Archived News
GP MAGAZINE: Turning ideas into reality (excerpt)
04.03.02
Daniel Thomas previews the impending Medical Futures Innovation Awards for 2002 and checks on the progress of last year's award winners.
Daniel Thomas previews the impending Medical Futures Innovation Awards for 2002 and checks on the progress of last year's award winners.
Other GP winners have found the business world simiilarly hard. Suffolk-based locum Dr Vince Forte says that it was only after he won the best medical innovation award for his Female Freedom Funnel that "the harshness of the commercial world hit home".
He designed a paper funnel to direct urine into a sample bottle, reducing mess and risk of contamination. With an estimated 50 million samples taken in the UK every year, he felt sure that there was a hugely profitable patient-led market for it.
He approached around 27 companies but has yet to find a manufacturing partner. Some companies were only interested in distribution, while others wanted him to sign disclaimers accepting that they may have a similar product already in production. Despite the interest, nothing has been finalised but he remains hopeful.
Back to list