Grant hopes to bounce back with vein device
Dec 11 2007 by Chris Knox, The Journal
A NORTH-EAST entrepreneur who was once rejected from the BBC’s Dragons’ Den show is looking to bounce back with a device to aid sufferers of varicose veins.
Burnopfield-based Grant Dench has started new business Mailsigns to work with UK hospitals in order to distribute a simple belt loop design which has had more than 15 years of successful use among surgeons in Australia.
The device, known as the Venocuff II, is used to re-align damaged valves that control veins that have become pressurised against the skin.
By doing so, the vein is able to heal itself, allowing the patient to return to work after a few days rather than having to rest for a number of weeks under the usual procedure of stripping the vein away.
Although Grant is seeking investment to conduct a number of UK trials of the product he has already received interest from a number of parties, including the Freeman Hospital and the London Vascular Clinic. Grant hopes this interest will help him to create a £20m turnover for the business.
He said: “The response in the UK has been very positive and I hope to complete trials in the new year.
“There is huge potential for this kind of treatment in the UK and I am looking forward to developing the business.”
Grant, who has spent over 15 years in the medical device development field, is no stranger to starting up his own business. His entrepreneurial streak saw him visit the Dragons’ Den in 2005 with his sick bag QeeZee.
Despite the product’s high degree of innovation – the bag uses a mix of chemicals to turn sick into an odourless gel – Grant was unable to secure any investment from the Dragons.
However, he is in talks with Surrey-based firm Sheewee to add his gelling agent to their portable female urinating devices.
