Toowoomba made: The medical transport device saving young lives

World leading premature baby medical transport device celebrates the 21st birthday of their first patient and ‘test pilot’.

LIFE-SAVERS: A world-leading medical transport device called the Neocot Mansell Infant Retrieval System is manufactured in Toowoomba with the first patient turning 21 this month. With one of the Neocot systrems are medical engineer Anthony Vadalma (left) and Professor John Grant-Thomson. Picture: Bev Lacey

University of Southern Queensland Professor John Grant-Thomson AM RFD took up the challenge 23 years ago to design and develop a device which could safely transfer premature babies in road ambulances, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Now the Neocot Mansell Infant Retrieval Systems transports more than 4000 premmie babies across the country, as well as in Sweden and Norway, with their very first “test pilot’’ turning 21 this month.

“I was first approached by two directors of neonatology, Dr David Cartwright from Royal Brisbane and Dr David Tudehope from the Mater Hospital,” Prof. Grant-Thomson said.

“They were pioneering the concept of transferring premature or critically-ill newborn infants from their place of birth to major hospitals across the country so they could receive specialist care quickly.

The Mansell Neocot Infant Retrieval System is manufactured in Toowoomba and helps transport 4000 premature babies to hospitals across the country each year. Medical engineers Anthony Vadalma (left) and John Grant-Thomson with one of the Neocots.

“So I asked my engineering students at the time if anyone was interested in working on this

project and two students, Adrian Douglas and John Hilton immediately put up their

hands and we set about manufacturing a prototype device.”

Not long after this the Neocot, an intensive-care capsule on wheels was conceived in 1998.

“Not many people are aware such a world-leading piece of medical equipment is manufactured right here in Toowoomba,” Prof. Grant-Thomson said.

“Building such a device requires special skills, funding and a specialised place to work so not long after we began creating the Neocots I approached Mr Neil Mansell of Neil Mansell Transport, who immediately provided his workshops and funding to allow the project to commence.

“Without his generous help, Neocot would not exist today, and hence why Mr Mansell’s name remains part of the Neocot products today.”

The first baby to use the Neocot device, Lachlan Erhart, is celebrating his 21st birthday this month, with Prof. Grant-Thomson honoured to be attending the event in Brisbane.

“It was a total coincidence that I was attending a government conference down in Brisbane one day when his mother came up to me and said “my son was transported in a Neocot system when he was born at 28 weeks in Rockhampton” and it turned out Lachlan was indeed the first premature baby to be transported in the Neocot system.

The engineer behind the Neocot Mansell Infant Retrieval System, John Grant-Thomson (left) with his 'test pilot' Lachan Erhart who was the first premature baby to be transported using the Neocot system and is turning 21 this month.

“Now he’s turning 21 at the end of the month and with a total of 150 units in every state and territory of Australia, including 25 units in Sweden and 10 in Norway, we’ve estimated 4000 babies are transported using the Neocot system each year.”

The Neocot is now manufactured by Mr Tim Wheeler’s company, BAC Technologies with USQ graduate electrical engineers Mr Anthony Vadalma and Mr Paul Priebbenow managing the project.

Anthony Vadalma, is a medical engineer and the manager of the Mansell Neocot which is designed and made in Toowoomba. Picture: Bev Lacey

“The Neocot journey has definitely been a team achievement with several other Toowoomba companies manufacturing specific components which contribute to the final product,” Prof. Grant-Thomson said.

“It’s very humbling to know the work we do to continue to make the Neocot Mansell system the best in its field continues to contribute to the fantastic job done by all the doctors and nurses who save premature babies lives each day, both here in Australia and abroad.

“Knowing the Neocot Mansell system was born here and has since grown up in Toowoomba with the support and help of so many community members and organisations is very rewarding and I look forward to seeing where we go next.”