Monday, 10 February 2025
A new spin out company from the University of Nottingham is set to bring improvements to a variety of medical devices and innovations to healthcare, using expertise from the University’s Faculty of Engineering.
Medical Photonics Ltd was formed in December to utilise know-how in optical fibre sensing to support commercialisation of a range of smart technologies to improve healthcare.
The company has been founded by Professors Steve Morgan, Barrie Hayes-Gill, and Serhiy Korposh, and Doctors Ricardo Correia and Brett Gadsby from the Faculty of Engineering, alongside external chairperson David Whelan and clinician Doctor Andrew Norris.
The spin out will look at using fibre optic sensors which utilise strands of glass or plastic - thinner than a hair – to measure a range of useful medical signals. For example, the technology can be used to monitor the oxygen content of the blood non-invasively.
The small size and versatility of the sensors means that they can be easily integrated into a range of existing medical devices, transforming basic medical devices into smart monitoring technologies. The provision of clinical data coupled with algorithms utilising AI has the potential to benefit many of today’s healthcare challenges related to chronic diseases and an ageing population.
With digital health being a key part of the NHS long term plan, medical innovations like these could help reduce costs and support the healthcare and recovery for people suffering from long-term health conditions.
The Medical Photonics team will work closely with the University of Nottingham and its clinical collaborators to support commercialisation of optical fibre sensing technologies for widespread benefit.
Steve Morgan, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Nottingham, and Medical Photonics CEO, said of the launch of the spin-out: “The launch of Medical Photonics is a great opportunity for us to ensure that our expertise in optical fibre sensing for healthcare moves from the laboratory through to patient benefit.
Our approach provides clinicians with a rich dataset that cannot be obtained with other technologies. We’re well placed to embrace the digital revolution in healthcare and are excited about the impact our research will make.”
Story credits
More information is available from Professor Steve Morgan on steve.morgan@nottingham.ac.uk
Faith Pring - Media Relations Manager
Email: faith.pring@nottingham.ac.uk
Phone: 0115 748 4411
Location: University of Nottingham, University Park
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 24 in Europe and 15th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
More news…