Public Funding for Esp Technology Limited

The output of this project is an end-to-end digitally connected 3D data capture process thatcombines with additive manufacturing work cells structured to produce next generationproducts for aerospace, industrial & healthcare applications, including custom manufacture ofmedical implants using a combination of solid and elastic materials to improve functionalityand clinical efficacy.

Offset lithographic printing presses are used to print glossy colour pages in magazines. The presses have many colour inks formulations which can be used to print a vast range of graphics on cardboard, paper and thin plastics. This project will print graphene on to thin flexible plastic sheets, 1000mm by 707mm by 0.060 mm thick. Printed components will be used in printed electronics applications, as barrier layers for food and industrial packaging and electrodes for batteries, super capacitors and electrochemical sensorss, toys and games, electronic anti-counterfeit labels and as the conducting layers in flexible photovoltaic devices and displays. Because of the high quality and speed of offset lithographic printing there are likely to be significant cost reduction of flexible electronic devices and components, which will lead to lower prices. As well as established opportunities there is the strategic potential to print power harvesting, power storage, sensing, actuation, display and telecommunications devices on a single flexible substrate to enable SMART labels for tracking, healthcare diagnostics and wireless devices which hold information of interest to a customer.

ESP technology Ltd has developed an advanced new materials technology specifically to resolve the serious medical complication of post-needling bleeding from ePTFE vascular access grafts after haemodialysis. Our design concept is relatively simple and provides a logical solution - we employ proprietary fabrication techniques to coat the outside of the graft with a novel, inert and biocompatible, micro-cellular elastomer that reduces leakage from needling sites to negligible levels - yet our technological approach is highly innovative and scientifically sophisticated. Our company is now seeking additional equity investment to fund the further development and scale-up of our methods and equipment for compatibility with the requirements of volume manufacture to relevant industry and Regulatory standards. A Launchpad grant would make an invaluable contribution to advancing our company significantly closer to the point of readiness for commercialisation of our technology.

Metal implants are used for bone fracture / joint replacement surgery. Osteolysis (active resorption of living bone) arises when: • Particles are released from the implant & initiate an immune response • Osteoclasts in the bone matrix are subjected to a reduced mechanical load due to stress shielding (arising from non-uniform loading) Osteolysis causes holes in bones which results in bone weakness, implant loosening and increased incidence of infection. ESP Technology Ltd plans to develop an orthopaedic implant coating which can be applied to the bone contact regions of metal implants to promote rapid osteointegration (implant fixation), reduce osteolysis & infections.

A Vascular Access Graft is an artificial artery implanted into the arm of a patient who requires regular, lifesaving haemodialysis because of kidney failure. It links an artery to a vein; the patient is connected to a dialysis machine by inserting two large bore hypodermic needles into the graft. Post-needling haemorrhage is a common complication (the puncture site continues to bleed excessively after the needles have been removed). When this occurs the consequences often lead to infection and urgent / expensive corrective surgery. ESP Technology Ltd has identified a gap in the market for an antimicrobial self-sealing coating for vascular access grafts.