Innovative Nonprofit Organization Creates Customized Medical Mobility Products for Children with Disabilities

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that Medical Engineering Resource Unit (MERU), a designer and manufacturer of specialized medical equipment for children with disabilities, has been named as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for December 2006. The Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive community of customers using Autodesk Inventor software, the world's best-selling 3D mechanical design software and best choice for 3D design.

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MERU is a charitable organization based in the United Kingdom. The group designs and manufactures a wide range of custom-made medical products for children and young people when no commercial-made product is suitable for their requirements. MERU's products address a wide range of needs, from communication and accessibility, to safety and mobility.

In response to the growing awareness in the therapeutic community of the mobility needs of very young children with disabilities, MERU created Bugzi, an innovative indoor electric wheelchair. Bugzi is specially designed for children aged from one to five, who are too young for conventional powered wheelchairs. In contrast to conventional products, Bugzi is small, robust, maneuverable, and can be easily transported in a car. It is also adaptable to a wide range of sizes and abilities and provides adjustable seating that supports a child's posture.

Autodesk Inventor played a key role in helping MERU create the Bugzi product that met all these diverse requirements. With its support for both 2D and 3D design processes, Autodesk Inventor allowed MERU to visualize and experience what their end product would look like before it was built. MERU was able to conceptualize, model and test a variety of designs without the time and costs associated with developing a series of physical prototypes.

"Inventor was hugely advantageous in the development of Bugzi," said Peter Swann, head of product development for MERU. "The ability to design complex shapes with compound curved surfaces, to assemble and visualize designs on the screen and modify them so easily, to create components in assemblies that match and mate onto others - all these things contributed to our ability to realize our ideas, rather than being limited by manufacturing processes."

"We are proud of the role Autodesk Inventor plays in helping MERU develop their ground-breaking medical products," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. "Their goal of supporting children and young people with disabilities is truly inspiring, and it is a pleasure to name them as our Inventor of the Month for December."

Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the more than 500,000 users of Autodesk Inventor, its best-selling 3D mechanical design software. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation. To nominate a company for Inventor of the Month, please contact us at IOM@autodesk.com.

About MERU

MERU (Medical Engineering Resource Unit) is a charitable organization that exists to improve life for children and young people with severe disabilities. We do this by using our design and engineering skills to make individual pieces of specialist equipment that children can use at home, in school or at play. To learn more, please visit http://www.meru.org.uk.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is a Fortune 1000 company, wholly focused on ensuring that great ideas are turned into reality. With seven million users, Autodesk is the world's leading software and services company for the manufacturing, infrastructure, building, media and entertainment, and wireless data services fields. Autodesk's solutions help customers create, manage and share their data and digital assets more effectively. As a result, customers turn ideas into competitive advantage, become more productive, streamline project efficiency and maximize profits.

Founded in 1982, Autodesk is headquartered in San Rafael, California. For additional information about Autodesk, please visit http://www.autodesk.com .

NOTE: Autodesk, Autodesk Inventor, and Inventor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Contact: Carly Herrig 312.233.1356
Email: carly.herrig@edelman.com


Andrew Favreau 312.297.7587
Email: andrew.favreau@edelman.com

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc. 12/19/2006


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8433 12/19/2006 16:30 EST http://www.prnewswire.com