Cancer treatment device a winning design.
Dyson has announced the 2017 Australian winner of the James Dyson Award – an international award inspiring the next generation of design engineers. Queensland University of Technology graduate, William Mason has been crowned the national winner with his revolutionary cancer treatment device, Activ Infusion Pump – a single use, long-term, one channel elastomeric infusion pump designed to help reduce stress and impact to daily activities of chemotherapy patients.
It delivers medication to patients over a period of time, up to three days, and can be concealed in the Activ carry bag under garments, worn close to the body. The medication and diluent is filled into the pump via a syringe within a controlled laminar flow facility. This is then driven via an elastomeric bladder intravenously into the patient typically through a medical port located on the patient’s chest. The pump has a single port which may be used to fill and express the medication, reducing the risk of error.
After finding out about a close family member who was diagnosed with cancer, Mason sought to address the problems associated with cancer treatment.
“Witnessing the struggle my family went through is what has really motivated me to develop Activ Infusion Pump. I understand my product isn’t going to solve all the ‘wicked’ problems connected with chemotherapy treatment, but it can make a positive impact in a small but meaningful way to the lives of patients and their families,” he said.
As national winner of the Australian James Dyson Award 2017, Mason (pictured below) will receive £2,000, as well as moving on to the next phase of the competition.
“Being recognised as the Australian winner of the James Dyson Award winner is extremely exciting. The money will help me to continue on my venture, going towards further prototyping and development,” he added.
Four runners-up will also join William for the international judging stage for the James Dyson Award. The designers behind runner-up projects The Canary, the Utility Barrow and the Meridian Portable Toilet Solution (PTS) studied at Swinburne University of Technology in Victoria. While the designers behind runner-up project Sunswift study at the University of New South Wales in NSW.