29 December 2011
Professor John Pepper, consultant cardiac surgeon at Royal Brompton Hospital and professor in cardiothoracic at the National Heart & Lung Institute, was part of the team that received a 2011 Technology and Innovation award.
At the fifth annual awards given by The Engineer for life-changing achievements through collaboration, Tal Golesworthy, Professor Pepper and colleagues from Imperial College London’s cardiovascular medicine and engineering faculties, were honoured with the 2011 medical & healthcare prize.
The team had collaborated, using a combination of magnetic resonance imaging, computer aided design and rapid prototyping technology, to create an external aortic root support (EARS) designed to prevent the aorta from rupturing.
Following production of the device, Professor Pepper was the first surgeon in the world to implant the EARS. Mr Golesworthy, who had the idea, was the world’s first recipient.
Engineer Tal Golesworthy has Marfan syndrome, an inherited disorder affecting around 12,000 people in the UK. It affects the body’s connective tissue including the cardiovascular system and can lead to a fatal heart attack from aortic dissection (bleeding into and along the wall of the aorta). Instead of facing a five-hour operation, a mechanical implant and a lifetime on anti-coagulant medication, Mr Golesworthy decided to use his engineering skills to find a less intrusive solution.
Professor Pepper said: “I am delighted to have been part of the team that has produced this new implant. The shorter operation and quicker recovery will really benefit patients in the future.”
In 2011, Professor Pepper was named in The Times’ special issue - “Britain’s top surgeons”. He was described as:
“Consultant surgeon who has performed some of the most advanced heart surgery in the UK. Currently working to speed up the diagnosis of acute aortic dissection, a cardiac condition that can quickly lead to death.”
Hear more about the EARS at Café Scientifique on Wednesday 8 February
Read Professor Pepper’s profile
