iNet will help businesses to navigate the complex and changing innovation landscape for medical devices. It will provide information on how best to access support mechanisms that currently exist.
TACT3 Newsletter
The TACT3 newsletter edition 8 is now available to download here »
The BioMed is part of a consortium of universities, small companies and charitable organisations that are working together on a £1.6 million project to find ways to reduce the impact of continence difficulties for older people.
Click here to read more »
To view earlier TACT3newsletters click here »
BioMed Research Nurse explains importance of design of continence products
Sarah Fowler was invited by the Devices for Dignity HTC to present the need for user-focused design in the development of continence products at the Design for Health conference hosted by Sheffield Hallam University on the 13-15 July 2011.
Sarah used the example of the so-called’ female’ urinal to get her message across. Most female urinal products used in hospital or care homes are uncomfortable, unreliable and distinctly unfeminine. There is a real need for a product for those who are permanently or temporarily bedridden and for those with urgency where toilet facilities are unavailable.
Representatives from D4D took questions from delegates at a plenary session.
FREE Health Talks for Women aged 60+
In September and October 2011, there will be a series of health seminars run in the wider Bristol area. These are free and open to all women over the age of 60 years. For those women who are eligible and who wish to take part, there is the additional opportunity to participate in a research study designed to improve the way continence services are delivered.
MediWales Review & Directory 2011-12 goes digital!
BUI partner MediWales has made their MediWales Review and Directory 2011-12 available electronically. The directory includes all our members' profiles - including contact details - and their sector classifications, helping you to identify potential collaborators, suppliers and partners moving forward. The BUI is mentioned on page 15.
New! Urology strategic roadmapping blog
The Health Tech and Medicines KTN has produced a strategic roadmap for urology treatments, powered by the Sharpcloud cloud-based application. This interactive roadmap was produced in collaboration with the BioMed HTC and is accessible on:
https://directory.sharpcloud.com/#story/6b5b3717-8b6a-48e8-8540-1dd491f57bcd
It summarises the technology advances, innovative products and societal trends that are likely to influence the evolution of urological treatments over the next 10 years. The Health KTN team encourages all members of this interest group to have a look at this roadmap and hopes that you will find it a valuable document.
In addition, you will be able to provide comments on any of the roadmap’s items once you have registered for free on Sharpcloud. Your comments will help make this roadmap a live document where medtech practitioners with a shared expertise in urological devices can interact with each other and express their opinions regarding future fields of innovation, for instance:
- To signpost an innovative urological device that has been recently developed.
- To discuss technical challenges behind a given technology advance.
To highlight how a societal trend is impacting the future of urological treatments.
18th BUI Annual Scientific Meeting
We are pleased to annouce the BioMed will be represtented at this year's BUI Annual Scientific Meeting. The 18th Scientific Meeting is entitled "The Bladder" and delegates will be able to hear from specialist speakers from the BUI, BioMed and other healthcare organisations.
Please feel free to download and display the above poster, available in PDF format here »
South West BioMedical Showcase - 23 June 2011
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The South West BioMedical iNet is hosting a new technology extravaganza. The six themes of focus be: Medical devices / equipment; Food& Health; Bio-Imaging & Biophotonics; Pharmaceutical; Diagnostics & Cell Technology.
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| For more information Click Here Download a copy of the programme here » Download the PDF flyer here » To book your place online Click Here |
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Telford mum wears nappy for speech to MPs
A campaigning Shropshire mother stunned MPs after dropping her skirt and delivering a speech, wearing a nappy.
TACT3 Newsletter
The TACT3 newsletter edition 7 is now available to download here »
The BioMed is part of a consortium of universities, small companies and charitable organisations that are working together on a £1.6 million project to find ways to reduce the impact of continence difficulties for older people.
Click here to read more »
To view earlier TACT3newsletters click here »
Bristol’s Innovation Showcase
Bristol has been a centre of innovation over many centuries. It is best known for its engineering feats largely through Isambard Kingdom Brunel who built the Great Western Railway the SS Great Britain and the Clifton Suspension Bridge
Today it is better known for its aerospace industry and its biomedical innovation. A Showcase event was held by BRIG-H to present some of the most recent innovations. To find our more about the OdoReader - a rapid diagnostic for Clostridium difficile – and improving survival after kidney transplant, among many other innovations, download the brochure of the event.
Improving Continence across Continents
Over the past 4 years, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research has invested research funds to test 2 new continence promotion methods aimed at encouraging older women suffering from incontinence to seek appropriate care. The first method uses a self-management tool, and the second involves participation in an interactive continence workshop that debunks myths about why a person might not want to seek care. Both methods proved successful in increasing the rates of self-care and professional healthcare seeking for incontinence in Canada and are now being brought to the UK through a collaborative research project with the University of Montreal, Brunel University and the Bristol Urological Institute. The study is being conducted by research nurses Jane Edwards at BUI and Rona Agnew based at Glasgow University. Around 1000 women from throughout the UK are needed to participate in this study which started in October 2010 and will be completed by October 2011.
NICE Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme: New publication of process and methods guides
During 2010, NICE consulted on the draft process and methods guides for its new Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme (formerly the Evaluation Pathway for Medical Technologies). The process and methods guides are published on NICE’s website
Urodynamics Trainer wins Poster Prize at UKCS 2011
The Bristol Urodynamics Trainer had its official launch at UKCS, and Mr Andrew Gammie, designer of the Trainer, was awarded first prize for his poster introducing the product.
The 18th conference of UKCS was held in Colston Hall, Bristol this April to commemorate the year in which Professor Paul Abrams will retire from clinical practice. Professor Abrams gave a keynote speech on the ‘Thirty years of managing complex incontinence’.
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| Click images for larger views | Professor Paul Abrams | Mr Andrew Gammie |
New funding for innovation for UK companies
A new Technology Strategy Board scheme is offering funding to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage in R&D projects in the strategically important areas of science, engineering and technology, from which successful new products, processes and services could emerge. The scheme will support R&D projects which offer potentially significant rewards and could stimulate UK economic growth. Funding is available to single companies. Any UK SME working in any sector may apply; applications are accepted on a rolling basis for assessment by independent experts.
Three types of grant are available:
The call is response mode, but applications will be dealt with in batches. Batch assessment dates for 2011-12 are:
- 2011
- 5th May
- 7th July
- 1st September
- 3rd November
- 2012
- 5th January
- 1st March
Companies in the South West may be able to get assistance in making their application from the South West BioMedical iNet
BUI now part of North Bristol NHS Trust
The Bristol Urological Insitute, and with it the BioMed Centre, were formally integrated into the North Bristol NHS Trust in June 2010. This was part of wider strategic plans including the building of the new superhospital. We now have a new flyer to promote our facilities and services.
New ‘Smart Underwear ‘ for incontinence pad users
We are looking for female volunteers over the age of 18 years, who wear a pad for urinary incontinence to test some new ‘Smart underwear’.
The underwear has been designed to help individuals manage their incontinence by alerting them if their pad has leaked. Your participation would provide us with essential feedback on how the device worked for you and whether you found it helpful.
This research is being conducted by the BioMed centre at Southmead Hospital.
You will receive a £25 voucher as compensation for your time.
For further information, or to take part in the study, please contact: Maryann Slack (study nurse) at the BioMed Centre, Southmead Hospital, Bristol. On 0117 3235188 or maryann.slack@nbt.nhs.uk.
This research has been reviewed and given favourable opinion by Southmead Research Ethics Committee (reference number: 10/H0102/12).
New! Bristol Urodynamics Trainer
The Bristol Urodynamics Trainer designed by the Bristol Urological Institute, is a low cost simulator which allows dedicated training and practice, free from any time constraints, or demands on using essential equipment.
A must for every urodynamics department.
(Click on image for larger picture.)
US Professor wins international fellowship to collaborate with BioMed
Professor Mary Wilde has been awarded a fellowship from the International Continence Society to collaborate with United Kingdom investigators and develop research initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people with long-term catheters. She will be visiting the UK in August and October.
For more information visit http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=3115
Desperate need for public loos
BioMed is a partner in the New Dynamics of Aging Programme study TACT3. One of the objectives is to look at public toilet design and provision. In a letter to the Independent TACT3 researchers make a plea to councils not to cut public toilet access.
The letter was in response to the following article "Public Inconvenience".
Success for BioMed HTC Partner
Dr Geoffrey Andrews, Chief Executive Officer Ranier Technology, UK - a BioMed HTC Partner – has been invited to address the prestigious Canaccord Genuity’s Musculoskeletal Conference held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 The meeting brings together emerging private companies to share the platform with established players in the orthopaedic industry to explore the latest product and commercial developments and to shine the spotlight on innovation within the sector. 
Dr Andrews commented on his inclusion on the speaker panel: “I am very pleased that Ranier has been invited to participate in this event, which has a history of showcasing truly innovative companies seeking to deliver their technologies to the medical market. I shall be reporting on the considerable progress that has been made in both our CE marked elastomimetic lumbar disc replacement: Cadisc™-L and also the cervical disc device: Cadisc™-C, which will shortly enter a European clinical study”
Incontinence: The Engineering Challenge VIII
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The Biomed is once again sponsoring this biennial conference which includes the latest developments in continence products, devices and technologies. The event is being held on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 December 2011 at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, 1 Birdcage Walk, SW1H 9JJ, London. |
| For further information, registration and submission of abstracts click the above picture. Alternatively visit www.imeche.org (external link) | |
Happy New Year from BioMed
BioMed wishes all its partners, collaborators and customers a happy and prosperous New Year.
Also we want to say thank you to all of you who completed our customer (commercial organisations only) survey at the end of 2010. We are very pleased that most of you rate our services as excellent and say that we have been able to add significant value to your organisation. A few of you felt that we could improve our response times and we will be working on improving this in 2011.
Please feel free to contact the BioMed Director, Adele Long, to discuss any aspect of our services or to give us informal feedback.
Thank you for your business and we look forward to working with you in 2011.
Market review of fluid dispensers and drinking aids
This review focuses on devices for older and disabled people who have problems getting enough fluids to drink. Previous work at the BioMed Centre has identified a gap in the market for a hydration device with monitoring and alarm functions, and evidence from patients themselves suggests there are very few devices suitable for people who cannot suck or have poor hand function.
The report has highlighted that a large number of drinking aids are already available if you have some hand control. There appears to be nothing on the market yet for people with very limited or no hand control to use independently and these people must rely on carers to supply drinks at the correct time.
The results of a scoping study on hydration practices in care homes and hospitals will be completed in December 2010.
South West BioMedical iNet
The BUI is pleased to be a partner in the South West BioMedical iNet which is to have its official launch in January 2011. Over the next three years, the ERDF funded Biomedical iNet will support small and medium-sized businesses based in the South West to translate exciting ideas developed in businesses and universities into the new products and services that will drive business and economic growth. The BUI will be specifically supporting businesses who have technologies or wish to enter the field of urology.
Come and meet us at the launch events. Look for the North Bristol NHS stand.
NTAC Launches new How To Why To Guide: Non Invasive Bladder Analysis for Men
The NHS Technology Adoption Centre (NTAC) has launched its latest online "How to why to Guide" for Non Invasive Bladder Analysis for Men. This online Guide informs clinicians and managers how to successfully implement this technology into routine clinical and operational practice.
Visit the Guide! http://www.technologyadoptioncentre.nhs.uk/how-to-why-to-guides.html
Invasive pressure-flow studies are considered to be the Gold Standard tool for diagnosing Bladder Outlet Obstruction (BOO), however, the routine use in the investigation of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) is limited by the invasive nature of performing this test alongside the requirement for specialist facilities and staff and associated morbidities of carrying out the procedure. This approach is also expensive (as the current expenditure on treating suspicious Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (which BOO falls under) is £55,357,650), time-consuming and requires skilled analysis and interpretation of results.
The non invasive cuff test being described in this How to Why to Guide can help to reduce the need for conventional urodynamic testing and can provide patients with a faster route to treatment. This can lead to overall improvements in quality of life and can reduce the morbidities associated with an unnecessary surgical procedure. The non invasive cuff test offers a simple alternative for the diagnosis of BOO which does not require specialist input and analysis which is otherwise necessary for conventional invasive investigations.
Key Benefits of the Technology
- Reducing inappropriate treatment by introducing the use of the diagnostic cuff test, the overall pathway of care is enhanced and savings are obtained due to these efficiencies.
- Reducing the risk of urinary tract infections, social isolation, embarrassment, discomfort and morbidity associated with invasive techniques and depression by accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of LUTS. There are also fewer complications compared to invasive urodynamic studies.
- Increasing clinical and cost effectiveness by making informed decisions on the appropriate follow up pathway, providers can ensure that they are using their resources more effectively and are closing the inequality gap in the provision of these services.
- Improving clinical outcomes and improving emotional and physical wellbeing through accurate diagnosis and effective treatments in line with NICE clinical guideline CG97.
- Increasing patient choice by offering a diagnostic test that can be performed in the outpatient setting as opposed to more conventional means of testing (which would otherwise take place through surgery).
- Simple training requirement. The diagnostic cuff test is easily applied and removed. Minimum staff training time is required for use of the technology.
A Business Case Template, a Costing Model, and a Roadmap Section to support clinicians, hospital managers and commissioners in the implementation of this therapy into routine clinical and operational practice.
“Awesome!” : the new Smart Port for suprapubic catheterisation
Patients, health professionals and NHS purchasers have been asked for their feedback on the new Smart Port device developed with funding from the Technology Strategy Board. The cost of new products is clearly on the minds of purchasers, who feel unable to support new technologies that offer patient benefit but not necessarily reduced costs to the NHS. Health professionals welcome new devices that give their patients more dignity and reduce complications. Patients, naturally, can (and should) be the most demanding of all when it comes to assessing the appearance and performance of new technologies. Lucy is paraplegic following a motorbike accident which left her paralysed from the chest down. She is young, attractive and, above all, a sensational international tennis champion; she wants to look good and feel good. That means having discreet and reliable bladder control. Lucy’s verdict on the new Smart Port was “ awesome … this [device] could be more discreet for lots of people who currently use a Foley catheter”.
The prototype needs further refinement prior to clinical trialling, which is expected to start in 2011.
Intermittent Catheter Market Currently Valued at $230 Million and Set to Double by 2014
TORONTO, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, reimbursement changes have caused the demand for intermittent catheters to increase significantly. In April 2008, Medicare changed reimbursement to cover up to 200 catheters per month, instead of the previous 4 that it covered. Over the past two years, market growth has been fueled by patients who have switched to a single-use regimen. There is, however, still tremendous growth potential in this market because the majority of patients who regularly use intermittent catheters are still generally comfortable reusing catheters because this has been a standard practice for many years. These patients typically use only four or five catheters per month.
Supported by its strong sales force, Coloplast had over 50% of the market in 2009, with C.R. Bard, Astra Tech, Rusch, and Hollister also accounting for a notable share in this segment that year. A substantial sales force is necessary to develop appropriate relationships with health care providers -- in order to ensure that prescriptions are being written specifically for a manufacturer's device -- and with distributors -- in order to ensure that they promote specific devices to end users. The dominant presence of larger competitors in this market and their existing relationships with health care providers and distributors may therefore prevent smaller competitors from entering or being more successful in this segment.
"In order to be successful, manufacturers will need to develop these relationships with health care providers and medical product distributors," says Aaron McCracken, Principal Analyst at MRG. "Companies will also need to brand their products directly to patients to ensure that they ask for a specific brand when ordering catheters from a distributor."
Medical Futures Innovation Competition 2011
The call for next years competition is out. The deadline for entries is December 2010. Please click here to read more >
MediWales Innovation Awards 2010
MediWales is running its 5th Innovation Awards competition and celebratory dinner on Wednesday 1st December 2010 at Cardiff’s Hilton Hotel for all award winners, sponsors and MediWales members who wish to attend.
Please click here to read more >
New Publication.
"In vitro multicompartmental bladder model for assessing blockage of urinary catheters: effect of hydrogel coating on dynamics of Proteus mirabilis growth."
The BioMed has co-authored the above publication which can be viewed via the PubMed webiste, Ref: PMID: 20696356
BUI/BioMed at the ISC-IUGA conference in Toronto, August 23-27 2010
Following a successful workshop in previous years, the BUI urodynamics team held another, equally successful workshop this year in Toronto. 
In addition we were invited to participate in a workshop entitled “Models of Continence Care; what works best?”, which looked at geriatric care models in UK and US and new social enterprise models for continence care in the UK, and how these models can be evaluated to ensure aims and objectives are realised in practice. This workshop too was well received and is likely to be repeated at ICS next year in Glasgow. 
The 2010 programme can be found on: the ICS website click here to view.
Newsletter
Click on the image below to open the latest version of our Winter 2009 Newsletter.
Earlier newsletters are also available to view in PDF format. Click on the following links to open the newsletters.
Spring 2009
Summer 2008
Spring 2008
Autumn 2007
Autumn 2006
Spring 2006
Products, devices, treatments and technologies for urinary continence in adults.
(1st Edition) ~ February 2009
This report will assist “new players” in the field to gain an understanding of urinary tract dysfunction, and also help to identify potential gaps and opportunities for innovation. It will be particularly useful for:
- non-clinical partners engaged in research, sales, marketing or product development
- non-specialist clinicians who require an overview
The report describes, in broad terms, the most common causes of bladder and urethral dysfunction in adults, focusing on symptoms, prevalence and the various treatment options available, including an indications of the evidence for their use. It comprises the following sections:
- Understanding Urinary Incontinence
- Stress Urinary Incontinence
- Urgency Urinary Incontinence
- Voiding Difficulties
Please click here to view the contents page.
To purchase a copy of this report (£19.99) please contact:
BioMed Centre
Bristol Urological Institute
Southmead Hospital
Bristol
BS10 5NB
Email: biomed@bui.ac.uk
Or, purchase online at www.ennovations.co.uk
The Centre for Evidence-based has gone NICE!
NICE, the NHS Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, was asked by the Department of Health to coordinate the evaluation of innovative medical devices and diagnostics used in the NHS. The establishment of an Evaluation Pathway for Medical Technologies Programme follows the acknowledgement in the 2008 report ‘High quality care for all’ of the need to simplify the pathway by which medical technologies pass from development into wider use.
The Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing (CEP), which previously undertook medical device appraisal, was decommissioned on 31st of March 2010. It has published around 160 separate reports and interactive tools to assist the NHS in better understanding how innovative technologies could bring improvements to both patient care and service delivery. The BUI and BioMed contributed to 5 of these reports within the last year. These are available on http://www.cep.dh.gov.uk/
BUI authorship:
CEP10030: Evidence review: Automated urine screening systems
CEP10031: Evaluation report: Automated urine screening systems
CEP09037: Buyers' guide: Urodynamic systems
CEP09038: Evaluation report: Urodynamic systems
And with a BUI contribution:
Throwing down the gauntlet to solve urological problems
The NHS is challenging industry to find solutions for clinical needs it has identified as major priorities. The BioMed HTC has worked with the National Innovation Centre and the D4D HTC to highlight the need to treat and manage urinary incontinence and prostate cancer http://competitions.nic.nhs.uk for better patient outcomes and improved quality of life.
TACT3 Newsletter Issue 5
The latest Issue 5 TACT3 (Summer 2010) newsletter is now available, click on picture to open.
Earlier newsletters are also available to view:
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New “Smart Underwear” for incontinence pad users (or Attention ladies!)
We are looking for female volunteers who are over the age of 18 and wear a pad for urinary incontinence to test some new ‘Smart underwear’.
The underwear has been designed to help individuals manage their incontinence by alerting them if their pad has leaked. Your participation would provide us with essential feedback on how the underwear worked for you and whether you found it helpful. This research study is being conducted by the BioMed Centre at Southmead hospital.
You will receive a £25 voucher as compensation for your time.
For further information, or to take part in the study, please contact Maryann Slack (study nurse) at the BioMed Centre on 0117 323 5188 or maryann.slack@nbt.nhs.uk.
This research has been reviewed and given favourable opinion by Southmead Research Ethics Committee (reference number: 10/H0102/12).
Underwear Recruits Required
People with incontinence are being recruited to help test vibrating underwear.
Click here to view the Bristol Evening Post article.
BUI now part of North Bristol NHS Trust
The Bristol Urological Insitute, and with it the BioMed Centre, were formally integrated into the North Bristol NHS Trust in June 2010. This was part of wider strategic plans including the building of the new superhospital. We now have a new flyer to promote our facilities and services.
Getting Involved...
The BioMed HTC is seeking to improve the health and quality of life of people with urinary incontinence through research and innovation. To do this, we need the involvement of patients and their carers. However, reaching people who are interested can be difficult. We are therefore creating a database of patients and carers which will enable us to communicate more effectively, and allow patients and carers the opportunity to become engaged in research and the development of new products and devices for continence care.
We are asking health care providers to provide patients with information leaflets, so they can volunteer to take part in our important research or, if they choose, simply receive information on what we are doing.
For further information, please contact Maryann Slack (Research Nurse), Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital or on 0117 323 5188. E-Mail: Maryann.Slack@nbt.nhs.uk
We have two videos available showing the Limbs and Things model and the SPC insertion kit in action.
http://www.limbsandthings.com
http://www.mediplus.co.uk
Ways to support the BioMed.
Control Your Bladder, Enjoy Your Life
A special thanks to the following charitable trusts for their support:-
James Tudor Foundation - £33,000 over 3 years ending in December 2010.
The Basil Brown Charitable Trust - £250.
The Charles Hayward Foundation - £30,000 over 3 years ending in December 2011.
Click here to easily donate via our JustGiving fundrasing page.
BioMed Clinic
The BioMed Catheter Clinic is up and running. If you wish to refer a patient who is experiencing problems with their catheter, please contact Dr Samih Al Hayek on 0117 323 4543 or write to him at BioMed, Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB.
National Business Awards
Mediplus Ltd, a partner in the BioMed HTC, are South of England finalists for the regional Business Innovation of the Year Award 2009. Mediplus have been innovators of medical products for more than 20 years, designing and marketing products for use in Urology, Urogynaecology, Gastroenterology, Anaesthetics & General Surgery. Please click here for further information on the awards.
NIHR ‘Invention for Innovation’ seminars
The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme offers new funding opportunities for the development of healthcare technologies. Regional seminars were held in early 2009 to give information and advice on the programme.
Adele Long, BioMed Director, gave a presentation at a Warrington seminar on 31 March 2009, detailing the role and achievements of the BioMed HTC.
Adele is a reviewer for the i4i Future Product Development Stream 2 (FPD2) programme. Please click here for further information on the i4i programme.
38th Conference of the British Society of Gerontology - Culture, Diversity and Ageing. 2 – 4 September 2009
As part of this conference, a symposium will be held on Continence difficulties and older people. This will be led by the Tackling Ageing Continence through Theory, Tools and Technology (TACT3) project consortium, of which the BUI is a part.
Adele Long, BioMed Director, will be giving a presentation on Living with incontinence: the patient perspective.
The conference will be held at the University of the West of England Frenchay campus in Bristol.
Medical Devices Clinical Study Day
Are you new to the world of Medical Devices, or maybe an old hand looking for some updates?
The Aim of the Course is to lead delegates through the regulatory and clinical aspects of conducting device studies with particular emphasis on the difference between device and drug studies.
Click here to Read More >
2008
The Top Ten research questions for Continence. Are they yours?
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The BioMed HTC has joined the James Lind Alliance in a project to help identify the key research questions for continence care. http://www.lindalliance.org/ |
The James Lind Alliance aims to identify the most important gaps in knowledge about the effects of treatments by bringing patients and clinicians together in 'Working Partnerships' to identify and prioritise the unanswered questions that they agree are most important.
Your Views and the James Lind Alliance
Urinary incontinence occurs in all ages for many different reasons. Every day patients, carers and clinicians have to make choices about the management of urinary incontinence. Sometimes not enough up to date information exists resulting in uncertainty regarding the best choice to make. The BioMed Centre at Southmead hospital supports the work that is being conducted by the James Lind Alliance (JLA) working partnership on identifying the important areas of uncertainty in the management of urinary incontinence. We have been asked to distribute the enclosed questionnaire to patients, carers and healthcare professionals to enable the JLA to prioritise areas that would benefit from research.
This is an opportunity to put forward your views. Below is a link to a short questionnaire for you to complete with some guidance notes. Please return your questionnaire to biomed@bui.ac.uk. All completed questionnaires returned to BioMed will be gathered together by end of May 2008 and forwarded to the JLA working partnership.
Identifying important areas of uncertainty in the treatment or management of urianary incontinence (71KB)
Thank you for taking the time to support this important project.
Alternatively come to the BioMed session at the ACA Conference (hot link http://www.aca.uk.com/conference.php) on the 14th May 2008 and discuss these issues with colleagues
BioMed Open Day
Over 70 people attended the first BioMed Open Day on 14th February. It was an opportunity for those invited to learn more about the work of the BioMed Health Technology Co-operative and to meet the staff.
Click here to read all about it
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New Appointments
Debbie Lewis started a post - doctoral position with BioMed and UWE at the beginning of November 2007. She has a 2 ½ project looking at the insertion of bioluminescent genes into urinary tract organisms. These lighy emitting cells will then enable colonisation of laboratory models of the catheterised bladder to be monitored visually.
Richard Thompson will be starting work as a Research Technician in the BioMed laboratory at the beginning of January 2008. His appointment will enable the laboratory to deliver on a number of contracts in addition to performing research into the problems associated with long-term indwelling urinary catheterisation.
Continence Awareness Week: BioMed talk to the Women's Institute
On 25th September the Avon Federation of the Women's Institute held their AGM at the Winter Gardens in Weston super Mare. To mark Continence Awareness week Roger Feneley was invited to talk about the work of the BioMed Centre. One of three guest speakers. Professor Feneley addressed the 500 women present about the early beginnings of the BioMed as well as our current projects. He also talked about the need for continual financial support to enable BioMed to maintain its momentum in this very under-funded aspect of healthcare.
I accompanied Professor Feneley to promote our work and distribute information on incontinence. There was huge interest in the BioMed Centre with many delegates only too aware of the difficulties and misery that is incontinence. We came away feeling we had achieved a lot to promote the BioMed as well as raising awareness of how people can seek appropriate help.
Sarah Fowler, BioMed Research Nurse
2007
Pessary Study Day
A Practical Pessary Study Day was held at the Bristol Urological Institute on 5th October 2007. The event was jointly run by Mediplus and the BioMed Centre and over 25 delegates attended.
Read about the Practical Pessary here
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Recent Fundraising
In September Professor Feneley and the Friends of BioMed organised a wine tasting evening at Bristol Merchants' Hall. The evening was hosted by John Avery and John Harvey, two renowned experts from Bristol Wine Companies, who kept the audience fascinated with amusing anecdotes about their vineyard travels. The evening raised over £11,000.
Join the Continence Roadmapping exercise NOW!
BITECIC are asking anyone with an interest in the future of continence care to join in a Roadmapping exercise. This is a way of gathering information from different communities that will ultimately decide which new products and devices should be developed. This in turn affects what research should be carried out to meet the needs of patients and healthcare providers. All you need to participate is a computer, a set of headphones with a microphone and a few hours of your time. All instructions will be given.
Any company, organisation or individualthat joins will be given free access to a recent marketing report on urinary catheters prepared by Medipex Ltd.
Voice your views. It could affect your future. Contact John Egan
This project is being funded by the Department of Health through the BioMed.
Fundraising
Congratulations to Georgie Maw and Adele Long for raising almost £12,000
between them in aid of the BioMed Centre. Georgie ran in the London Marathon
and finished in an amazing 4 hours and 50 minutes. Her efforts have raised
an even more incredible £11,000 in sponsorship - www.justgiving.com/georgiemaw
Meanwhile, Adele succeeded in climbing 4 hitherto unclimbed peaks, all between
4700 and 5000 metres high, in the Ak Shirak range of mountains in Kyrgyzstan
and has raised almost £1,000 - www.justgiving.com/expeditionkyrgystan
Thanks go to all who sponsored them. Your help will go towards supporting the research undertaken at the BioMed Centre.
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The EU FP6 Healthy Aims project was completed in November 2007. Work is continuing on the development of new devices and their dissemination. Details of the programme can be found on http://www.healthyaims.org
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New Awards
The Department of Health have awarded the BioMed Centre a further £78,000 to support the laboratory research activites.
BioMed have been awarded £33,000 from the James Tudor Foundation to help support a public and patient liaison co-ordinator.
An award of £30,000 has come from the Charles Hayward Foundation to further our research on the sensor and modulation of encrustation.
Incontinence: The Engineering Challenge
6th Biennial Seminar 14 - 15th November 2007
Institute of Mechanical Engineers - IMechE, 1 Birdcage Walk, London
www.imeche.org.uk/events/incontinence
Help the Aged
Help the Aged has launched a booklet entitled Taking Control, which draws on the research undertaken at the BioMed Centre. It sets out their action plans to improve access to public toilets and provision of continence supplies and services. The booklet and other information on incontinence can be found on the the Help the Aged website
New Appointments
Two new Research Associates have joined the BioMed Centre, Angela Hogg and Sarah Fowler. See Projects
2006
Nurse Lead Appointment
Debbie Rigby stared here in July as the Nursing Lead for the BioMed HTC. Debbie will develop links with patients and healthcare professionals in the community and work with hospital clinicians to develop improvements in catheter care.
David Stickler wins IMechE Award
David Stickler, Research Director of the BioMed Centre, was awarded the IMechE's Medical Engineeing Division Board Innovations Prize for 2005. This was for a paper on the "Development of Sensor to Detect the Early Stages of Catheter Encrustation". Find out more
Sheriden Morgan also won the MED Presentation Prize for his paper on "Manipulation of the Nucleation pH of Urine and its Effect on the Rates of Catheter Encrustation".
Advancing Continence Care Products and Devices in the NHS Meeting
This very successful meeting was organised by the KTN Urology Special Interest Group, in conjunction with the BioMed HTC, at Southmead Hospital, Bristol in May this year.
Mr John Reynard, Consultant Urology Surgeon, opened the meeting with the challenge Is there light on the horizon for the patient with intractable urinary incontinence? The presentations that followed covered all aspects of continence products, how we evaluate existing and new products and how new products are taken up by the NHS. Some examples of devices under development offered some light on the horizon, but it was concluded that there is such a paucity of clinical evidence in this field that much more research is needed to underpin improvements in products and treatments.
Presentations can be found on http://healthtech.globalwatchonline.com.Once logged in follow the special Interest Group for Urology link.
New Appointments
Mr Azhar Khan was appointed to the post of Clinical Research Fellow in the BioMed Centre.
Dr Nora Sabbuba joined us as Assistant Research Manager.
Catheter Care in the Community
The Catheter Care Study Day, held in the BUI on 19th January 2006, was organised by Sister Linda Fracyzk and chaired by Mr Sunil Mathur.
A broad spectrum of topics were presented by experts in the region on catheter care. The most popular session was on encrustation and bladder calculi. It was attended by over 40 delegates including continence advisors, clinical nurse specialists, specialist urology nurses and care home managers. Delegates were keen to learn more about the BioMed Centre and what it can offer.
This was the first BioMed Centre study day and was very successful with much positive feedback from the delegates.
2005
Professor Roger Feneley is honoured
We were delighted to report that Professor Roger Feneley was awarded the prestigious degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa by the University of the West of England on 24th November 2005.
Official Opening of the Bristol Urological Institute and BioMed Centre
On 19th October HRH Duchess of Gloucester GCVO officially opened the Bristol Urological Institute Building.