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
First
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
Honda
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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