Pictured above: (l-r) John Walters, design engineer for Kimal, Elizabeth Collins, Senior Design Technician at Openhouse, Philip Sim, Design Technician at Openhouse, Sue Wilde, myM-link manager and Steve Minett, design co-ordinator for Kimal

People reliant on infusion for nutrition or pain relief will soon have greater freedom and mobility, as a stylish travel rucksack for a new portable infusion pump is developed as a result of a commercial link-up by myM-link.

Medical devices company Kimal, based in Bromsgrove, was introduced to Openhouse, a Merseyside designer and manufacturer of medical bags by myM-link, the UK's leading life science membership service. The link-up led to the development of a unique anti-microbial travel pack for Kimal's new IVantage™ ambulatory infusion pump, which looks set to give patients unprecedented freedom and mobility.

Unobtrusive, purpose-built and protected against infection by MicrAgard, the new rucksack is at prototype stage and will carry the lightweight user-friendly equipment from Kimal that is required by patients to administer nutrition or pain relief intravenously. Freeing up hospital beds and giving patients greater independence, the IVantage and travel pack looks set to revolutionise treatment.

myM-link manager Sue Wilde said: "We're working closely with our members Kimal, to help them maximise the commercial success of the new IVantage, an innovative product that will help patients requiring total parenteral nutrition (TPN) to live a more normal life. Improving the quality of life for patients is what this product is all about, and Carolyn Wheatley, a TPN user, has also advised Kimal on the design of the rucksack. 

"By linking up Kimal with Openhouse we have opened the door to even greater commercial opportunity. This collaboration of ideas and expertise is a great example of how link-ups can have a huge impact on the quality, effectiveness and success of medical products. As patients take greater control of their own healthcare, easy-to-use equipment can clearly improve quality of life and save costs for the NHS."

Kimal's design engineer John Walters commented: "Openhouse has a great track record supplying bags and cases for the emergency services, so were the ideal partners to create a bespoke bag that enhances the portable, functional advantages of our ground-breaking infusion pump. They also added a number of extra, important features, including making the bag completely washable. We're delighted myM-link was able to make such a relevant and commercially important introduction." 

"Comfort and durability were essential and Openhouse has added padded protection to the bag and an anti-microbial interior, which makes it possible for patients to carry a pump and their fluid or feed with them safely and conveniently. This can be life-changing for patients who would have been restricted to their hospital bed or home by the heavy, noisy equipment required for total parenteral nutrition."

Carolyn Wheatley, Chair of PINNT, (Patients on Intravenous and Naso-gastric Nutrition Therapy) added: "Our members have to rely on liquid nutrients being infused intravenously via a central venous catheter. The Kimal IVantage™ and the new travel pack offer the prospect of a lifestyle choice. Most people take for granted shopping, going to the cinema walking the children to school or taking them to the park and so on. This collaboration will bring new benefits to both clinicians and users."

myM-link has connections throughout the life science sector and offers a proactive service that helps members get involved in new product development, find new partners and spot commercial opportunities. Achieving an outstanding retention rate of 95 per cent in its second year, myM-link is in the top six per cent of the UK's membership organisations.

For more information about myM-link, please visit their website here: www.mym-link.co.uk