Device to help asthma sufferers

An inventor from Shropshire has created a glow-in-the dark asthma inhaler cap to help people suffering from acute asthma attacks at night.

Grant Taylor's invention uses man-made photo-fluorescent crystals making inhalers easier to find in the dark.

The crystals need just eight minutes of exposure in daylight to stay illuminated for 18 hours.

The 38-year-old, from Telford, stumbled upon the idea by accident when some of the crystals spilled onto his carpet.

Some of them remained even after cleaning the floor and glowed when the lights were turned off.

This is a great innovation which will benefit thousands of asthma sufferers, not just in the region but across the UK and even overseas Catherine Smith, from Advantage West Midlands

Mr Taylor, who is development and marketing director of Innovative Business Solutions 2000, based in Brierley Hill, West Midlands, said: "This is an innovation that can save lives.

"It's estimated that over 3,000 people a year worldwide die from not being able to find their inhaler in the dark during acute asthma attacks."

The crystals have an average lifespan of up to 12 years.

Mr Taylor, whose father was a rocket engineer with the European Space Agency, hopes his idea can be used on other medical devices and is looking to market his product with the help of regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.

"Any critical care emergencies that require night-time doses - such as heart medication, diabetic insulin or the contents of roadside medical boxes - would benefit from this additive," he said.

Catherine Smith, from Advantage West Midlands, said: "This is a great innovation which will benefit thousands of asthma sufferers, not just in the region but across the UK and even overseas."

Products already manufactured using the crystals include life hammers, used to smash car and rail carriage glass in emergencies, Swiss army knives, fire extinguishers and diving torches.