A tiny air compressor that was first developed for space travel has been adapted for medical and dental applications by Edinburgh-based manufacturer Vert Rotors. This is the first real innovation in this technology in 100 years and produces clean air suitable for use in a sterile environment and a rate four times higher than the nearest competitor.

The VERT.04.W compressor – which is barely bigger than the face of a wristwatch – is the world's smallest high-pressure and low-vibration clean air compressor.

The VERT.04 technology first was unveiled as a prototype satellite cooling system for the Ministry of Defence's Centre for Defence Enterprise, which aims to improve significantly the quality of infrared imaging.

The medical version of the VERT.04 is a low-noise, low-vibration desktop compressor. It produces clean air compressed to 115 pounds per square inch (psi), nearly four times higher than the current generation of industry-standard small compressors, which struggle to produce more than 32 psi.

Vert's water-injected compressor uses water injection instead of machine oil, eliminating the risk of contamination.

www.vert.co.uk