Second patient benefits from pioneering helmet (From The Northern Echo)

Second patient benefits from pioneering helmet

9:35am Thursday 11th September 2008

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By Barry Nelson »

A NORTH-EAST inventor has revealed that a second US patient is benefiting from a prototype antidementia device.

Earlier this year, The Northern Echo exclusively reported that County Durham GP-turned inventor Dr Gordon Dougal had developed a light-emitting helmet which he is convinced can help combat dementia.

Two months ago, US dementia patient Clem Fennell, 57, from North Kentucky, had made significant progress after flying to England to use the helmet.

After a few weeks of wearing the helmet twice a day, Mr Fennell regained his ability to hold a conversation, and began to feel more like his old self.

Now Dr Dougal, who is awaiting permission to carry out a full clinical trial to test the powers of his invention, has revealed that another prototype helmet is being used by a physician in New York.

Dr Dougal said the unnamed 58 year old American, who is also a university lecturer, got in touch with him after reading about his invention.

In June, Dr Dougal flew to New York to meet the man and agreed to provide him with a second prototype helmet.

“He noticed his memory was declining and asked if I could help. I met him in New York, dropped off a helmet and it has worked for him,” said Dr Dougal.

“He has been using it for about six weeks.

“His principle problem is his memory and the helmet has had a positive effect,” said Dr Dougal, who says that the 700 light-emitting diodes in the helmet will help to hold dementia in check and even partially reverse the condition.

The technology developed by Dr Dougal, who has a degree in electronic engineering, is based on the principle that infra-red light with a wavelength of 1072 nanometres has a healing effect on human tissue.

An early invention by Dr Dougal, which uses the same wavelength of light to heal cold sores, has been approved for use by the NHS.

Dr Dougal has applied to the Medical and Healthcare Regulatory Authority to hold a clinical trial to test the helmet’s ability to treat dementia.

“The authority has requested clarification on one or two points.

Fundamentally, the technology is safe,” he said.

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