Tholos project awarded in Innowator Śląska 2021 (transl. Innovator of Silesia 2021) competition
Success of scientists from the Department of Biomechatronics of the Silesian University of Technology. The Tholos project was awarded in the Innowator Śląska 2021 competition. Tholos is a system of individual patient isolation and protection of medical personnel against SARS-CoV-2 infection. The rapid implementation of the Tholos system is a flagship example of cooperation between doctors, engineers and industry in the name of patient welfare.
The device was developed in the Department of Biomechatronics of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology within the framework of the Rector's grant of the Silesian University of Technology to limit COVID-19 spread. The device is an answer to the current problems of Polish hospitals. The project has been recognised and awarded in the Innowator Śląska 2021 competition in the Research and Development Sector Institution category. In addition to this distinction, the Silesian University of Technology was granted the right to use the Innowator Śląska logo for a period of 2 years.
„The system is designed to protect both medical staff and patients during interventional cardiology procedures or routine diagnostic procedures such as X-ray, electrocardiography, ultrasound or echocardiography. Its task is to isolate the patient's upper respiratory tract and to filter and eliminate sources of infection from the exhaled air. The system has been designed in such a way as to cause as little obstruction as possible during medical procedures, therefore the dimensions of the shield have been minimised as much as possible. It does not block X-rays and a specially designed system of locks enables its quick removal in the event of the need to react immediately to a change in the patient's condition. The device cleans and filters the air exhaled by the patient and kills pathogenic microorganisms and other pathogens. The cleaned and sterilised air is then returned to the room" says Kamil Joszko, PhD, from the Department of Biomechatronics at the Silesian University of Technology.
The Tholos system was developed by a team of researchers from the Department of Biomechatronics of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology consisting of: Prof. Marek Gzik, Prof. Wojciech Wolański, Prof. Piotr Buszman, Prof. Marcin Kaczmarek, Bożena Gzik-Zroska, PhD, Kamil Joszko, PhD, Sławomir Suchoń, PhD, Michał Burkacki, PhD, Miłosz Chrzan, PhD, M.Sc. Marek Ples, M.Sc. Grzegorz Gruszka.
The Tholos system has already been commercialised in cooperation with Technomex Sp. z o.o. and is ready for implementation in medical units. At the moment, it is being tested in one of the hospitals in the Silesian region.
The Innowator Śląska competition promotes Silesian companies from the small and medium enterprise sector and research and development institutions that create the innovative image of the region and are successful in developing their own technologies, innovative product and service solutions. The competition was held for the 13th time this year. The best 20 innovations from all submitted solutions were selected for the second stage. Winners were selected by the twelve-person Committee composed of representatives of local governments, science, business support units and entrepreneurs.
The winners were awarded during ceremony which took place on Saturday, 16th of October in the Arena Gliwice. The Innowator Śląska 2021 competition was organised by Górnośląski Akcelerator Przedsiębiorczości Rynkowej Sp. z o.o. within the framework of "Enterprise Europe Network" project.
