Health & Medical

Tongue Sucker

Tongue Sucker is a simple-to-use device designed to hold the airway of an unconscious casualty open until paramedics arrive. It is non-invasive and can be used for adults or infants; and the design is such that an untrained bystander can clear the airway of one casualty and then move on to assist others without risk to the first casualty.

Tongue Sucker was developed by 2006 graduates Graeme Davies, Phillip Greer, Christopher Huntley and Lisa Stroux of the RCA's Industrial Design Engineering programme. The team used 7/7 as a starting point to consider problems associated with mass casualty incidents. It became apparent from discussions with emergency services that any delay in the arrival of emergency services was critical. If a casualty's airway is not secured within five minutes of injury, the patient will die.

Further research revealed that more than a quarter of a million people are rendered unconscious in the UK each year. While unconscious, there is a great risk of suffocating on your own tongue due to the loss of muscle tone, which can result in brain damage or death. Paramedics are trained to high level to open the airway of the unconscious casualty safely, using specialist tools called Guedal airways. Untrained bystanders would not be qualified to use such tools.

The designers tested their new device under simulated emergency conditions to ensure that their user instructions were easy to follow by untrained bystanders. The team received positive feedback from all quarters, including Tony Luczak of St John's Ambulance Brigade who commented: "There's no doubt, this will save lives."

Tongue Sucker has since gone on to win several awards including a Deutsche Bank Pyramid Award, the hotly contested £25,000 first prize in the 2006 New Business Challenge organised by Imperial College Business School and the prestigious Red Dot communication design award.

The device will have to undergo clinical trials before it can be used as a first aid device but in its development the team have made significant progress in developing life saving equipment that can be put into the hands of untrained bystanders to save lives.

A patent has been filed and we are seeking potential licensees.

For further information contact InnovationRCA.