News archive
April 2008

Record demand for Varian's RapidArc radiotherapy treatment
Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) has announced it has received more than 60 orders for its new RapidArc radiotherapy product for faster image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). 29 April 2008

St Jude awarded patent for neurostimulation therapy for depression
St Jude Medical, Inc. has been awarded a US patent for treating depression using neurostimulation therapy in an area of the brain known as Brodmann Area 25. The company is also evaluating whether deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy can help people who suffer from major depressive disorder. 29 April 2008

Cranfield University tries new approach to TB diagnosis with breath test
A project to develop new technology for TB diagnosis will search for markers given off in volatile gases, such as breath, and program the data into existing portable devices, such as artificial noses, to provide a new screening method for the rapidly spreading disease. 29 April 2008

The 3-D structure of the immunoglobulin locus in B cellsFirst 3-D image of antibody gene
Scientists at the University of California, San Diego have shown for the first time how a genome is organized in three-dimensional space. They used a multidisciplinary mix of geometry, biological research and techniques developed to solve problems on supercomputers. 29 April 2008

LynuxWorks expands into embedded software for medical devices
LynuxWorks, Inc., developer of embedded software for aerospace and military systems, has announced plans to target medical device manufacturers, and broaden its ecosystem of products to help support these devices. 29 April 2008

Breakthrough in cell-based assay development
US company MaxCyte has introduced the ITF Inline Transfection System, a validated platform for preparative transfection, based on unique flow electroporation technology. The system enables rapid and efficient transfection of any kind of cell or cell line with any molecule. 29 April 2008

Call for European action to combat heart disease
A Call for Action encouraging European countries to develop national strategies to combat 4.3 million deaths and economic loss of 192 billion annually from heart disease has been issued by the Joint European Societies on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention. 29 April 2008

The Honda walking assist deviceHonda demonstrates walking assist device
Honda Motor Co demonstrated an experimental model of a walking assist device that could support walking for the elderly and other people with weakened leg muscles at a trade fair for equipment for the elderly and disabled in Osaka, Japan. 29 April 2008

Survey of medical device company business processes and practices
FDAnews and Industry Directions Inc., in close association with research analysis partner Cambashi Ltd, are inviting medical device manufacturers to respond to a new survey on current industry challenges and practices. 29 April 2008

Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis collects 1000 blood samples for collaborative research
The Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis has completed a drive to collect one thousand blood and data samples to build the largest openly accessible, multidisciplinary repository ever assembled for use in multiple sclerosis (MS) research. 29 April 2008

New nanotechnology consumer products launched at rate of 3-4 per week
New nanotechnology consumer products are coming on the market at the rate of 3-4 per week, according to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies' (PEN) inventory of consumer products. Health and fitness items, which include cosmetics and sunscreens, represent 60 percent of inventory products. 29 April 2008

Nonin introduces Bluetooth wireless fingertip pulse oximeter
Nonin Medical has introduced the Bluetooth-enabled Onyx II Model 9560a. The device allows vital signs to be monitored by the patient and sent wirelessly through communication devices. 18 April 2008

Microwave treatments for enlarged prostate cause blood pressure surges
Many men who receive microwave therapy for enlarged prostates experience significant surges in blood pressure that could raise their risk of a heart attack or stroke, according to new research findings published recently in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 18 April 2008

CyberKnife delivers high dose brachytherapy for prostate cancer non-invasively
The CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system can serve as a non-invasive means for delivering high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy dosing, according to a new study. The study supports the system's clinical flexibility in treating prostate cancer and expands the non-invasive options available to clinicians and patients. 18 April 2008

St Jude Medical gains US and EU approval for mini 10-year rechargeable  neurostimulator
St Jude Medical, Inc. has gained approval for its Eon Mini implantable neurostimulator to treat chronic pain. It is 10 mm thick, weighs 29 grams and has a battery life of 10 years between recharges. 18 April 2008

Self monitoring of type 2 diabetes more expensive and less effective
Self monitoring of blood sugar by non-insulin treated type 2 diabetics costs the UK National Health Service £100 million a year, but costs £90 more per person than standardised care and the process is more likely to make them depressed, according to a series of articles published in bmj.com. 18 April 2008

Valdemar Hospital establishes point-of-care testing system
The Valdemar Private Hospital in Ringsted, Denmark, has invested in a point-of-care testing (POCT) service from Capio Diagnostics. The service includes remote monitoring and management of the POCT testing at the hospital from Capio Diagnostics’ monitoring centre in the UK. 17 April 2008

London clinic invests in early detection of coronary disease
The Clinical Imaging and Research Centre at The Wellington Hospital in north London has installed a Somatom Definition Dual Source CT, Symbia T6 Spect CT and ultrasound scanners from Siemens to support its high volume clinical work and to support its pioneering patient research projects. 17 April 2008

Covidien launches minimally invasive surgical products in Europe
Covidien has launched three new surgical access products in Europe, the VersaStep Plus 15mm, Visiport Plus with fixation and Versaport Plus RPF 15mm with fixation. 11 April 2008

Central storage of diagnostic imaging for 33 Ontario hospitals
Agfa HealthCare and Canadian firm Teranet are to provide and host a new diagnostic imaging data centre and virtual private network service for 33 hospital sites across Ontario. 11 April 2008

3mensio Medical Imaging receives EU approval for vascular imaging workstation. 11 April 2008

Philips and Mediguide announce clinical trials of cardiac navigation system
Philips and Israeli company MediGuide have started clinical trials of a system that enables real time tip positioning and navigation of an invasive device used in coronary or cardiac intervention. 11 April 2008

Workshops on FDA medical device inspections outside US
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is holding two workshops in Europe to help medical device companies prepare for an FDA inspection. 11 April 2008

Varian acquires x-ray crystallography company Oxford Diffraction
Varian, Inc. has taken over UK company Oxford Diffraction Ltd, for about US$37m, strengthening its portfolio of information-rich detection products. 8 April 2008

TomTec announces cardiology PACS
TomTec Imaging Systems, a Munich-based producer of 3D/4D ultrasound and echocardiography information management systems, has announced it will launch a cardiology picture archiving and communication system (PACS) in 2008. 7 April 2008

Mindray receives US clearance for portable ultrasound system and analyzer
Mindray Medical International Limited has received US FDA clearance for its M5 laptop-sized ultrasound imaging system and BS-200 automatic bio-chemistry analyzer. 7 April 2008

Boston Scientific sells endovascular aortic repair business
In a further restructuring move, Boston Scientific Corporation has sold  Boston Scientific Santa Rosa Corp to privately held TV2 Holding Company for $30m. 7 April 2008

Clinical trials have major deficiencies in design and funding
There are major shortcomings in the way clinical trials are designed, carried out and funded in the US. These include the exclusion or under-representation of women, older people and minorities and insufficient training in disparities for members of institutional review boards. 7 April 2008

Dutch molecular medicine institute allocates 150m for disease research
The Center for Translational Molecular Medicine (CTMM) in Eindhoven has awarded 150 million of funding for nine research projects directed at the most prevalent diseases in the cardiovascular area, cancer and neurodegeneration. 7 April 2008

Implanted wireless medical devices are potential security risk for patients
Implanted medical devices with wireless technology have a potential risk of unauthorised access to patient data and reprogramming of the device. 2 April 2008

CardioTech sells catheter business to Essel Propack
CardioTech International has sold its subsidiary Catheter and Disposables Technology subsidiary to Tacpro, Inc. for about US$1.2m. Tacpro, a subsidiary of Mumbai-based Essel Propack, specialises in catheters and delivery systems. 1 April 2008

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