25 October 2007
Smart technology to be developed in the Northwest
SmartLife Technology Ltd in Manchester has been awarded an
Exceptional Development Grant of £500,000 by the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA) to develop a garment called the
‘HealthVest’.
Since 2004 the company has developed a garment that incorporates
sensors allowing the monitoring of vital health signs and this
technology is likely to allow the continuous monitoring of a
person’s vital signs and wellbeing. The ‘HealthVest’ is expected to
be made available to a wide range of sectors including medical,
sports, the emergency services and professional drivers.
The garment uses sensors which can monitor electrocardiogram
(ECG), respiration and temperature and is worn next to the skin as
an undergarment. The garment then transfers raw signals to
electronics carried by the subject for processing, presentation or
forwarding to a remote monitoring centre.
The primary market for patient monitoring globally has been
estimated at $14.5bn, according to business research firm Frost and
Sullivan and the HealthVest is likely to find a ready market in the
professional sports arena. Other markets will include healthcare
where the technology will create the option for elderly relatives
to be monitored. Additionally first responders such as the
emergency services who are entering fire or stress related
situations will be able to be monitored with the aim of reducing
the risks that they face.
The data is transmitted from the HealthVest, using wireless
technology to devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, computers or to
a hospital or clinician’s equipment. The HealthVest also retains
the option of data being stored on the wearer for later analysis or
for on-body status monitoring.
The Grant for Research and Development (GRAND) scheme is a
Department for Innovation Universities & Skills (DIUS) business
support solution, run in the Northwest by the NWDA. The GRAND
scheme provides grants to help individuals and small to medium
sized businesses research and develop technologically innovative
products and processes. The Agency’s GRAND team assess and fully
appraise the elements of the scheme, and continue to monitor the
project as it progresses.
Mark Hughes, Executive Director for Enterprise and Skills at the
NWDA, said: “A project of this nature is likely to generate much
wider economic benefits for the company but also for the economy of
the Northwest. As the project progresses it is likely to enable the
company and the workforce to grow and develop, putting it at the
forefront of a thriving technology sector in the Northwest.”
For more information on available grants under the GRAND scheme,
call Business Link Northwest on 0845 00 66 888.
Notes to editors:
• SmartLife Technology Ltd is a spin out company of the
University of Manchester and is located at the University of
Manchester Incubator Company Limited (UMIC). UMIC is a company
wholly owned by the University.
-ends-
For further information please contact John Greenway, Press
Officer on 01925 400256 or 07810 528530 or john.greenway@nwda.co.uk
For urgent out of hours press enquiries please call 01925
400259.
For further information and to view previous press releases
visit us at www.nwda.co.uk
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the
economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is
responsible for:
• Supporting business growth and encouraging
investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and
communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life