Story of Tournistrip
Christian and Ryan were students at Imperial College School of Medicine, London where they developed and invented Tournistrip. During their hospital placements, they noticed that whilst hand washing and aseptic techniques were being encouraged, the use of reusable medical devices went against these practices. Also the application of various ad hoc tourniquets in blood taking and cannula insertions was particular incongruous with many colleagues using rubber gloves as an alternative to the re-usable elastic tourniquets. After publishing their work with the Chelsea & Westminster Microbiology Department which investigated the bacterial content of tourniquets, the pair realised there was a clinical need for a fit-for-purpose single use tourniquet. These results lead to the development of Tournistrip. Initial testing was on friends and family and after 12 months the final design was ready for a full clinic trial. Following MHRA approval and CE marking Tournistrip was trialled in two Central London Teaching Hospitals to positive feedback and success. Spurned on by this and winning the Imperial College New Business Idea Award in 2004 the duo looked to turn their product into a viable business. With the support of their NHS peers Ryan and Christian approached Imperial Innovation on the recommendation of Professor Darzi in 2005. Imperial Innovations saw the worldwide commercial potential in Tournistrip and a joint venture company was formed called ASep Healthcare.
Since then Asep Healthcare has recruited a highly motivated and diversely skilled team to take Tournistrip forward on to the Global Healthcare market. Now both Surgeons in training Ryan and Christian continue to be enthused and motivated in seeing their product in demand and used to help counter the risk of Hospital Associated Infections.