Maynooth University graduate Zoë O'Sullivan has been shortlisted as a global finalist for the James Dyson Award for her invention "Lymphia", a device that allows patients to perform lymphatic drainage independently.
The competition is for engineering and design students and recent graduates, with a focus on ambitious designs that address everyday problems or global issues.
Ms O'Sullivan was named as the national Irish winner last month and has now made it into the James Dyson Award Global Top 20.
Lymphatic drainage therapy is essential for people living with conditions such as lipedema and lymphoedema.
Current solutions can be costly, time-consuming and typically require attending appointments outside the home.
Lymphia is a home-use device designed to empower patients to perform Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) independently.
The device uses 10mm steel balls, carefully sized to be perceptible on skin while small enough to precisely stimulate individual lymphatic vessels.
Ms O'Sullivan's inspiration began with a friend suffering from lymphoedema in their legs, for whom MLD was the only viable therapy.
Her personal experience deepened this understanding.
After undergoing breast reduction surgery, Ms O'Sullivan struggled with haematomas and fluid retention due to the complicated healing process.
For her, MLD became an essential part of recovery.
"I am so thrilled to have been selected as part of the Top 20 for this year's James Dyson Award - words really cannot do it justice," Ms O'Sullivan said.
"I'm incredibly grateful and delighted by the recognition of my work, and the awareness this can bring for lymphoedema and its treatment," she added.
Lymphia will now enter the final stage of the James Dyson Award, with global winners to be selected by inventor James Dyson and announced on 5 November.
The winning inventions will receive €36,000 to support their further development and commercialisation.
