Sophie Rush

University of Nottingham > Engineering > Departments > Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering > PDM Exhibitions > 2025 > MEng students > Sophie Rush

This project presents a redesigned portable nebuliser aimed at improving the user experience for individuals managing chronic respiratory conditions.

Hi, I’m Sophie, a final-year MEng Product Design Engineering student with a particular interest in Healthcare design and Sustainability. My work focuses on designing intuitive, impactful products that improve everyday experiences while also trying to have a positive impact on the environment.

From a young age, I was always curious about how products are made and how they could work better. That curiosity eventually grew into a desire to design things that genuinely improve people’s lives. Studying Product Design Engineering has given me the tools to be able to do that, balancing creativity with technical understanding. I’m particularly drawn to projects that focus on healthcare or everyday usability, where small design choices can make a big difference. Through hands-on prototyping, testing, and continuous refinement, I enjoy creating solutions that are both unique and technically sound.

Alongside my degree, I have been working Part time as an industrial designer at a Company in Beeston – Magical Mushroom Company - where I have been contributing to the development of sustainable, mycelium-based packaging solutions. This role allowed me to gain hands-on experience in both design and manufacturing environments, developing practical skills in material innovation, process planning, and cross-functional collaboration. After graduation, I’ll be returning to the company full-time as a Process Engineer to continue driving sustainable production forward.

Outside of my studies, I’ve played hockey for over 12 years and counting. It’s a sport that’s taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of teamwork—skills I carry into every aspect of my work and life.

Sophie Rush, MEng Product Design and Manufacture

Respira - An Auto-dosing Nebuliser

This project presents a redesigned portable nebuliser aimed at improving the user experience for individuals managing chronic respiratory conditions. Current devices are often bulky, difficult to clean, and lack personalisation or clarity in dosage control. My goal was to create a compact, user-friendly solution that integrates intuitive design with precise medication delivery.

The proposed design features a modular cartridge system, allowing users to easily load and replace medication and saline. Dual syringe drivers dispense controlled volumes from each reservoir, achieving the desired concentration before mixing occurs in an internal Archimedes screw chamber. This ensures a consistent and accurate dose is delivered to the handheld device.

In the handheld device, a flexible silicone mouthpiece folds into the body of the device for hygienic storage and ease of transport. At the core, is the aerosol generation by a vibrating mesh plate, which produces fine particles suitable for deep lung deposition. The mesh is wired to the circuit via pogo pins, enabling the medication compartment to be removed and replaced with ease. The medication chamber consists of two sections: a 10ml reservoir at the base and a 2.5ml dosing chamber above, which limits the volume drawn upward by the plunger to a precise 2.5ml dose.

To further improve usability, a screen interface on both units allows users to select their medication, adjust dosage settings, and monitor treatment progress. Battery level and device status are also clearly displayed, ensuring users feel in control of their treatment.

This project combines technical precision with patient-focused design, aiming to increase adherence and confidence in self-administered respiratory care.