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August 2010

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live-mri-maxplanckcs Maths and video game graphics help develop live MRI of beating heart
Magnetic resonance imaging taking just one fiftieth of a second will enable the dynamics of organs and joints to be filmed 'live' for the first time, including the beating heart, the bending knee, and movements of the eye and jaw. 2 Sept 2010

Screening of young athletes for heart disease needs improving
The screening process for young footballers to detect those at risk of heart disease does not take into account the type and intensity of the exercise performed. 2 Sept 2010

Enhanced cardiac ultrasound system from Philips Healthcare
Royal Philips Electronics has launched the enhanced iE33 xMATRIX cardiac ultrasound system featuring a new ergonomic solution for more efficient adult echocardiograms, the X5-1 transducer. 1 Sept 2010

Everolimus-eluting stent shows greater therapeutic benefit over gold standard
A trial of the newer generation everolimus-eluting stent has provided preliminary evidence that it gives greater therapeutic benefit than the previous gold standard, the early generation sirolimus-eluting stent. 1 Sept 2010

Siemens introduces new systems for the diagnosis and therapy of heart diseases
Siemens Healthcare is presenting at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2010 a range of innovative solutions for cardiology that provide higher quality of care and contribute at the same time to reducing costs in healthcare. 1 Sept 2010

a synthetic corneaSynthetic cornea regenerates damaged eye
Artificial corneas made from laboratory grown collagen have regenerated and repaired damaged eye tissue and improved vision in patients with corneal blindness. 26 August 2010

Vivacta re-aligns management in preparation for £4 million financing round
Kent-based diagnostics technology company Vivacta Limited has announced a change and re-alignment of its executive management team as it enters an important phase of partnering and commercialisation. 26 August 2010

Aloka's auto NT test improves ultrasound detection of foetal chromosome disease
Aloka Holding Europe AG has added an automated Nuchal Translucency thickness measurement and pre-calibrated settings into its ProSound ultrasound systems. 26 August 2010

Siemens to showcase next-generation ultrasound at BMUS 2010
Siemens Healthcare will showcase its ultrasound range, including the Acuson S2000 2.0 and Acuson X300 Premium Edition at this year’s British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) Annual Scientific Meeting and Exhibition from 28-30 Sept.  26 August 2010

Viatronix releases new version of V3D-Colon software
Viatronix Incorporated has released a new version of its V3D-Colon software with the option to have colon CAD, VeraLook by iCAD. 26 August 2010

Spartan Bioscience announces first point-of-care DNA testing system for personalized medicine
The Spartan RX, a complete sample-to-result, point-of-care DNA testing system for personalized medicine. The non-invasive system provides automated results in one hour. 18 August 2010

TomTec introduces new version of 2D cardiac performance analysis software
2D Cardiac Performance Analysis is a speckle tracking based analysis tool which can analyze 2D data from various ultrasound machines. It allows a cardiologist to study the behaviour of the heart muscle quicker and easier due to improved handling. 18 August 2010

Scancell licences human antibody from Cancer Research Technology
Cancer Research Technology has licensed Nottingham University spinout Scancell Holdings to use a human antibody known as 105AD7. 18 August 2010

Cegedim Dendrite and Capgemini partner to offer services to life science companies
Capgemini will provide broad-based consulting and implementation services associated with Cegedim Dendrite’s AggregateSpend360 and Nucleus 360 solutions to pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies. 18 August 2010

Cytori’s PureGraft receives EU approval for fat grafting procedures
Cytori Therapeutics has received the CE Mark for the PureGraft 250/PURE System for autologous fat grafting procedures. It is aimed at the cosmetic and reconstructive surgery market. 18 August 2010

Akonni Biosystems’ ultra-rapid nucleic acid extraction technology gains US patent
The patent protects the company’s use of its pioneering nucleic acid binding matrix when inserted into a pipette tip, tubing or cartridge for nucleic acid purification. 18 August 2010

Seracare develops new control products for molecular diagnostic tests for STDs
SeraCare Life Sciences, Inc. has developed a new series of controls in its Accurun portfolio to monitor and validate molecular diagnostic test performance for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. 18 August 2010

A crack in the interface layer of the coated implantWhy nanocorrosion causes coated implants to fail
Researchers at the Swiss organisation Empa have found that the coatings on implants fail due to corrosion in the reaction layer under the coating and have developed methods to make the layer corrosion-resistant. 17 August 2010

Epson partners with Philips to offer printing systems for ultrasound imaging worldwide
Epson America and Royal Philips Electronics have entered into an agreement to supply Epson ink jet printers with Philips ultrasound medical imaging systems around the world. 17 August 2010

Ethianum clinic built with sustainable and environmentally friendly systems
The newly opened Ethianum clinic in Heidelberg is one of the first clinics in Germany to implement sustainability criteria across the organisation. The clinic was developed in partnership with Siemens using its Green+ Hospital Program. 17 August 2010

Philips invests in Dutch healthcare technology venture capital fund
Philips is joining Gilde Healthcare III, a new venture capital fund focusing on innovative early and growth stage healthcare technology companies in Europe and the USA. The areas to be targeted are new patient-centric healthcare solutions, medical technologies and therapeutics. 17 August 2010

Tissue Studio 2.0 supports tumour profiling, multiplexing and biomarker translational research
The new version includes a full range of functionality for the analysis of immunofluorescence tissue stains and more accurate nucleus detection. 13 August 2010

Ion Torrent licences DNA Electronics technology
DNA Electronics Ltd has signed a worldwide licence agreement giving Ion Torrent access to its intellectual property. DNA Electronics has developed scalable semiconductor solutions for real-time nucleic acid detection. 13 August 2010

iSOFT partners i-Path to add digital pathology to laboratory system
iSOFT is adding i-Path’s web-based platform as a module to its existing laboratory product suite. The aim is to deliver the solution under a software-as-a-service model. 13 August 2010


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Almac launches biomarkers for biopharma
Biomarkers enables biopharma companies to better understand their drug, improve their drug’s success rate, improve the drug’s value and ultimately maximise their drug’s potential. 13 August 2010

TRaC accredited for IEC/EN60601 medical device testing
TRaC is now able to offer a cost-effective route to product certification. Approval under the standard is a fundamental requirement before a manufacturer can market any electrical device for patient diagnostics, monitoring or care. 13 August 2010

Kinked nanopores enable easier DNA sequencing
A new technique that slows down the passage of DNA through nanopores fivefold by manufacturing them with a kink will enable better DNA sequencing. 13 August 2010

Leica slide scanners win European scanner contest
Leica Microsystems' slide scanners Leica SCN400 and Autoloader Leica SL801 have come first in two categories of the first European Scanner Contest (ESC). 12 August 2010

NDSsi launches ConnectOR G2 platform for integrating surgical imaging
ConnectOR G2 offers the unique ability to connect PACS imaging, surgical video and medical informatics. 12 August 2010

Natural orifice surgery removes cancerous prostate through penis
Urologists at Mayo Clinic in Arizona have developed a new surgical procedure for the treatment of prostate cancer through the urethra, so that there is no incision on the body. [Includes video] 12 August 2010

Cytori gains EU approval for stem-cell-based tissue reconstruction after breast cancer
Cytori Therapeutics has received expanded European approval (CE Mark) for its Celution System, a medical device that extracts and separates stem and regenerative cells from a patient’s own fat tissue, and applications for soft tissue repair. 12 August 2010

MabCure's blood test for ovarian cancer gets positive results
A confirmatory study has demonstrated the company’s proprietary monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) successfully identified ovarian cancer in blood (94% accuracy) and with no false positives or cross-reactions with benign ovarian tumours or healthy blood. 12 August 2010

Golden Helix upgrades high-performance genetic data analysis software
Golden Helix's SNP & Variation Suite (SVS) 7 software is an integrated collection of high-performance analytic tools for rich, multi-dimensional approaches to uncovering genetic causes of disease and other phenotypes. 12 August 2010

Gold Standard Diagnostics introduces ThunderBolt automated diagnostics platform
The ThunderBolt platform will provide laboratory customers with a single hardware solution that can utilize multiple diagnostics technologies such as EIA, chemiluminescence and multiplexing. 12 August 2010

Patton Surgical launches laparoscopic access instrument for da Vinci surgical system
Patton Surgical Corporation, has launched worldwide the Robotic 8.5mm Endoscope PassPort, designed to be used with the da Vinci Surgical System. 12 August 2010

Illumina launches compact real-time PCR system
Illumina, Inc. has launched the Eco Real-Time PCR System that offers high performance at the breakthrough price of $13,900. 12 August 2010

Ultra low temperature freezer for biobanks with backup cooling system
Italian company Desmon S.p.A has launched a range of ultra-low temperature freezers specially developed for biological banks.
The models are equipped with two completely independent refrigerating units. 11 August 2010

An MRI brain scanBrain scan detects autism in 15 minutes
A new technique can identify autism from MRI scans of the brain in just 15 minutes. Tested so far only in adults, it can identify autism with over 90% accuracy. 11 August 2010

Portable ultrasound system provides vital obstetric scanning support in Southern Sudan
The Martha Primary Healthcare Centre in southern Sudan has been given a Siemens Acuson P10 handheld ultrasound system by UK charity The Brickworks to perform obstetric scanning. 11 August 2010

PharmaVigilant enhances clinical trial management system
PharmaVigilant has launched I-Vault 2.5, the enhanced version of its electronic Trial Master File (TMF) system. It improves usability, administration and notification capabilities for seamless site startup, site closeout and IRB submissions. 11 August 2010

Clontech Laboratories and TET Systems extend gene expression systems license agreement
Under the expanded license agreement, Clontech obtains rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize novel Tet Systems products such as the Tet-On 3G Inducible Expression System. 11 August 2010

Remote monitoring and control system for laboratory fridges
Italian company Smartfreeze S.r.l has developed an innovative system of remote monitoring and control of professional refrigerators. 11 August 2010

Pharmaceutical Development Services and Schiff & Company form alliance
PDS will be providing Regulatory and Quality Services to Schiff & Company clients in Europe while Schiff & Company will be targeting US based companies looking for local assistance in Europe. 11 August 2010

Siemens wins 15-year €132m medical imaging contract in Spain
Siemens will provide the Cartagena and Mar Menor hospitals with more than 100 imaging systems, including computed tomography scanners, mammography systems, and ultrasound systems. 11 August 2010

AMD appoints BK Medical as agent for prostate HistoScanning in UK
HistoScanning is a proprietary tissue characterization technology used to differentiate, characterize, and visualize solid organ tissue types based on the analysis of backscattered ultrasound. 10 August 2010

Orthovita’s surgical collagen facility gains FDA approval
Orthovita will use the new facility to process the highly purified form of collagen used in its Vitagel Surgical Hemostat product. 10 August 2010

Illumina launches TruSeq SBS sequencing kit for genome analyzer
The kit is the first in a new series that will advance data quality, ease of use and economical sequencing on the company’s sequencing platforms. 10 August 2010

Fractal design gives more efficient body-worn antennas
Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. has developed a new approach to body worn antennas that allows smaller antennas that are wideband, to stick onto clothing using Velcro or other attachments. 10 August 2010

Philips acquires Israeli PACS supplier CDP Medical
Philips has agreed to acquire the business of CDP Medical Ltd, an Israel-based provider of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), and a subsidiary of medical device distributor Medtechnica Ltd. 2 August 2010.

Philips acquires Chinese ultrasound transducer producer Shanghai Apex Electronics Technology
The acquisition strengthens Philips’ portfolio of high quality transducers specifically aimed at the value segment in emerging markets. 2 August 2010

Varian and Brainlab Combine TrueBeam STx with the Novalis Radiosurgery Program
Varian Medical Systems and Brainlab are expanding their radiosurgery partnership to incorporate their Novalis technology and other Novalis radiosurgery program elements into the recently launched TrueBeam STx system. 2 August 2010

Aloka e-flow technology improves accuracy of coronary heart diseases diagnosis
The Universidad Complutense de Madrid is using Aloka’s e-tracking technology to advance the early detection of cardiovascular events.
The system is used to easily measure predominant parameters on arterial vessels. 2 August 2010

Chromocyte launches online resource for flow cytometry researchers
It helps scientists design complex multi-parameter flow cytometry experiments and also identify and recommend a source for the reagents that are required for flow cytometry and other antibody-related experiments. 2 August 2010

CIT offers dried blood spot (DBS) technique for bioanalytical services
CIT expects the new service to bring ethical, scientific and cost benefits for clients conducting toxicology, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics studies. 2 August 2010

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre and InhibOx partner to offer drug development services
The combined service offers pharmaceutical, biotech and governmental research organizations access to new capabilities to accelerate drug discovery and improve productivity. 2 Aug 2010

Implanted sensor continuously transmits blood glucose levels for insulin control
A glucose sensor implanted under the skin that transmits glucose measurements continuously to an external device has been successfully tested for over 500 days, but only in a pig so far. 2 August 2010

July 2010

Prostate cancer seed cells discovered
New treatments for prostate cancer could result from the discovery that basal cells found in benign prostate tissue can turn into cancer cells. 30 July 2010

prostate cancer cells after the treatmentLaser blasted carbon nanoparticles open cell walls for drug delivery
Carbon nanoparticles blasted by bursts of laser light can open holes in cell membranes just long enough to admit therapeutic agents contained in the surrounding fluid. 30 July 2010

Common blood protein combined with nanoparticles kills cancer cells
A normally benign protein abundant in human blood appears to be able to zero in on and kill certain cancer cells when paired with nanoparticles, without having to also load the particles with chemotherapy drugs. 30 July 2010

Larch tree extract used to deliver drugs inside cancer cells
By attaching a cancer drug to a polymer from the larch tree, researchers have developed a 'Trojan Horse' molecule that releases cancer-fighting drugs inside cancer cells, protecting healthy tissue. 30 July 2010

Videogame processors reduce radiation in image guided radiation therapy
A new approach to processing X-ray data could lower by a factor of ten or more the amount of radiation patients receive during cone beam CT scans, report researchers from the University of California, San Diego. 26 July 2010

Stem cells made by reprogramming adult cells remember tissue of origin
This could limit the ability of induced pluripotent stem cells to function as a less controversial alternative to embryonic stem cells for basic research and cell replacement therapies. 26 July 2010

BIll GatesHistoric opportunity to "change the face of AIDS", says Bill Gates
Bill Gates has called on all countries to keep up the fight against HIV/AIDS in a keynote speech at the 18th International AIDS Conference, and urged a renewed focus on reducing annual new HIV infections up to 90% by 2031. 26 July 2010 Deutsch Español Francais

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation combats HIV and tuberculosis in African community projects
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has announced the community-based projects that it is currently supporting in resource-poor regions across Africa to help combat the challenge of HIV and tuberculosis co-infection. 26 July 2010

Missing link in cell division discovered
Researchers from The George Washington University Medical Center have identified a protein that plays a crucial role in cell division and is over-expressed in breast cancer. 26 July 2010

Target Health joins forces with LifeOnKey to offer clinical trials platform
Target Health and LifeOnKey are partnering to offering a platform for the bio-pharmaceutical and medical device industries to optimize clinical trials help researchers capture, analyze and assess trial data more efficiently. 26 July 2010

Medical Device Consultants in partnership with Clinical Development & Support Services
US contract research organization (CRO) Medical Device Consultants, Inc. (MDCI) has announced a strategic partnership with Clinical Development & Support Services Ltd (CDSS), a clinical services and CRO based in Cheshire, UK. 26 July 2010

Health Robotics expands CytoCare market into Spain and Portugal
Health Robotics has announced it has granted exclusive rights to Grifols S.A. to distribute its CytoCare chemotherapy system in Spain and Portugal. 26 July 2010

MRI tracking of tumour ablation by carbon nanotubes
A new way of monitoring carbon nanotubes as they destroy tumour cells by laser induced heating has been developed by researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. 26 July 2010

New rapid technique to map DNA by melting base pairs
A new method for rapidly mapping the base pairs of a DNA molecule has been developed by researchers in Sweden and Denmark. The technique could be used to find out more easily whether someone is carrying a genetic predisposition to certain diseases. 26 July 2010

Siemens launches initiative to reduce radiation dose from CT scans
Siemens Healthcare has launched the SIERRA initiative to reduce patient exposure to radiation in computed tomography (CT) scans. It has established the Low Dose Expert Panel with 15 specialists. 22 July 2010

Mirada Medical releases Casebook upgrade for showing medical images in PowerPoint
Oxford company Mirada Medical Limited has released a software upgrade for its Casebook (Casebook 1.1.) software, a unique presentation tool for showing medical scans in Microsoft PowerPoint. 22 July 2010

Philips integrates Dako image analysis into digital pathology system
Royal Philips Electronics has signed an agreement with Danish cancer diagnostics company Dako to integrate a selection of Dako’s image analysis applications into Philips’ future digital pathology systems. 22 July 2010

Smartphone app to manage haemophilia treatment
FactorTrack is a free mobile application produced by Bayer HealthCare, Pharmaceuticals that helps make it easier to track and record haemophilia factor VIII infusions. 22 July 2010

BRAIN takes share in Enzymicals
German biotechnology company BRAIN AG has acquired a minority share in chemical and biocatalyst specialist Enzymicals AG. The move enhances the activities of both companies in the biocatalysis sector. 15 July 2010

Covidien completes acquisition of ev3
Covidien has announced the completion of the acquisition of ev3 Inc. for approximately US$2.6 billion. The transaction accelerates Covidien’s strategy of building a world-class vascular platform addressing high-growth markets. 15 July 2010

P2i expands nano-coating portfolio with acquisition of Surface Innovations
Abingdon based P2i Limited, a world leader in liquid repellent nano-coating technology, has acquired Surface Innovations Ltd, a UK-based technology company with a wide range of functional nano-coating patents. 15 July 2010

New generation of biological scaffolds for tissue transplants
The scaffolds, derived from natural human or animal tissues such as vascular patches will not be rejected by a patient's immune system and can be repaired and renewed like normal tissue. 15 July 2010

St Jude Medical completes takeover of LightLab Imaging
St Jude Medical has completed the acquisition of LightLab Imaging, Inc. for approximately $90 million in cash. LightLab is a pioneer and leader in the development of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a high resolution diagnostic coronary imaging technology. 14 July 2010

BAE Systems wins $17m US army contract for head-worn brain injury sensor
BAE Systems has received an initial order of $17 million from the US Army for its Headborne Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Systems (HEADS) to help address combat-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI). These are rapidly becoming a signature injury of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. 14 July 2010

Alcon to acquire cataract surgery laser developer LenSx Lasers
Alcon, Inc. has agreed to acquire LenSx Lasers, Inc, a privately held company that developed the first femtosecond laser to receive US FDA clearance for use as a part of cataract surgery. 14 July 2010

Roche Applied Science Industrial Business relaunched as Roche Custom Biotech
The relaunch is to increase brand recognition in the life science, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic industry. 14 July 2010

Sequencing of body louse genome will lead to new insect disease control methods
A global research team led by scientists from the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) have sequenced and analysed the body louse genome. 14 July 2010

Protein on surface of MRSA plays key role in infecting human cells
An international research team has found that Fibronectin Binding Protein plays a key roll in enabling MRSA to infect human cells. 14 July 2010

FDA approves test for early diagnosis of AIDS from HIV antigen
The US FDA has approved an innovative new diagnostic tool from Abbott that can detect the AIDS antigen and give a diagnosis of AIDS earlier than ever before. 14 July 2010

European pharma companies lead in increasing access to medicines in developing countries
European pharmaceutical companies outcompete their US counterparts in making medicines available to people in developing countries, according to the Access to Medicine Index. 14 July 2010
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Women receive greater benefit from CRT-Ds than men
Cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) reduce heart failure events more in women than men, according to data from Boston Scientific Corporation's MADIT-CRT trial. 14 July 2010

Erectile dysfunction indicates high risk of heart attack
A Malaysian study has found that seven out of 10 men admitted to hospital for a heart attack had erectile dysfunction (ED) in the six months prior to their admission. 14 July 2010

Chinese least likely to get cardiovascular disease
Racial-ethnic groups living in a similar environment and with access to universal healthcare differ strikingly in their cardiovascular risk profiles. 14 July 2010

Networking platform for users of antibodies in biomedical research
BioHub-Online.org is a web-based platform that lists over 100,000 antibody products for biomedical research and facilitates global networking and collaboration among research scientists. 12 July 2010

Bee venom toxin leads to new treatment for dementia
Apamin, a toxin found in bee venom that blocks a type of ion channel in the human nervous system, has potential for developing new treatments for neural conditions such as muscular dystrophy, depression and dementia. 12 July 2010

Link found between surgery and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
A causal relationship between the onset of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and general surgery has been found by analysing decades of Danish and Swedish electronic patient records. 12 July 2010

FDA approves first implantable miniature telescope to improve sight of AMD patients
The US FDA has approved the Implantable Miniature Telescope (IMT) for some patients with end-stage, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It replaces the natural lens and provides an image that has been magnified more than two times. 12 July 2010

ECRI Institute adds 4,000 new terms to medical device nomenclature system
The 2010 Universal Medical Device Nomenclature System (UMDNS) now contains 24,544 terms covering the expanse of medical devices and equipment used for modern healthcare delivery. 12 July 2010

World’s largest online directory of tissue banks
SpecimenCentral.com has launched the free directory for biomedical researchers, which lists over 230 human tissue banks spanning four continents. 12 July 2010

Stanford Hospital opens hybrid operating and angiography room
The hybrid room enables a patient to stay in one place to be diagnosed and treated, either with surgery or the latest interventional procedure, in an environment as sterile as an operating room, with all-important imaging devices, microscopes and monitors right at hand. 12 July 2010

Medtronic receives CE Mark for Ensura MRI compatible pacemakers
The system is a new option in a portfolio of devices approved for use with MRI machines and available in select European countries. 12 July 2010

Global network of proton therapy centres for cancer treatment
Proton Therapy USA and CareCapital are to form a new company, Proton Therapy Global Management, to develop a global network of proton therapy centres to provide access to this specialized and highly effective cancer treatment. 12 July 2010

Claros Diagnostics receives EU approval for point-of-care PSA test
Claros Diagnostics' rapid quantitative diagnostic platform consists of a small portable analyzer and a credit card-sized disposable unit. 12 July 2010

Boston Scientific enrols first patient in multisensor CRT clinical trial
Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) has enrolled the first patient in its MultiSENSE clinical trial. The trial is designed to evaluate multiple physiologic sensors in the Company's Cognis cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds). 12 July 2010

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