Ballygawley mechanic's invention proving a hit in the medical world

BY MARK MCKELVEY

THE Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council Achievement Awards have showcased some of South Tyrone's finest talent down the years. None more so than the remarkable Noble Patterson who won last year's overall Achievers Award for his innovative invention which is set to transform the recovery of lower limb fractures.

Noble, who has been a Ballygawley mechanic for the past 28 years, used his engineering skills to invent what he describes as "mini crutches" for the leg that allows patients to walk within three days of the fracture, significantly increasing the recovery period.

"It has since been proven at Queen's University that this device actually stimulates bone growth and speeds up the recovery of the limb which is really the exciting part of it," conveyed Noble.

Although his walking aid has passed all clinical trials and bench tests since its invention in 2003, it will be a few years yet before patients around the world reap the benefits of this device that has astounded the orthopaedic professionals.

Noble described how his revolutionary device will benefit many departments of the health service.

"The value is with the patients' well-being. If you have someone sitting in a wheelchair with a broken leg there is muscle wastage and depression. But if you can get up and walk you feel better about yourself, heal quicker and need less physiotherapy. There are an awful lot of sides to this that can save money in other departments by helping the whole well-being of the patient."

The most recent development for Noble is that he has been approached by a company in Boston that supplies material for NASA to work together.

Noble explains, "They have developed a device for astronauts living in a space station called a motion therapy plate. When an astronaut is in space they lose two inches in height over the space of three months due to losing bone density in weightlessness, but this device that works on vibration is designed to counteract that by actually increasing bone density.

"They want to use this motion therapy plate on lower limb fractures, but obviously the patient has to be able to stand on it so they have asked us to work along with them in using our device in step with their plate. Those trials will hopefully take place next year on patients to see if we can again accelerate the recovery process from lower limb fractures.

"It is rather exciting to be working with a company that is involved with NASA - unbelievable.

"I met with them in Stanmore Hospital in London last November as I was invited over to give a talk on walking aid, which can be quite daunting when you are used to working with cars. I may be at it six years now but it still feels really new to me."

However, The biggest change immediately after winning the award was in his own business, Pattersons Quality Cars based in Ballygawley, with a whole new customer base following his success.

Noble said, "When people realised perhaps we weren't just people that worked at cars, our business accelerated at an unbelievable rate. It is amazing how the awards really gave us recognition in a totally different field, but was also able to increase our own business which is far removed from orthopaedics."

Noble has spent £100,000 over the course of the past six years developing and testing the walking aid as well as the cost of paying patent costs.

"We have patent in USA and the whole of Europe but it is taking a bit of time in other areas of the world. To date, I would say we have 60% of the world covered," said Noble.

He added, "It has been expensive so far, but if it does take off it could prove to be lucrative. I am now committed to it and wouldn't change a thing."

This year's South Tyrone Achievement Awards ceremony will be hosted by one of Tyrone's most famous sons, snooker legend Dennis Taylor. The ceremony itself takes place on Wednesday (March 14) at Dungannon Leisure Centre. It promises to be one of the most entertaining events of the year, celebrating the Borough's highest achievers in Sport, Arts and Media, Industry, Community and Voluntary and Schools.