- The Glasgow School of Art has been in the
forefront of design in manufacturing for over 170 years - As a final year industrial Design student at the GSA Dugald
Cameron applied
design to technology to help create the first ever ultrasound machine for use
in diagnostic obstetrics. - Dugald Cameron will give a free lecture on his pivotal
role in the development of the first ultrasound machine at 6pm on Thursday 29
November 2018 - An associated exhibition will be staged in the Reid Building in 2019
|
| a young Dugald Cameron at work in his studio |
Arguably the most
important technological development to
affect the lives of women in the last 50 or so years has been diagnostic
obstetrics ultrasound: going for a scan is now a normal
part of any woman’s pregnancy.
important technological development to
affect the lives of women in the last 50 or so years has been diagnostic
obstetrics ultrasound: going for a scan is now a normal
part of any woman’s pregnancy.
This year marks the
60th anniversary of the publication of the first and seminal Lancet
paper alerting the medical profession to the possibilities of the use of
ultrasound, just 10 years after the birth of the NHS.
60th anniversary of the publication of the first and seminal Lancet
paper alerting the medical profession to the possibilities of the use of
ultrasound, just 10 years after the birth of the NHS.
A unique and
ground-breaking collaboration between experts in clinical obstetrics,
engineering, electronics and industrial design created the first prototypes and
production models of ultrasound scanners for routine obstetrics scanning in
Glasgow hospitals. At the heart of this was a young industrial
designer, Dugald Cameron.
ground-breaking collaboration between experts in clinical obstetrics,
engineering, electronics and industrial design created the first prototypes and
production models of ultrasound scanners for routine obstetrics scanning in
Glasgow hospitals. At the heart of this was a young industrial
designer, Dugald Cameron.
The Glasgow School of Art has been in the forefront
of design in manufacturing for over 170 years. It was established as one of the
government technical schools to help local industry improve products. It was
whilst he was in his final year Industrial Design student that Dugald Cameron applied
design to technology to help create the first ever ultrasound machine for use
in diagnostic obstetrics. In so doing he was fulfilling the original purpose of
the GSA, and this continues today.
of design in manufacturing for over 170 years. It was established as one of the
government technical schools to help local industry improve products. It was
whilst he was in his final year Industrial Design student that Dugald Cameron applied
design to technology to help create the first ever ultrasound machine for use
in diagnostic obstetrics. In so doing he was fulfilling the original purpose of
the GSA, and this continues today.
|
| the Diasonograph, the first ultrasound machine used in obstetrics |
Dugald Cameron’s first paid
commission as a designer was the design and realisation of the prototype Sundén
machine, and then he went on to design the first commercially produced
ultrasonic scanner in the world, the Diasonograph,
which was manufactured by Kelvin and Hughes, Glasgow
commission as a designer was the design and realisation of the prototype Sundén
machine, and then he went on to design the first commercially produced
ultrasonic scanner in the world, the Diasonograph,
which was manufactured by Kelvin and Hughes, Glasgow
The first women to benefit from his design were at
Glasgow’s Yorkhill hospital in the 1960s.
Glasgow’s Yorkhill hospital in the 1960s.
Dugald Cameron went on to become a leading designer with commissions from companies as diverse as Singer, Rank Audio Visual, Lambert Engineering and Rolls Royce Ltd, and designs including steel office furniture, a colour TV receiver, a heavy duty industrial robot and concept designs for a new frigate.
In the 1990s he became Director of the GSA and set up the acclaimed Product Design Engineering (PDE) programme, which is jointly delivered by The Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow University. Current PDE students have recently looked at what future innovations there could be in this important part of every expectant mum’s pregnancy.
“The
development of ultrasonics for obstetrics in this country were pioneered by
Prof Ian Donald of Glasgow University and the development of the product owed
much to the engineers working for Glasgow-based firm Kelvin Hughes,
particularly Tom Brown,” says Professor Cameron.
development of ultrasonics for obstetrics in this country were pioneered by
Prof Ian Donald of Glasgow University and the development of the product owed
much to the engineers working for Glasgow-based firm Kelvin Hughes,
particularly Tom Brown,” says Professor Cameron.
“My
initial involvement began as a commission to make a drawing of a proposed unit.
As a final year student I had persuaded Tom Brown to reconsider the design to
facilitate its use by both medics and patients. The first outline drawings were
done lying on the floor in Tom’s flat and progressed in the industrial design
studio in the east end basement of the GSA’s Mackintosh Building!”
initial involvement began as a commission to make a drawing of a proposed unit.
As a final year student I had persuaded Tom Brown to reconsider the design to
facilitate its use by both medics and patients. The first outline drawings were
done lying on the floor in Tom’s flat and progressed in the industrial design
studio in the east end basement of the GSA’s Mackintosh Building!”
“The
outcome was the Lund Machine and from this we went on to design the Diasonograph
in 1965. This was the first ultrasound machine to go into service.”
outcome was the Lund Machine and from this we went on to design the Diasonograph
in 1965. This was the first ultrasound machine to go into service.”
“For
a short time Glasgow was in the forefront of this ground-breaking technology
but unfortunately in 1966 the company which had made the original
Diasonograph machines withdrew the product and the technology went on to be
developed elsewhere.”
a short time Glasgow was in the forefront of this ground-breaking technology
but unfortunately in 1966 the company which had made the original
Diasonograph machines withdrew the product and the technology went on to be
developed elsewhere.”
“Being
part of this ground-breaking work 60 years ago at the very beginning of my
career as a designer was a tremendously exciting opportunity and I am delighted
to know that the current cohort of Product Design Engineering students at the
GSA have revisited ultrasound looking forward to the next 60 years.”
part of this ground-breaking work 60 years ago at the very beginning of my
career as a designer was a tremendously exciting opportunity and I am delighted
to know that the current cohort of Product Design Engineering students at the
GSA have revisited ultrasound looking forward to the next 60 years.”
Professor Dugald Cameron will give a
free, keynote lecture on his pivotal role in the development of the first
ultrasound machine at 6pm on Thursday 29 November 2018 in the Maurice Bloch
Lecture Theatre, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow, 242 St
Vincent Street G2, 5RJ.
free, keynote lecture on his pivotal role in the development of the first
ultrasound machine at 6pm on Thursday 29 November 2018 in the Maurice Bloch
Lecture Theatre, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow, 242 St
Vincent Street G2, 5RJ.
The lecture will be introduced by Professor Alastair
Macdonald, senior researcher: design in health and care at the GSA and former
head of PDE who worked with Dugald Cameron for many years. Professor Macdonald
was recently recognised in the AHRC-Wellcome Trust Health Humanities Medal with
the Best Research award for his work in the area of Anti-Microbial Resistance.
Macdonald, senior researcher: design in health and care at the GSA and former
head of PDE who worked with Dugald Cameron for many years. Professor Macdonald
was recently recognised in the AHRC-Wellcome Trust Health Humanities Medal with
the Best Research award for his work in the area of Anti-Microbial Resistance.
Entry free. Booking http://www.gsa.ac.uk/life/gsa-events/events/m/making-waves/
Ends
For further
information, images and interviews contact:
information, images and interviews contact:
Lesley Booth,
07799414474