HEALTH & WELLBEING IN-BRIEF
A practical, bedside tool powered by photons
Naso-gastric feeding tubes (NGTs) are used to deliver nutrition and medication to millions of patients each year. However, in up to 2% of cases, tubes are incorrectly placed into the lungs, potentially causing serious complications, delays in treatment, or death. Improving the safety and accuracy of NGT placement remains a critical challenge in healthcare systems worldwide.
OptoLoc addresses this through an innovative imaging approach that supports clinicians during insertion. It uses a proprietary naso-gastric tube with an integrated optical fibre that emits light, which is detected externally using an advanced time-resolved imaging system. By analysing how light travels through the body, the system provides intuitive, real-time feedback, allowing practitioners to confirm correct placement in the stomach and reduce the likelihood of misplacement into the lungs. This removes reliance on less immediate verification methods and enables quicker clinical decision-making at the point of care.
Building on advances in quantum and photonic sensing, OptoLoc translates highly sensitive photon detection technologies into a practical, bedside tool. The system is designed to integrate into existing clinical workflows, supporting ease of use while enhancing confidence during procedures.
Beyond improving placement accuracy, the technology has the potential to reduce the need for repeat procedures, minimise patient distress and shorten hospital stays. By lowering complication rates and associated costs, OptoLoc offers a scalable solution with the potential to significantly enhance patient safety and efficiency across healthcare systems worldwide.
Building on advances in quantum and photonic sensing, OptoLoc translates highly sensitive photon detection technologies into a practical, bedside tool.
OptoLoc is a Heriot-Watt University pre-spinout, supported by Scottish Enterprise in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh.
Skin sensing technology set to transform eczema and psoriasis
in funding secured
Advances in medical technology are essential to improving early diagnosis, patient monitoring and long-term health outcomes. However, many innovations struggle to move efficiently from research into real-world clinical use. Bridging this gap requires close collaboration between academia, industry and healthcare systems.
This challenge is being addressed at Heriot-Watt University through translational MedTech research that combines engineering, clinical insight and commercial development. The problem being addressed, is one that >10% of adults and 20% of children suffer from in the UK, and that globally has more than 300 million sufferers. A central issue with skin condition monitoring is that the pathways are inequitable since people with darker skin tone tend to be under diagnosed- another reason why a community-based inclusive technology is key.
TissueMetrics focuses on developing sensing technologies that detect biological changes through the mechanical properties of tissues, enabling new approaches to diagnosing and monitoring conditions such as inflammatory skin disease, wound healing and continence disorders. The work aims to support community healthcare providers in delivering earlier assessment and monitoring without the need for specialist dermatology appointments, helping improve accessibility and patient outcomes.
The commercialisation potential of the research will be demonstrated through the spinning out of TissueMetrics Ltd. The project has secured more than £1m in competitive funding, including support from the Medical Research Council, Scottish Enterprise High Growth Spinout Programme, EPSRC and EPSRC IAA. The work reflects a strong track record in translating research into commercially viable healthcare technologies.
The research has strengthened links between academia, industry and healthcare, supporting innovation across Scotland’s MedTech ecosystem. It has also contributed to collaborations with universities, NHS partners and charities, ensuring technologies are developed around patient and clinical needs. Alongside commercial activity, knowledge exchange and mentoring activities are helping strengthen future pathways for research impact and spinout development within the University sector.
By integrating research, industry and clinical practice, this work is helping to accelerate the development of accessible, inclusive and scalable healthcare technologies.
This work has been supported by Therapist Support Laboratory, Comar P.G., Spentex BCA Ltd and DM Orthotics.
Patient and planet-friendly pressure garment design
Medical compression devices are widely used to treat and prevent a range of serious conditions, including hypertrophic burn scars, deep vein thrombosis, scoliosis, lymphoedema and lipoedema. However, traditional methods for designing compression garments often resulted in inconsistent and unpredictable pressures, leading to ineffective treatment, patient discomfort and, in some cases, further medical complications.
Heriot-Watt University research addressed a critical gap in the design of medical compression garments by establishing a reliable scientific approach to predicting and controlling the pressure exerted on the body. By demonstrating that the Laplace Law could be applied to flexible materials on limbs, new algorithms were developed to calculate garment dimensions tailored to individual patients and specific clinical needs.
These advances led to the creation of user-friendly Pressure Garment Design (PGD) tools, enabling clinicians and manufacturers to design garments that deliver precise, consistent and safe levels of compression. The tools support more efficient production processes, reduce reliance on trial-and-error adjustments and allow pressures to be recorded and monitored throughout treatment.
The impact of this innovation has been global. The tools are now used by manufacturers and healthcare providers across the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Israel, supporting treatment for thousands of patients. Clinical outcomes have improved through safer and more effective pressure delivery, while patients report greater comfort and increased willingness to adhere to treatment regimes.
Additionally, manufacturers using the tools report reduced product returns, faster production times and less material waste, improving both cost efficiency and sustainability. Ongoing collaboration with industry partners continues to refine garment design and manufacturing processes, ensuring that medical compression technologies remain effective, reliable and responsive to patient needs.
New algorithms were developed to calculate garment dimensions tailored to individual patients and specific clinical needs.
