Industry Case Study

Warmamask

 

The Idea

 

The Warmamask is an innovative idea for a facial mask designed to allow sufferers from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to inhale warm air in cold conditions, providing substantial improvement to their quality of life through enhanced mobility.

 

The mask also has the potential to be fitted with an appropriate viral filter to offer protection to the vulnerable in the event of a viral pandemic. Other possible applications include sport and leisure uses (e.g. mountaineers) and arctic weather use by the military.

 

History

 

The Warmamask's inventor had himself experienced breathing difficulties in cold climatic conditions following an operation.

 

He visited the Medilink West Midlands stand at the MDT Medtech Exhibition at the NEC in February 2007. Having discussed his ideas and intentions, Medilink West Midlands brought the project to the attention of MidTECH.

 

MidTECH met with the inventor and his business partner to discuss the idea in greater detail and determine how the concept might be developed and commercialised with the assistance of the NHS.

 

At the time of meeting MidTECH, the intellectual property rights in the innovation were unprotected, rendering the inventors unable to disclose their idea to other parties in any detail. The previous unsatisfactory solution to this had been the establishment of a cumbersome and unsatisfactory non-disclosure agreement with any potentially interested party.

 

At MidTECH’s suggestion, they contacted a local patent attorney and successfully filed a UK patent application.

 

MidTECH also informed them of potential funding available from the Technology Transfer Fund (TTF).  As Warmamask Ltd was being incorporated as a company, MidTECH introduced it to BRDL who gave advice on the drafting of their TTF funding application, culminating in the award of a £25,000 grant.

 

The innovation has already attracted significant clinical interest and support from a consultant physician at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, who is working with Warmamask on scientific testing protocols to evaluate the mask’s effectiveness together with the requisite ethics approval. Initial results from a recently concluded preliminary study are extremely encouraging. The project is progressing with the support of the National Pollen and Aerobiology Unit at Worcester University. MidTECH is managing the commercial terms of the collaboration between Warmamask, the Trust and the University.