Smart thinking: The catheter that could cut infection rates

^{Nawar Al-Zebari is one of the finalists for The Inventor Prize, which seeks out the UK’s best new inventors and ideas.}

The prize was launched in August 2017, in partnership with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Inventors are invited to submit ideas for inventions that tackle a social issue.

Cambridge-based Al-Zebari, a medical material scientist, has created a catheter, the ‘NuCath’ from smart materials that can change shape accordingly.

According to Cambridge Network, the invention came about when a member of Al-Zebari’s family was diagnosed with cancer and he saw the flaws in their current catheter system, which became infected due to a compromised immune system. Fighting the infection hindered recovery – a problem that Al-Zebari found was not uncommon in such cases.

The catheter aims to improve drainage and lower urinary tract infections which are a huge cost to the NHS each year.

Al-Zebari told Cambridge Network: “As a medical researcher, I work with new ideas and innovations everyday. I had wanted to create something using smart materials for some time. When someone in my family became ill, I saw first-hand how the catheter system could be improved. My relative, who was already undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, had to fight off an infection too. I hope by improving the catheter system, I can help patients beat their main health issue without the added threat of a urinary tract infection.”

Al-Zebari is one of ten shortlisted companies who have received £5,000 to help take the ideas to the next level. The winner will be announced in September this year and will be awarded £50,000.