08-10-2004, 03:03 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Junkie
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An inspiration to us all
Quote:
As a young boy growing up in war-torn Iran, Peter Abolfathi had one dream: to become an inventor. So after moving to Australia with his family aged 12, he turned his mind to studying biomedical engineering, a skill he could use to help the sick.
Last night at the Hordern Pavilion, Mr Abolfathi was honoured for realising his boyhood dreams. His invention of a bionic glove embedded with artificial muscles for people with paralysed or damaged hands won the 2004 Eureka Prize for inspiring science, $10,000 to study in Britain.
Mr Abolfathi's journey from the bomb shelters of Tehran to Royal North Shore Hospital's Quadriplegic Hand Research Unit included a job working with the world's only flying eye hospital, ORBIS, which took him to 27 countries in three years.
"It was an immensely valuable experience, dealing with different cultures and learning from people who used basic things to solve problems," he said.
"In Cuba, for example, I saw biomedical engineers fixing complicated machinery with hand made tools."
Mr Abolfathi said just getting the job took determination. He had to do extra teaching and research, all during his last year at university, to make the grade.
But determination is something the 29-year-old PhD student has in spades. He has overcome the Iran-Iraq war, tough times at high school and even shyness, by signing up as a presenter for community radio.
Mr Abolfathi's final posting with ORBIS was in New York, where he saw the devastation of the September 11 terrorist attack. "It was a traumatic experience. And I thought, 'It's probably a good time to come back'."
On his return to Australia, Mr Abolfathi began work on his rehabilitation glove. He said it helped its wearers - people with burns, arthritis or who are recovering from surgery - by moving the joints of a damaged hand gently and continuously.
"Quadriplegic people or stroke victims will be able to grasp objects, brush their teeth, feed themselves, pick up the telephone and shake hands," Mr Abolfathi said.
Mr Abolfathi is now working on ways to control artificial muscles electrically using tiny crystal motors, alloys that remember their shape and "smart" polymers.
Overall, a record $220,000 was presented to 22 Australian Musuem Eureka Prize winners.
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Link to story in Sydney Morning Herald - 11 August 2004
It's nice to see someone overcome personal adversity and go on to help improve the lives of others.
Mr Mephisto |
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