Nadeesha Perera is an inventor with a decidedly practical turn of mind. She holds a patent for ‘a multipurpose trolley’ that she believes is a decided improvement on the current stretchers that local hospitals employ. Twenty-two-years old, Nadeesha says she has a particular interest in healthcare and feels a calling to contribute to those who are ill or in pain. As a result, she’s turned her creative mind to figuring out ways to redesign medical equipment so that it better serves the patients.
 |
| Nadeesha Perera |
Road traffic accidents in Sri Lanka claim a staggering number of lives annually. Having visited hospitals and studied their procedures, Nadeesha knows that every moment is crucial, which is why she decided to work on a stretcher/trolley which would not only allow for the smooth movement of patients between various vehicles but will also enable paramedics to begin treating them at once.
In her two tier trolley, the upper section can be detached and moved just as you would a stretcher. An adjustable saline bottle holder is attached so that it too can be transferred with just the upper part of the trolley.
The lower section is designed to hold medical supplies and equipment, but in an emergency the lower half has been designed so that it too can carry a second patient – like a bunk bed. Several small tweaks add to the functionality of the stretcher – it is compact and easily stored, has adjustable legs and rotating wheels enable smooth movement. However, it’s also surprisingly sturdy, and can take up to 220kgs of weight.
Her design won her an award from the Ministry of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion. Later, she took it to Taipei in Taiwan an international exhibition featuring young inventors. It was an exciting time for this young student from Malabe. Having studied science subjects in school, she says biology continues to fascinate her and credits her biology teacher at Sri Rahula Balika Vidyalaya for inspiring her to become an inventor.
Nadeesha has continued to work on new designs. She says she has now developed a chair to be used at a dental clinic, which like the trolley is designed to be more efficient and that she is also working on a scanner to be used on cancer patients.
In the meantime, Nadeesha’s working model of the trolley has gotten her the attention of several local hospitals and she says that the Health Ministry has approved the design. Still she’s having trouble finding the right financial backing. Her hope is that she will be able to partner with a company supplying or manufacturing medical equipment supplies. Want to know more? Nadeesha is available on 0712983956
|
E-mail
