Two Scots students created a microwave device that is saving people around the world from having their legs amputated.
The gadget was invented by Gary Beale and Eamon McErlean while they were studying at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University.
Now called the Swift machine, it is being used to heal flesh-eating infections that can lead to amputations – especially in diabetes patients.
It works by zapping dead or dying flesh with microwaves to help it heal where other medication has failed. Barry Mayled, 73, was just hours away from having both his legs amputated below the knee after a simple verruca became infected and ulcerated.
It proved resistant to multiple treatments and over four years it spread to both feet, with painful growths behind his big toes which left him barely able to walk.
But after his podiatrist used Swift, his feet were completely healed. Barry, an architect and garden designer, said: “It saved my life. At one point I was in hospital surrounded by medics and things were so bad that the main surgeon was just shaking his head.
“There was pretty much nothing left to try and it was a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ my legs would have to be amputated below the knees.”
With little hope, Barry, who has lived with diabetes since the age of 38, turned to podiatrist Tracy Davies of Toetal Footcare Ltd who was using the innovative microwave technology to treat verrucae's on other patients’ feet.
Barry underwent seven individual applications of the Swift treatment between July 2022 and April 2023, on five areas of his right foot and three on his left.
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Tracy removed dead and damaged tissue and began the microwave treatment. Over time, the verrucae and ulcerations started to reduce, completing healing by September 2023.
Tracy said: “I was amazed by the remarkable turnaround in Barry’s condition. My business partner and I have both been HCPC-registered podiatrists for more than 40 years and Swift has shown the most effective treatment outcomes for verrucae we have treated to date.
“Barry’s case has highlighted verrucae infection as a possible cause of foot ulcerations failing to heal and Swift could be far-reaching in the treatment of non-healing foot ulcerations, thus preventing unnecessary amputations.”
Beale and McErlean launched parent company, Emblation, in Stirling, when they left university.
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Swift is currently undergoing extensive medical testing to establish its efficacy in treating a host of other conditions including pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions like Basal Cell Carcinoma.
Emblation believes it will eventually revolutionise treatment across multiple conditions.
Inventor Gary, Emblation’s CEO, said: “Barry’s story is truly inspiring and highlights the transformative capability of our Swift microwave therapy.
“Cases like this motivate us to continue innovating and raising awareness so that more patients can access and benefit from this game-changing technology.”
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