The 22-year old Loughborough University student has named his device “Isobar”, and the main aim behind it was to come up with a portable device to hold vaccines at an optimal temperature for use in developing countries. With this aim, Will Broadway appears to have succeeded.
In terms of the technology, the refrigerator maintains medicines at a steady two to eight degrees for up to 30 days. This level of temperature control is achieved by heating ammonia and water together to create ammonia vapors. These vapors are then released into its main chamber on a cyclic basis in order to cool the contents. According to The Guardian, the hi-tech, rechargeable cooling system was inspired by an invention developed by Albert Einstein in the 1920s.
Broadway was inspired to develop the device after travelling to Cambodia and parts of South East Asia and watching how aid agencies undertook urgent medical work. As well as vaccines, the device could be extended to the transport of blood donations and organ transplants.
Having developed the novel device, Will Broadway has said he doesn’t want to profit from the invention and wants to make it available to aid organizations and medical bodies. For this reason, Broadway has turned down the opportunity to patent the device.
Speaking with Newsbeat, Will said: “I make things every day for people who have everything,” which is why he has decided to make something for people who have very little. Will is currently studying industrial design and technology.
With this he adds: “I wanted to make something for people who have next to nothing. It should be a basic human right, in my opinion, to have a vaccination. I don’t think that it should be patented to restrict use.”
Will’s invention has been honored by one of the greats in the design world, being nominated for the coveted James Dyson Award. This carries a prize of $50,000, to be used for further technological development.
