Medical technology saves and improves lives by detecting diseases earlier and by providing more effective treatment options for patients and the healthcare system. This award by the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) wishes to recognise the innovative and extraordinary contribution of medical technology in improving health outcomes of Australian patients.

This award is endowed by the family of the late Kerrin Rennie who was a long standing member of the Australian medical technology community.

2009 Kerrin Rennie Award

The 2009 winner of the Kerrin Rennie Award is the Cochlear Hybrid System from Cochlear Ltd.

The technology of the Hybrid System is based on the cochlear implant and restores hearing to patients with high frequency hearing loss, who are not suitable for cochlear implants or hearing aids. The technology uses a combination of electric and acoustic signals to the brain to restore full hearing capacity. For more information, please follow this link to the Cochlear website.

The 2009 finalists were:

Melody Transcatheter Valve Therapy - Medtronic
The technology replaces a faulty heart valve without the need for open heart surgery. The valve is fitted to the heart through the use of a catheter. The technology is used in patients with congenital, defective, pulmonic valves requiring treatment early in life. For more information, please follow this link to the Medtronic website.

SIMsystem - Simavita
The technology is a remote monitoring device for urinary incontinence mainly for residents in aged care homes. It uses a combination of signals to alert a nurse or carer to incontinence. Early detection can prevent urinary tract infections and other related conditions for the patient. For more information, please follow this link to the Simavita website.

2008 Kerrin Rennie Award

The Radical-7 Pulse CO-Oximeter from Masimo Corporation, a non-invasive blood monitoring device that removes the need to draw blood to monitor patients, has won the 2008 Kerrin Rennie Award for Excellence in Medical Technology - Improving Quality of Life.

The Radical-7 Pulse CO-Oximeter continuously and non-invasively measures blood constituents in patients without having to draw blood. The device uses multiple wavelengths of light in a single, simple to apply sensor. It can be used reliably in different care settings for example at the patient's bedside or during transport. In addition to its unique use of algorithms to ensure accurate patient monitoring, the Radical-7 includes a unique technology platform that allows for additional features to be added as simple software upgrades.

The other finalists were:

Ex-Press Shunt - Device Technologies
The Ex-Press miniature glaucoma shunt is an implant used to drain off excess fluid in the eye and to reduce intraocular pressure. The device creates a permanent pathway for excess fluid to drain from the eye and maintains a more normal pressure in the eye. The Ex-Press Shunt is an improved technology that causes less post operative trauma and fewer adverse events.

HCO 1100 Protein Permeable Membrane - Gambro
The HCO 1100 Protein-Permeable Membrane is designed to improve the treatment of multiple myeloma patients with acute renal failure by removing larger molecules from blood particularly serum Free Light Chains (FLC), the protein present at abnormally high concentrations in this patient group. High levels of FLCs in the blood circulating through the kidney present a major cause of renal impairment. This new membrane technology in combination with chemotherapy can prevent the patient from developing end stage renal disease and having to rely on dialysis for survival.

For more information please go to the media release.

2007 Kerrin Rennie Award

The 2007 Kerrin Rennie Award winner was DC Bead (distributed by Device Technologies).

A drug delivery system for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which is a cancer of the liver, neuroendocrine cancers in the colon and rectum and cholangioma tumours in the bile.

The DC Bead provides patients with a method that ensures precise delivery of chemotherapy directly to the tumour site, as opposed to the whole human system, thereby reducing drug-related toxicity and side effects and increasing efficacy of the treatment.

Other Award finalists:

SenSura 1 piece flat drainable ostomy appliance (Coloplast Pty Ltd) which contains an adhesive plate that allows greater adhesion, flexibility, security and comfort to stoma patients.

Coated VICRYL® PLUS Antibacterial Suture (Johnson & Johnson Medical) which was shown to reduce the risk of sternal wound infections by eliminating the suture as a risk factor for surgical site infections.