Kiwi in his shed helps with Avery's lifesaver

Sir Ray Avery (left) with engineer John Borrows, who is helping with the development of Sir Ray's baby incubator. Photo / Dean Purcell

Next to a Ford Thunderbird convertible and among hand-built models of the solar system a Kiwi engineer is helping streamline an invention that will save thousands of babies in Third World countries.

Auckland engineer John Borrows has joined New Zealand inventor Sir Ray Avery's bid to build cheap and durable incubators, called Life Pods, that can survive for 10 years in developing countries.

Sir Ray's charity Medical Mondial is raising $2 million to build the high-quality incubators for less than $2000 apiece - a fraction of the $45,000-odd incubators currently sell for.

Premature and sick newborns can be placed in an incubator - an enclosed, clear plastic cot - to stabilise their temperature. Sometimes the moisture in the air is increased to help the lungs or skin.

From a Mission Bay shed that would be the envy of most Kiwi handymen, Mr Borrows - the brains behind Fisher & Paykel's revolutionary SmartDrive washing machine - has already reduced the price of one of the machine's parts from $500 to $17.

The pair were introduced and bonded immediately, working together in Mr Burrow's shed where he makes everything from models of 20th-century inventions to his own tools.

"I recognised straight away that he's a genius, he's not normal: he sees things in 3D," said Sir Ray.

Mr Borrows said his first project had been the design of the pod's lid.

A helix spring was used to open the lid and simultaneously activate compressors that held it ajar.

The change was one of many that would bring the cost of the machine down and increase its durability - current models lasted only up to eight months.

They included using ceramic ball bearings, a polyurethane basket and perspex lid, air filters that did not need changing and a battery that would run during power cuts.

If fundraising went to plan 100 of the pods would be produced in the initial manufacturing run in 18 months, after which the project would become self-sustaining, said Sir Ray.

"For every one of these that we get out there, it will save 500 kids' lives."

How to contribute: • Go to mondialelifepod.com
• Post to Medicine Mondiale Box 67086 Mt Eden Auckland
• Donate $3 now by texting 'HEART' to 2454