University of Leeds – Cleaner air for dentistry

Assessing opportunities for greener dentistry

The clinical need:

The project team of dental professionals, chemists and engineers developed a concept for a device to clean nitrous oxide from exhaled anaesthetic gases in dental settings, allowing staff to operate in a safe environment and prevent the release of environmentally damaging pollutants into the environment.  

Project challenge:

The project team wanted to understand how wide the problem is in dentistry as well as in other medical settings. They were also interested in the type of technology currently used in these clinical settings and the drivers for the adoption of a new technology. The project team was also keen to obtain initial advice on protecting their intellectual property.

With funding from the University of Leeds Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) programme for a Proof of Market, the project team chose Medipex for support to obtain market intelligence and IP advice, allowing them to understand the potential for their technology, how anaesthetic gases are currently cleaned to remove harmful pollutants, the competitive landscape and help to make strategic decisions about their project.

How did Medipex help?

We reviewed the current use and containment of nitrous oxide in medical settings, how it is being addressed through clinical measures and the guidance on environmental legislation to curb pollution in the UK, US and Europe. We also reviewed current technologies and IP landscape, as well as initiatives put in place to improve ‘air purification’ in dentistry as well as other clinical settings where nitrous oxide is used.   

Impact:

The findings allowed the project team to use the information gathered to apply for larger value future funding calls to develop their prototype and also streamline their UK market strategy, having identified some opportunities and potential partners, and being aware of the drivers that could influence NHS decision makers to adopt such new air purification technology. The team is currently looking for commercial partners or collaborators.

Client testimonial:

“Working with Medipex has been invaluable for our project. They quickly understood the technical and regulatory challenges around nitrous oxide mitigation in dentistry and delivered a comprehensive market intelligence report that exceeded expectations. Their ability to combine deep sector knowledge with clear, actionable insights, covering market size, competitor analysis, IP landscape, and regulatory pathways, has given us a strong foundation for next steps. The report was well structured and thorough and will significantly support our project development and funding applications.”

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