Podhaler™ device is finalist in Medical Design Excellence Awards

Inhaled use of antibiotics is the traditional method of treating the infection, using a nebuliser to target the lungs where the drugs are needed. The inhaler in contention for the MDEA awards is a portable capsule based dry powder inhaler, which is mechanical and does not require a power source. Designed to have low airflow resistance to allow patients to generate high air flow rates, it does not need extensive cleaning and disinfection, unlike traditional nebulisers.

“We are honoured that our contributions to the Podhaler device have been recognised in the MDEA programme,” said Matthew Allen, Programme Director, Medical Technology at Cambridge Consultants. “To be named as a supplier to a finalist in what are regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the medical world is a massive endorsement of the skills of our world-leading engineers.”

MDEA entries are evaluated on the basis of their design and engineering features – including innovative use of materials, user-related functions that improve healthcare delivery and change traditional medical attitudes or practices, features that provide new benefits to patients, and the ability of the product development team to overcome design and engineering challenges so that the product meets its clinical objectives. Entries were reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of judges with expertise in biomedical engineering, human factors, industrial design, medicine and diagnostics.

The MDEA winners will be announced on May 23 inPhiladelphia, with bronze, silver and gold-level awards in each of the competition’s 10 categories. One gold-winning product will be awarded the title of Best in Show. The MDEA programme is presented by global advanced manufacturing and medtech authority UBM Canon and by Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry – the industry’s central source for news, information and business intelligence.

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