Projects awarded funding through the MIMIT Innovative Pathway

Project funding provided by the North West Development Agency (NWDA)

A Better Colostomy Bag
Prof. Gordon Carlson and Mandy Smith (Salford Royal Foundation Trust) and Dr Xue-Feng Yuan (University of Manchester)
Around 40,000 UK patients with a colostomy will have problems with their stoma and colostomy bag each year. Blockages, leaking, gas build up and physical discomfort are routine issues that impact on patient wellbeing, dignity and quality of life. In addition excessive replacement of bags is estimated to cost the NHS an extra £80M per annum.  MIMIT have assembled a multidisciplinary team of engineers, material scientists, clinicians, patients and stoma nurses to try to develop ‘a better colostomy bag’.

Modifying the surface of breast implants
Dr Ardeshir Bayat (University of Manchester)
Capsular contracture (formation of a fibrous capsule around the implant followed by shrinking) is the most common complication of breast implant or reconstructive surgery. It affects approximately 1 in 10 women. It is also the most common reason for further surgery. In some cases, the implant may have to be removed and replaced with a new one. MIMIT are investigating new ways to modify the surface of the implants to reduce the rate of complication.

Advanced Sleep, Activity and Rest Monitoring (ASARM)
Dr Steve Pettifer (University of Manchester) and Dr Paul Abeles (Central Manchester Foundation Trust)
Treatment for Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME)/ chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is individually tailored for each patient. To improve the treatment schedule, monitoring of baseline activity is critical and currently done by the patient adding notes to a paper diary. There are devices that can capture more detailed patient information, including the Actiwatch (Philips). However, there is a need to integrate the data collected by such devices, with patient observations and clinician feedback. The project is therefore focussed on software development to address this need, providing an integrated system that can monitor sleep, activity and rest in patients with ME/CFS.

Overcoming facial paralysis
Prof. Patrick Gaydecki (University of Manchester) and Mr Tim Blackburn (Central Manchester Foundation Trust)
Unilateral Facial Paralysis occurs in several subgroups of patients and can persist to a permanent state. Surgical solutions generally have imperfect results such as unwanted regions of the face contracting involuntarily when another part of the face is used. The initial focus of the project will be aimed at data capture of particular muscle area and relaying this signal to corresponding paralysed facial area, resulting in mirrored muscle movement on both sides of the face.

Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Collaborative Project

EEG assessment of prolonged seizures in children
Dr Tim Martland (Central Manchester Foundation Trust)
After children have been treated for prolonged seizures it can be very difficult to distinguish the child who is drowsy and recovering, from the child who has subtle ongoing non-convulsive seizures. The project is aimed at developing an EEG based assessment of seizures to distinguish between the two conditions, helping clinicians determine the right treatment and care for those children.

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