News archive
July 2008
Scottish study shows smoking ban reduces
hospital admissions for heart attacks
NHS Health Scotland, the national health improvement agency, has found a
17% fall in admissions for heart attacks just one year after a national
smoking ban came into force. 31 July 2008
Robotic magnetic levitation system for
handling pathology lab samples
A robotic sample management system has been shown to carry out complex pathology sample
transport operations rapidly and with a high level of reliability. It
includes a new transport system based on magnetic levitation railway
technologies, a new laboratory information system and a special
selective analyser. 30 July 2008
Abbott invests further US$20M in Ibis
Biosciences' biosensor platform
The investment will allow Ibis to further develop the Ibis T5000
Biosensor System, which offers a unique solution for rapid
identification and characterization of infectious agents, such as
bacteria, viruses and fungi. 30 July 2008
Philips introduces HD15 ultrasound system
for smaller healthcare facilities
The HD15 ultrasound system is a new platform designed to deliver an
advanced level of image clarity for a broad range of applications for
everyday use in small hospitals, clinics and private practices. 30 July
2008
Agfa and GE demonstrate interoperability of
globally distributed PACS
CT scans were shared over the internet, at the UK Radiological Congress
(UKRC) In Birmingham, between Agfa and GE PACS with interaction with
systems in France and the US. 30 July 2008
NICE clarification boosts UK treatment options for prostate cancer
The UK's National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has opened
the way for National Health Service patients with prostate cancer to
have continued access to cryotherapy, which was threatened by
earlier NICE guidance published in February. 30 July 2008
Three Novalis Tx radiosurgery platforms
ordered by Danish cancer hospital
Varian Medical Systems and BrainLAB AG have announced that one of
Scandinavia’s leading cancer centres has ordered three Novalis Tx
radiosurgery platforms which combine the most advanced technologies from
both companies to offer superior non-invasive radiosurgery for patients.
30 July 2008
EKOS introduces sonic system for dissolving
vascular blood clots
EKOS Corporation has launched the EkoSonic Endovascular System (EkoSonic
ES) with rapid pulse modulation (RPM) for the dissolution of vascular
blood clots. 30 July 2008
Osmetech receives FDA clearance for
warfarin sensitivity test
Molecular diagnostics company Osmetech plc has received 510(k) clearance
from the US Food & Drug Administration for its eSensor Warfarin
sensitivity test to be used as an aid in the identification of patients
at risk for increased sensitivity to the widely used blood-thinning
drug, warfarin. 30 July 2008
Undiagnosed diabetes puts half a million
lives at risk in UK
Health charity Diabetes UK has warned that more than half a million
people in the UK may face a future of ill health because they have Type
2 diabetes but don't know it. 30 July 2008
Devlin launches infection-control keyboard
in multiple languages
UK company Devlin has responded to growing demand in Europe for
infection-control products with the launch of its CleanKey infection-
control keyboard in six European languages. 30 July 2008
Agfa HealthCare appoints new head of IT
division
Agfa HealthCare has appointed Dr Volker Wetekam as its new Executive
Vice President for its global HealthCare IT division. He moves from
Siemens Medical Solutions and will be responsible for Agfa's imaging
informatics and enterprise IT business, which covers PACS,
cardiovascular, hospital and clinical information systems. 30 July 2008
Light Sciences Oncology raises $40 million
financing
The company has raised $40.1 million in a Series C round of financing
and plans to use the funds in the continued development of Light
Infusion Therapy technology. 30 July 2008
Asahi Intecc and MediGuide collaborate on
guide-wire technology for cardiology
Asahi Intecc and MediGuide have signed a collaboration agreement for the
development and marketing of an innovative guide wire (G-Wire) using an
integrated, sub-millimetre magnetic tracking sensor for the
interventional cardiology market. 30 July 2008
GE restructures business
GE has restructured its operations into four divisions from six, with
healthcare now joined with Aviation, Transportation and Enterprise
Solutions in the GE Technology Infrastructure 'segment'. 29 July 2008
Benefits of minimally invasive technology
debated at UK parliamentary meeting
A cross section of members of parliament, clinicians and patient groups
came together in London last week to debate the benefits of minimally
invasive technology (MIT) at a parliamentary reception. 22 July 2008
Patient monitoring built in to dementia
care home
Birch Abbey, a care home for dementia patients in the English seaside
resort of Southport, is being rebuilt with a broad range of care
services and features, including integrated patient monitoring
technology. 22 July 2008
Philips launches affordable compact patient
monitors for emerging markets
Philips has launched the SureSigns VM3 series of portable, compact
patient monitors aimed at smaller clinics in developing countries. 22
July 2008
Northumbria Healthcare Trust takes
ultrasound to Kilimanjaro Medical Centre
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, a group of ten hospitals in
Northeast England, has taken a Siemens Acuson P10 ultrasound scanner to
the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Tanzania to perform
obstetric scanning during a healthcare link project. 17 July 2008
Rentschler focuses on biotechnology
Rentschler will invest another €14
million in the expansion of Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH at its
Laupheim, Germany site and has sold Rentschler Pharma to to Riemser
Arzneimittel. 17 July 2008
Agfa HealthCare integrates OrthoView into
IMPAX
Agfa HealthCare and Southampton, UK based Meridian Technique Ltd have
signed an agreement to integrate Meridian's orthopaedic digital planning
solution, OrthoView, into Agfa HealthCare's IMPAX for Orthopaedics
solution. 17 July 2008
Global action against neglected tropical diseases
The WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Neglected Tropical
Diseases (STAG-NTD) has released a report of its recommendations to the
World Health Organization (WHO) on action to take over neglected
tropical diseases resulting from its meeting in April. 16 July 2008
Progress in appendix removal through mouth
An appendectomy using endosurgical instruments passed through the mouth
and then through the stomach wall, with closure of the stomach incision
(the gastrotomy) from inside the stomach was demonstrated in a NOSCAR
conference. 16 July
New cardiovascular score developed to
improve heart attack and stroke detection
QRisk2 is an equation developed to help doctors identify those most at
risk of developing CVD and for the first time, simultaneously takes into
account extra risk from ethnicity, social deprivation and other clinical
conditions such as family history of heart disease or diabetes. 16 July
2008
Varian ranked first in oncology IT vendors
Varian Medical Systems was ranked the leading supplier in its class in
an independent study released by KLAS, a research firm that specialises
in monitoring and reporting on the performance of healthcare vendors. 16
July 2008
BD gains EU approval for Clostridium
difficile diagnostic test
BD Diagnostics has gained EU approval for its GeneOhm Cdiff molecular
assay for the rapid diagnosis of patients with Clostridium difficile
infection (CDI). The test combines high assay sensitivity with a rapid
turnaround time of less than two hours. 16 July 2008
t+ Medical acquires Vivatec Ltd
Oxford-based telecare company t+ Medical has acquired preventative
telecare supplier Vivatec Ltd. The purchase of Vivatec will allow t+
Medical to expand by offering an integrated patient monitoring solution
covering medical devices, communication technology and nurse call
centres. 16 July 2008
Positioning technology enables bronchoscopy
to give 3D images of complex lung structures
A new type of bronchoscopy uses positioning technology to generate 3D
images of the far reaches of complex lung structures. Called
electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy, it is expected to help
pulmonologists better diagnose lung cancer, pneumonia and various
pulmonary infections. 15 July 2008
Allium Medical expands stent distribution
in Europe
Allium Medical Group has signed exclusive distribution deals for both
its ureteral and biliary stents with MenkeMed for the German and
Austrian markets and Ecce Dutoit for the Belgian, Dutch and Luxemburgian
(Benelux) markets. 14 July 2008
First installations of Draeger's new wireless
patient-worn monitors
Draeger's new Infinity M300 patient monitor has been installed at major
hospitals in the United States and Germany. It provides the performance of a
full-size patient monitor, packaged in a compact patient-worn telemetry
device. 14 July 2008
Intel
receives FDA clearance for personal health system
The Intel Health Guide combines an in-home patient device that has
interactive tools for personalised care management and can integrate
patient-monitoring devices, and an online interface allowing clinicians to
monitor patients and remotely manage care. 14 July 2008
Vivacta gears up for pilot manufacture of
piezofilm assays
Vivacta is gearing up for pilot manufacture of its highly sensitive,
disposable piezofilm sensors for point of care (PoC) diagnostics by
acquiring an extra 6,000 sq ft of space within its existing facility. 10
July 2008
Biotronik releases CRT pacemaker with advanced
algorithm for RVsense triggering
The Stratos LV cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker incorporates
RVsense Triggering which helps assure that resynchronization therapy is
delivered continuously, and expanded wideband IEGM Snapshot memory. 10 July
2008
Report: Nanobiotechnology
The report starts with an introduction to various techniques and materials
that are relevant to nanobiotechnology. It includes some of the physical
forms of energy such as nanolasers. Some of the technologies are scaling
down such as microfluidics to nanofluidic biochips and others are
constructions from bottom up. Applications in life sciences research,
particularly at the cell level sets the stage for the role of
nanobiotechnology in healthcare in subsequent chapters. 9 July 2008
WHO launches checklist for safer surgery
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new safety checklist
for surgical teams to use in operating theatres, as part of a major
drive to make surgery safer around the world. 7 July 2008
Honda walking assist device tested in
rehabilitation training
The compatibility and effectiveness of the device will be evaluated
during rehabilitation training at Kasumigaseki-Minami Hospital, Japan to
help people relearn to walk safely and efficiently. 7 July 2008
SPO Medical launches pulse oximetry system
with European language support
SPO Medical has released its PulseOx 7500 pulse oximetry system with
support for a graphical user interface and report generation in multiple
languages, including French, Italian, German and Spanish (FIGS) along
with English. 7 July 2008
First data from study of occipital nerve
stimulation to control chronic migraine
Data from a multi-centre study using neurostimulation of the occipital
nerves as a potential approach to treating medically refractory chronic
migraines was presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American
Headache Society (AHS) in June. 7 July 2008
TB Alliance and Novartis collaborate to
develop new drugs to fight TB
The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) and the
Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) will collaborate to
develop new medicines for TB, including drug-resistant strains and
faster TB drug regimens that treat all forms of TB, are easier for
patients to complete, and can be used safely in patients with HIV/AIDS.
7 July 2008
Self-powered sensor for monitoring injured
knees
A sensor that can monitor progress during knee operations and generates
power from body movement has been developed by a researcher at
Southampton University. 5 July 2008
Colonoscopies to check for bowel cancer under
used in Germany
Under 2% of persons aged over 55 in Germany use colonoscopies for
early detection of cancer, even though the statutory health insurance
funds have covered the costs since 2002. 5 July 2008
Damaged muscle regenerated by protien
cdk9-55
A new understanding of the role played by the protein cdk9-55 in muscle
regeneration and differentiation may lead to novel therapies to rebuild
muscle tissue damaged by disease, injury and aging. 5 July 2008
Minimally invasive prostate cancer
treatments underused in US and Europe
A survey by Millennium Research Group (MRG) of over 140 US and
European-based urologists suggests that several minimally invasive
prostate cancer treatment options are underused in both the US and
Europe. 4 July 2008
Now
2008
Dec |
Nov |
Oct |
Sep |
Aug |
Jul |
Jun |
May |
Apr |
Mar |
Feb |
Jan
2007
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec
2006
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec
2005
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec
