Images: Sir Ian Donald and a young Dugald Cameron at work in his studio
- The Glasgow School of Art has been in the
forefront of design in manufacturing for over 170 years - The initial work on ultrasound for obstetrics was
undertaken by Sir Ian Donald of The University of Glasgow - As a final year industrial Design student at the GSA, Dugald
Cameron, applied
design to this engineering technology to help create the first ever ultrasound
machine used in hospitals. - The Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow University have
submitted this pioneering work for the Universities UK “Made at Uni” campaign -
·
Angela
Constance MSP has secured a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the work
of Sir Ian Donald, Tom Brown and Duglad Cameron on the ultrasound scanner which will take place on 11
December 2018
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 by Sir Ian Donald of Glasgow University 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 (at
Glasgow University), engineering (at Kelvin & Hughes) and industrial design (at The
Glasgow School of Art) 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.
60th anniversary of the publication of the first and seminal Lancet
paper by Sir Ian Donald of Glasgow University 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 (at
Glasgow University), engineering (at Kelvin & Hughes) and industrial design (at The
Glasgow School of Art) 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 and The University of Glasgow have jointly submitted this pioneering work for Made at Uni, a major Universities UK campaign highlighting the calibre of work undertaken in Britain’s universities which will be launched today, 6 December
Professor Dugald Cameron, former Director of the GSA and Professor Alastair Macdonald, senior researcher in design in health and care at the GSA talk about the pioneering work on the ultrasound scanner.
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 as an 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 in innovations such as
the definitive 3D Human Anatomy being pioneered in the GSA’s School of
Simulation and Visualisation.
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
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.
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 the 1966s 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 the 1966s 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.”
Angela Constance MSP
has secured a debate in the Scottish Parliament to discuss the issue of the importance in
recognising the work undertaken by Sir Ian Donald, Tom Brown and Dugald
Cameron on the
obstetric ultrasound scanner on its 60th anniversary.
It will be heard on 11 December 2018.
has secured a debate in the Scottish Parliament to discuss the issue of the importance in
recognising the work undertaken by Sir Ian Donald, Tom Brown and Dugald
Cameron on the
obstetric ultrasound scanner on its 60th anniversary.
It will be heard on 11 December 2018.
See the GSA’s Made at Uni page here
https://madeatuni.org.uk/glasgow-school-art
For further
information, images and interviews contact:
information, images and interviews contact:
Lesley Booth,
07799414474