A light touch brushes off opposition for top prize

Published on Tuesday 17 June 2008 21:34

A HI-TECH toothbrush that uses light to help fight gum disease has won the inaugural Kennett Prize for product innovation.

The "light brush", which is in the prototype stage of development, is the brainchild of Adrian Choong, a graduate of the product design engineering department at Glasgow School of Art.

Choong, 23, worked alongside Dr Ian Watson, a specialist in lasers and optical engineering at Glasgow University, to develop the design.

It uses "photodynamic therapy technology" to destroy bacteria which can lead to gum disease. A key benefit of the technology is that the bacteria does not become resistant to the treatment, unlike conventional antibacterial methods.

Choong was presented with a trophy and a cash prize of 2,500 by Jonathan Kennett, founder and executive chairman of Teknek, the Renfrewshire engineering company.

Teknek, whose technology cleans the machines used to manufacture flat-panel TVs and fuel cells, is also the main sponsor of this year's product design engineering degree show.

Choong said he was delighted to have received the award, but stressed that full-scale production was a "long way down the line".

Although a mock-up design has been created, it is not yet to specification, and would have to pass strict clinical trials.

"The design uses visible green light and has a dual effect, killing bacteria in the mouth during use and keeping the brush free from contamination," Choong added.

Stephen Mitchell, group managing director of Teknek, said: "We are acting as a sponsor because we think the design course produces great designers and, frankly, that's what we need in industry.

"Also, as a company that is acquisitive for new products and ideas, we want to attract those best designers and ideally we want them to stay in Scotland."

Teknek has just set up a product-design company to be run by two graduates from Glasgow School of Art.

Meso will design products for Teknek as well as other Scottish manufacturing companies willing to pay a fee for its services.