A BELFAST company which invented a ground-breaking new non-contact thermometer for use in hospitals is creating five jobs after securing major export partners in 11 new countries.
Medical technology experts TriMedika, located at the Innovation Factory in West Belfast, has created 'Tritemp' a new hi-tech, non-contact infrared thermometer that drastically reduces the potential for infection and eliminates the use of millions of plastic disposable probe covers every year.
The product is already being used in 16 countries, and following attendance of the major international trade show Medica in Dusseldorf, the company has identified additional partners in new territories including Brazil, Mexico, all four Scandinavian countries, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Poland and Croatia.
Dr Roisin Molloy and Julie Brien formed TriMedika in 2016 after carrying out extensive research into state-of-the-art equipment to meet the changing requirements of medical staff and organisations.
“The main aim of the NHS is to reduce infection, save costs and reduce waste. A 900-bed hospital takes around one to two million temperature readings a year, which means one to two million plastic caps for disposal and one to two million unnecessary contact points with patients,” Dr Molloy said.
“But with Tritemp we have created something that does away with this, reducing the potential for infection and eliminating tons of plastic waste.”
Within 18 months the TriMedika team developed and brought to market a fully certified, tested infrared thermometer, gaining approval both in Northern Ireland and England on the NHS purchasing framework and now sold in countries around the world.
The company moved into Innovation Factory on the Springfield Road in September as it plans to expand quickly in 2020.
“An unexpected benefit of being here is the relationships we are developing with other tech companies, and we’re speaking to some we may be able to partner with,” Dr Molloy added.
Majella Barkley, centre director at Innovation Factory, said: “TriMedika is making a significant contribution to the future of the NHS. It's incredible that a small team of Northern Ireland innovators and medical professionals are creating products that could affect the lives of patients for years to come.”
