Bermuda's King Edward VII Memorial Hospital will be among the first medical institutions in the world to receive a new tooth brush invention.

Head of the Hospital's intensive care unit, Glenda Daniels confirmed that she has ordered eight of the AGATHA portable oral hygiene units for the department.

"All the nurses in ICU have seen it and the physicians are very keen on it,'' she said.

"The doctors believe that it will improve patient care by greatly reducing the amount of bacteria in the mouth,'' she added.

The Royal Gazette featured Timothy Stewart inventor of the new-fangled toothbrush in an article last December.

Looking set to make millions from the invention Mr. Stewart, who has close family ties to Bermuda, has seen interest from several local investors.

The units will retail for $3,500 each and utilise disposable cartridges which will retail for $4.50 each.

Having spent the past 12 years on the project Mr. Stewart has secured the world-wide patent for the new product under his company Midian.

"The company is worth $55 million,'' he said. "The patents alone are worth $35 million.'' The King Edward VII will now join several US hospitals and medical institutions for clinical trials of the new oral hygiene system in April.

Settling on a final prototype the units will go into a limited production of 500 for use in the trials.

And Mr. Stewart anticipates putting AGATHA into mass production in Febrauary 2002.

Don't forget to floss: AGATHA inventor Timothy Stewart shows off his invention.