Nanosonics' CORIS® System Achieves Gold at the Australian Design Awards 2026
Nanosonics' CORIS® System Recognized at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards
On October 8th, 2026, Nanosonics officially announced that its groundbreaking CORIS® System has clinched the prestigious Gold Award in the Product Design Medical and Scientific category at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards. This recognition not only highlights the innovative technology behind the CORIS® System but its crucial role in enhancing infection prevention measures within healthcare settings.
The CORIS® System represents a transformational shift in the way flexible endoscopes are cleaned before high-level disinfection. These surgical instruments are indispensable for various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, yet their design poses significant challenges when it comes to effective cleaning. Traditional manual cleaning methods suffer from variability and difficulty in verification, often leading to contamination and risking patient safety.
As cleaning endoscopes thoroughly is essential, the CORIS® System automates this crucial step, ensuring effective removal of residual organic soil and biofilm. This innovation addresses a pivotal concern in the medical field—ensuring that internal channels of the endoscopes are devoid of contaminants that can jeopardize patient health.
The independent jury behind the Good Design Awards applauded the CORIS® System for its ability to tackle the intricate issues associated with endoscope maintenance and hygiene. They noted the potential benefits the product can bring to both patient safety and clinical workflows. An extensive collaborative effort involving a diverse group of clinicians, engineers, and designers contributed to the development of this groundbreaking technology, representing years of research and market analysis.
According to the jury's feedback, standout features of the system include improved hygiene outcomes and a more efficient cleaning process, which are vital to minimizing the risk of cross-contamination—a significant concern for both patients and healthcare professionals.
Nanosonics CEO Michael Kavanagh expressed pride in the team's accomplishment, stating, “We are honored the CORIS System has been recognized as a Gold Winner. This award belongs to a team that spent years working alongside clinicians and reprocessing staff around the world to understand a problem that has challenged healthcare for decades.” He further emphasized that effective design in infection prevention focuses not only on patient care but also on enhancing the daily operations of healthcare providers.
Furthermore, the CORIS® System's journey to recognition began in 2025, when it was listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and received De Novo clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Such clearance is typically reserved for innovative technologies that bring advancements to medical practices. A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection in 2024 reinforced the efficacy of the CORIS System, demonstrating its superior cleaning performance compared to traditional manual techniques.
In summary, the CORIS® System's Gold Award at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards is a testament to Nanosonics' commitment to innovation in infection prevention technology. As healthcare continues to evolve, advancements like the CORIS System play a vital role in ensuring patient safety and operational efficiency across medical environments.