Medical simulation SME TruCorp invests in R&D to develop new Difficult Airway Training Manikin

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Pictured (L-R) are Ryan Colhoun, TruCorp Owner and Vicky Kell, Invest NI's Director of Innovation, Research & Development.

Medical training equipment producer, TruCorp has developed its new Difficult Airway Manikin, following investment in Research and Development (R&D) and support from Invest Northern Ireland.

Based in Lurgan, the company specialises in the design and production of medical training products for improving medical best practice, with emphasis on Trauma and Clinical skills. The new manikin, ‘Airsim Difficult Airway’, will enable health professionals to practice complex airway management and intubation processes for effective patient treatment. Features include enlarged tongue, blocked airway, lockjaw and immobile head.

Invest NI’s support has been invaluable to our company growth. Since we first engaged with Invest NI in 2006, it has helped us to innovate and grow our business. 

Ryan Colhoun, co-owner of TruCorp

Ryan Colhoun, Director of Product Development and co-owner of TruCorp, said: “By providing health professionals across the globe with anatomically accurate medical simulators our products are helping to advance medical skills training and improve patient safety.

“Invest NI’s support has been invaluable to our company growth. Since we first engaged with Invest NI in 2006, it has helped us to innovate and grow our business.

It has already helped us improve our manufacturing process to produce realistic, durable products with increased functionality, and to develop a unique self-healing material so that our products can be reused sustainably. Now, with its most recent R&D support, we have been able to bring Airsim Difficult Airway to market, so that we can grow our global sales with new and existing customers, particularly in the US.”

Invest NI has offered the company a Grant for R&D towards the development of the Difficult Airway Manikin.

Innovation is vital for long-term growth, and supporting a company’s innovative journey is a key part of the Department for the Economy’s 10X Economic Vision. We are pleased to continue to work with TruCorp as the company grows its business in to new markets around the world.

Vicky Kell, Director of Innovation, Research & Development, Invest NI

Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI’s Director of Innovation, Research & Development, said: “TruCorp is a truly innovative SME and its new Difficult Airway Manikin will allow those in the medical field to practice intubation with varying levels of difficulty. Our Grant for R&D supports Northern Ireland companies to develop products and services, and it’s great to see our R&D support making a real impact on TruCorp’s product development. 

“Innovation is vital for long-term growth, and supporting a company’s innovative journey is a key part of the Department for the Economy’s 10X Economic Vision. We are pleased to continue to work with TruCorp as the company grows its business in to new markets around the world. I look forward to seeing where this new product takes the company.” 

In recognition of TruCorp’s commitment to innovation, it has been awarded a Platinum Level Innovator Certificate from Innovate NI.

Invest NI is committed to driving innovation in Northern Ireland and is a proud partner of Innovate NI, a Department for the Economy programme, helping local businesses innovate successfully. For further information, visit www.innovateni.com

Invest NI’s R&D support is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the EU Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014–2020.