2007
Information and communications technology
Now 2006
Transatlantic rower's diabetic challenge
Transatlantic rower Neil Hunter faces the extra challenge of managing his
diabetes through the 3000 mile race. This will be done by using a compact
blood glucose monitoring system, patient monitoring software on a laptop and
transmitting data by satellite communications to a medical team back in
Southampton, UK. 6 December 2007
ESA
project tests health emergency management via satellite
A training exercise in Greece has shown the viability of a satellite system
for early warning and management of health emergencies in disaster
situations. The exercise simulated an earthquake hitting the island of
Crete. 6 December 2007
Kjaya Medical announces service for
distributing high-volume digital CT images
Kjaya Medical has announced new managed services that combine powerful
graphics processing units, computer hardware and proprietary software that
allows quick distribution of CT images via standard high speed internet. 6
December 2007 Neurotechnologija releases
face-matching software for smartcard security systems
Smartcard Face-Match stores and verifies biometric facial information on a
smartcard, allowing individuals to maintain and protect their own
information. It provides an extra level of security compared to either smart
cards or face identification alone. 23 November 2007
New medical device profile for Bluetooth
wireless technology
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has developed a Medical Device
Profile for Bluetooth wireless technology. The profile defines how different
applications use Bluetooth wireless technology to set up a connection and
exchange data and ensures that devices in the medical environment can
transfer data between devices in a secure and well defined way. 22 November
2007
Mathematical modelling to help unlock
secrets of immune system
A multidisciplinary research project, the Immunology Imaging and Modelling
(I2M) Network, is using mathematics to build a common model of
immune responses. Their work will radically improve our understanding of the
human immune system by allowing all the scientific disciplines working on it
to have a common reference point and language. 5 November
Submersible keyboard aids fight against
hospital infection
Devlin Electronics has launched a washable keyboard specifically designed to
help health services tackle the problems of hospital-acquired infections. 5
November Agfa's Orbis installed in
Toulouse, France and Lecco, Italy
Agfa HealthCare has announced two European installations of its Orbis
hospital information system, at Purpan Hospital in Toulouse and Azienda
Ospedaliera Ospedale di Lecco in northern Italy. 22 October
Electronic health card pilot launched in
Bulgaria
The pilot involving seven physicians, four pharmacies and 1,000 patients was
launched earlier this month with the issuing of the first electronic
prescriptions. 22 October 2007
Heidelberg University students study
virtual anatomy
The University in Heidelberg will start a virtual anatomy course for medical
students using 3viseon 3D imaging software in order to perform a virtual
dissection of different organs in 3D. 16 October 2007
Agfa installs cardiology suite at Belgian
Hospital
Agfa HealthCare has completed the installation of its Impax Cardiovascular
Suite at the AZ Imelda hospital in Bonheiden, Belgium. The enterprise-wide,
cardiology information management system and reporting solution allows
physicians to view both cardiology and radiology images and reports. 16
October 2007
New release of Materials for Medical
Devices Database
The database now has an orthopaedic module to help designers of spinal
implants and over 1,600 additional device records in the existing
cardiovascular module. 9 October
iSOFT launches laboratory reporting
application
iSOFT has introduced a new reporting tool for its laboratory information
systems from its business intelligence partner FMI Business Solutions Group.
5 October
Dräger releases new software to integrate
neonatal monitoring systems
The software enables caregivers to view vital signs, respiration and thermo
regulation data from multiple devices together on one screen at the bedside.
5 October
Sony
launches high-definition medical monitor
The LMD-2450MD is Sony's first HD1080P model in its healthcare range. Aimed
at endoscopic applications, it offers high image clarity and colour
accuracy, and incorporates advanced imaging features. 5 October
Salzburg hospital migrates 600,000 patient
data files to Agfa's Orbis
Agfa HealthCare has announced that it has successfully installed its Orbis
hospital information system together with its Impax picture archiving and
communications system in the Salzburger Landeskliniken in Austria. 17
September 2007
Mobiles
phones dangerous near hospital beds
Mobile phones should come no closer than one metre to hospital beds and
equipment, according to research published in Critical Care.
Hazardous incidents caused by phones varied from a total switch off and
restart of mechanical ventilator and complete stops without alarms in
syringe pumps to incorrect pulsing by an external pacemaker. 12 September
2007
Barco and Medicsight produce virtual
colonoscopy solution
Barco will integrate Medicsight’s CAD function into its ColonMetrix software
solution, thereby enabling faster and more efficient recognition of suspect
lesions during virtual colonography. 17 August 2007
Speech and therapy software for speech
disabled
The Touch & Talk system is a speech communication and therapy tool for
patients suffering from stroke, autism, cancer and other speech
communication disabilities. 5 August 2007
Definiens launches new image
intelligence suite for life science image analysis
The wealth of image information gathered in the various phases of the drug
development process can now be integrated across and exchanged within the
entire organization. 31 July 2007
Philips and UKE develop computer-aided
diagnosis of PET and MRI brain scans
The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) and Royal Philips
Electronics have developed software for computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) of
PET and MRI imaging of the brain to aid the identification of
neurodegenerative diseases. 11 July 2007
RFID surgical sponge counting system
approved
ClearCount Medical Solutions' SmartSponge System, which uses radio frequency
identification (RFID) tags attached to surgical sponges, has received US FDA
clearance. 19 June 2007
GE Healthcare and IntrinsiQ to integrate
cancer treatment system with patient records
GE Healthcare and cancer care software supplier IntrinsiQ, LLC are to
collaborate to integrate IntrinsiQ's cancer treatment information system
with GE's Centricity electronic medical record (EMR) system. 7 June 2007
Spanish AmIVital project to develop
intelligent devices for elderly and disabled
The AmIVital project is a cooperative effort between 17 public and private
sector organisations that aims to create a wide range of devices especially
designed and adapted to the elderly and to people with disabilities or
reduced mobility. 6 June 2007
Software to help disabled children
communicate
Software to aid disabled children communicate through computer devices such
as PCs, laptops and PDAs, has been developed by a multidisciplinary team at
Grenada University (AGR). 3 June 2007
GE receives FDA clearance for Carescape
patient data-capture module
The module is small enough to stay with the patient to capture and store all
patient measurements and ensures that the receiving nurse has a complete
monitoring history when a patient arrives. 30 May 2007
ICW Master Patient Index passes IHE
conformance tests
InterComponentWare AG (ICW) has shown that its Master Patient Index (MPI) is
compatible with international standards at the 2007 Connectathon hosted by
Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE). 12 May 2007
Agfa HealthCare and ICW collaborate to
integrate hospital software
Agfa HealthCare and InterComponentWare AG (ICW) have announced a
non-exclusive agreement to cooperate in developing integration and
interoperability between Agfa HealthCare’s hospital information system (HIS)
ORBISTM and ICW’s eHealth Framework. 12 May 2007
Zarlink
introduces implantable wireless system-on-a-chip
The new ZL 70101 transceiver chip, which delivers high data rates, low power
consumption and unique wake-up circuitry, is designed for use in both
implanted medical devices and monitoring base stations. 11 May 2007
Virtual reality helps MS patients walk
better
A virtual reality device that combines combines a wearable, cell phone-sized
audio component and a visual feedback apparatus to improve walking speed and
stride length in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis has been
developed at the the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. 10 May 2007
Philips and Misys collaborate in home
telemonitoring solutions
The companies intend to develop an integrated software platform that will
enable care agencies to provide high quality care to chronically ill
patients at home, including the remote monitoring of patients’ health status
to provide operational efficiencies. 10 May 2007
CAP creates new division to support SNOMED
CT terminology
The SNOMED International division will now be called SNOMED Terminology
Solutions and will focus on education, training and consulting related to
SNOMED CT and its implementation. 7 May 2007
SNOMED CT clinical coding standard
transferred to new international organization
SNOMED Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT), the UK-US developed standard for clinical
terminology, has been acquired by the newly formed International Health
Terminology Standards Development Organization from the College of American
Pathologists for $7.8 million. 4 May 2007
Philips awarded telecare contract by
Visiting Nurse Associations of America
Philips Consumer Healthcare Solutions has been awarded a contract as the
“preferred provider” for telehealth products and services for Visiting Nurse
Associations of America (VNAA) members. 3 May 2007
Philips bedside patient monitors give
evidence-based care guidance
Royal Philips Electronics has introduced ProtocolWatch, an application for
its IntelliVue patient monitors that analyses patient monitoring data using
evidence-based care protocols and gives guidance on screen. 19 April 2007
Agfa and Free University of Brussels in
agreement to develop healthcare IT and imaging solutions. 19 April 2007
Door lock and bell with GSM phone aids
emergency response for elderly
The GSM Doorbell, developed by Dutch company Waleli, is a mobile phone
application that allows people to answer their doorbell, talk to visitors
and even open the door, whether they are at home or not. 17 April 2007
Virtual home for Alzheimer's patients
A virtual home showing the best features suitable for Alzheimer's patients
will be developed by the Division of Geriatrics at Weill Cornell Medical
College, USA. 6 April 2007
Master patient index locates patient data
from 100 million data sets in split second
Hewlett-Packard tests of the ICW Master Patient Index using 100 million
patient data sets in one database, combined with queries made by up to 1,000
concurrent users, resulted in response times of less than a second. 4 April
2007
Mobile phones safe in hospitals
A study by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, USA, of mobile phone use in
hospitals has found that they have no noticeable effect on medical devices
in normal use. This dispels the long-held notion that they are unsafe to use
in health care facilities, according to the researchers. 4 April 2007
Groundbreaking study shows hospital
investment in IT does reduce costs
A two-year long study by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Wharton School of
Business of the use of information technology in US hospitals provides the
strongest evidence that the investment does pay for itself, but it has to be
comprehensive and given enough time to work. 3 April 2007
Computer training course for UK healthcare
staff
The British Computer Society launched its new European Computer Driving
Licence (ECDL) Health Unit at Healthcare Computing 2007 in Harrogate in
March. It is the first computer skills syllabus in the world specifically
for users of healthcare systems. 3 April 2007
Project to develop virtual people
A new project aims to create computer-generated virtual persons that
interact with humans in a life-like manner. The methodology may prove
valuable for developing more user-friendly archiving and retrieval of
information, and for computer games, among other uses. 4 April 2007
Hand-held computers analyse patients'
vital signs, improve patient care and reduce costs
VitalPAC records, stores, and analyses a patient’s vital signs (pulse, blood
pressure, respiratory rate, etc) allowing clinicians to effectively monitor
the condition of their patients in real time throughout a hospital stay. 30
March 2007
Tunstall celebrates 50 years in telecare
UK company Tunstall is celebrating 50 years of providing healthcare
solutions that support older people and those with long-term needs, by
effectively managing health and well-being. 30 March 2007
New alliance to help MS sufferers make the
best use of technology
The MS Technology Collaborative is an alliance of leaders from three
specialty areas — pharmaceutical, technology, and patient advocacy — to
improve the way technology may help people with MS maintain their health and
independence, have support for their life choices, and stay connected with
their families, friends, and communities. 29 March 2007
Computer-aided detection for CT
colonoscopy
CADCOLON im3D is a computer aided detection (CAD) system from iM3D SpA
designed to support radiologists' diagnoses of suspect polyps in the colon
and rectum, using high and low dose CT. 27 March 2007
NASA
undersea mission to test space medicine
The NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) scheduled for May
this year will include a variety of advanced medical technology experiments,
including robotic telesurgery on simulated patients. 11 March 2007
Cambio Healthcare Systems launches in UK
Cambio Healthcare Systems, the largest healthcare administration software
provider in Scandinavia, has set up office and won its first contract in the
United Kingdom. 11 March 2007
Agfa integrates clinical data into RIS/PACS
Agfa HealthCare has launched the IMPAX Clinical Module that brings disparate
clinical data such as lab results, pharmacy and pathology to the IMPAX
Radiology Desktop. 6 March 2007
Sun expands healthcare IT portfolio
Sun Microsystems has introduced the Sun B2B-enabled Electronic Master
Patient Index (EMPI), and two picture archiving systems, iPACS and uPACS
aimed at manufactureres for building their own PACS systems. 6 March 2007
InforSense launches clinical decision
support solution
InforSense's HealthSense is a workflow-based decision-support solution that
enables clinicians to analyse large patient data sets to identify key risk
factors for better decision-making in patient care. 28 February 2007
Computer
model of brain's visual processing could lead to better image analysis and
robot vision
A new computer model of how the brain processes visual information has
surprised researchers at its power. Developed as a tool for neuroscientists
it could now have applications in surveillance and automobile driver’s
assistance, visual search engines, biomedical imaging analysis, and robots
with realistic vision. 22 February 2007
Cardinal Health joins US Dossia project to
develop online personal health records for employees
Dossia is a Web-based infrastructure which will empower individuals to
manage their own healthcare records and maintain comprehensive, up-to-date
histories for themselves and their families, in a secure and private
environment. 19 February 2007
€12m European SOPRANO project to develop
technology for independent living for older people
The Service Orientated Programmable Smart Environments for Older Europeans
(SOPRANO) project will develop affordable, smart IT-based assisted living
services aimed at promoting independence for older people, improving quality
of life and addressing the issue of an ageing population across Europe. 13
February 2007
Adoption of electronic work processes
pushing convergence of electronic health records and clinical trials
The move towards the use of IT and computer-based patient record systems
across hospitals in Europe and North America, and efforts to streamline the
functioning of clinical trials are promoting the expanded use of electronic
data capture. This is encouraging merging of work processes in clinical care
and clinical research areas. 2 Feb 2007
Smiths Medical launches medication control
software for infusion pumps
Smiths Medical, part of the global technology business Smiths Group, has
received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for
software that makes programming pain management infusion pumps simpler and
safer. 1 Feb 2007
Bulgaria pilots electronic health cards
The Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is carrying out a pilot
project for electronic health cards involving 1,000 patients. The
project will be implemented by ICW and Cisco. 30 Jan 2007
Pointsec solution controls copying of data
onto USB storage devices
Pointsec Mobile Technologies has launched the Pointsec Device Protector to
control access to data through the security weak points of computer ports
and portable storage devices. The new system secures data access through a
combination of port management, content filtering and optional media
encryption. 23 January 2007
Video game gives real-world experiences of
nanomedicine
NanoMission is a PC-based game that educates players about basic concepts in
nanoscience through real-world practical applications from microelectronics
to drug delivery. 16 Jan 2007
Gemalto qualifies for Germany's 80m
healthcare smartcard programme
Gemalto has been chosen to supply its secure microprocessor-based smartcards
to Germany's healthcare programme. The first trial phase commenced in
December 2006, involving 70,000 units in 7 regions. A larger scale
experimentation of 300,000 cards is due to start in 2007, which will be
followed by mass deployment. 12 Jan 2007
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