Open Access Breast Couch wins Golden Henry Van De Velde Award & public prize!
The 'Open Access Breast Couch' by Radion-D has won the prestigious Golden Henry van de Velde Award 25 in the Business Innovation category, along with the public prize. This innovative prone positioning platform for breast radiotherapy, developed by researchers from UGent, significantly reduces the side effects of radiotherapy for breast cancer patients.
In traditional therapy, patients lie on their backs, which can lead to parts of the lungs being irradiated, posing risks such as shortness of breath and an increased risk of lung cancer in the long term, especially for smokers. Damage to the heart and coronary arteries is also possible.
Collaborating with engineers from the Industrial Design program, including Bert Boute and Max Schoepen, Professor Veldeman's team developed the breast couch. This platform administers radiation while the patient lies on their stomach, allowing the breast to fall away from the heart and lungs, reducing radiation exposure to these vital organs.
The spinoff company Radion-D brought this device beyond the university walls, developing a commercial version focused on enhanced usability and manufacturability. The jury praised the clever design, backed by research, for its efficiency and attention to the comfort of both patients and healthcare providers.
The Open Access Breast Couch is currently used in three Belgian hospitals and has served hundreds of patients, offering significant advantages over existing products in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness.
Prof. Wilfried De Neve (founder of the research project and of Radion-D), Max Schoepen, Patricia De Roover and Dina De Haeck accepted the award.
(c) article & picture based on newsitem UGent & website Henry van de Velde Awards.