News archive
June 2008
New PET imaging chemical gives 3-D image of
immune response in action
A new PET marker chemical enables scientists to monitor the immune
system at the whole body level in 3D, as it tries to fight some cancers
or when it goes awry as it does in autoimmune diseases. The advance will
allow scientists to model and measure the immune system in action and
monitor response to new therapies. 29 June 2008
RFID tags could cause medical device
malfunction
Radio frequency identification devices have the potential to cause
critical care medical equipment to malfunction, according to a study of
the effects on medical devices that included, external pacemakers,
mechanical ventilators, infusion/syringe pumps, dialysis devices,
defibrillators, monitors and anaesthesia devices. 29 June 2008
First prototypes of disposable insulin
nanopump for continuous infusion
Debiotech and STMicroelectronics have introduced the first evaluation
prototypes of a unique miniaturized insulin-delivery pump that could
improve the treatment efficiency and the quality of life of diabetics.
29 June 2008
New type of ultraviolet diode could lead to
compact anthrax detector
A new class of ultraviolet photodiode could make possible a compact,
reliable and cost-effective sensor to detect anthrax and other
bioterrorism agents in the air. 29 June 2008
Leica announces scientific forum events in
Heidelberg, the UK and France
Leica has announced the venues and dates for its lecture series, the
Leica Scientific Forum — Advances in Life Sciences, with an expanded
series of lectures in Heidelberg and scientific centres in France and
the UK that will be held from July to December 2008. 26 June 2008
Definiens unveils new laboratory and
medical image analysis platform
Definiens has introduced a new multi-dimensional image analysis
platform, the Definiens XD. Software applications built on the platform
extract previously unattainable levels of volumetric and morphological
intelligence from digital data. 26 June 2008
iSOFT wins Moscow lab system contract
IBA Health Group company iSOFT has won a contract for its LabCentre
laboratory information system with Gemotest, a Moscow-based private
laboratory group. 26 June 2008
Philips completes installation phase of
Zambian healthcare modernisation project
Royal Philips Electronics has completed the installation phase of a
seven-year project to modernize the healthcare infrastructure of the
Republic of Zambia. The €25 million project included the installation
and maintenance of diagnostic imaging equipment including mobile x-ray,
fluoroscopy, ultrasound scanners, operating theatres and dental
treatment systems. 25 June 2008
Carbon nanotubes attached to antibodies
kill cancer cells under infrared light
Carbon nanotubes attached to monoclonal antibodies that target specific
sites on lymphoma cells can kill the cells by heating up when exposed to
near-infrared light. 25 June 2008
New data strengthens case to replace
animals in lab tests with microdosing
The European Union Microdose AMS Partnership Programme (EUMAPP)
consortium has presented preliminary results from a 30-month project.
Early indications are that microdosing can provide valuable human data
at the earliest stages of exploratory clinical development. 24 June 2008
Report: United States Medical Equipment Markets Investment
Opportunities, Analysis and Forecasts in Medical Devices to 2012. 23
June 2008
Johnson & Johnson acquires Swedish in vitro
diagnostic technology company Amic
Johnson & Johnson Nordic AB, a Johnson & Johnson company, has acquired
Amic, a privately held Swedish developer of in vitro diagnostic
technologies for use in point-of-care and near-patient settings. 19 June
2008
Is low radiation good for health?
An article published in the International Journal of Low
Radiation claims that short-term low doses of radiation are
good for health through boosting the immune system and
increasing antibody production. The author also claims that
humans can be deficient in radiation. 19 June 2008
Location technology enables people with dementia to go out safely
The Keeping In Touch Everyday (KITE) project in northeast
England is developing technology
that allows people with dementia (PWD) to take part in the activities
they enjoy with the knowledge that their family can track their
whereabouts if they require assistance. 19 June 2008
Image-guided radiotherapy unveiled at
Dijon cancer hospital
The Georges-François Leclerc Cancer Center in Dijon, France has
installed a Varian Medical Systems Trilogy linear accelerator,
which will enable it to provide image-guided stereotactic
treatments. 19 June 2008
Philips and Skytron team up to provide
hybrid operating rooms
Royal Philips Electronics and Skytron have entered into a
partnership to supply hybrid operating rooms for minimally
invasive cardiovascular surgical procedures, combining Philips’
cardiovascular x-ray systems with Skytron’s surgery room
equipment. 19 June 2008
Breakthrough in antimicrobial coatings
4MED is an innovative hygiene coating developed by Stratford
upon Avon-based Nano Hygiene Coatings Limited. The coating
combines the benefits of the easy-to-clean properties derived
from nano chemical technology with an antimicrobial additive,
actively preventing the growth of bacteria such as E Coli and
MRSA. 19 June 2008
Magnetic
pill camera can be steered and stopped in body
A new pill camera developed by European and Israeli researchers
can be steered and stopped where desired, even in the
oesophagus, where pill cameras normally pass through rapidly. 18
June 2008
Wavelets speed up diagnosis of brain
tumours
Researchers at the University of Warwick have devised an
automated technique that can give a preliminary analysis of a
precise brain tumour type within seconds. 17 June 2008
Scottish
engineer's eye-saving device wins European inventor's award
A scanning laser ophthalmoscope developed by Scottish company
Optos has won a European Inventor of the Year award for the
company's founder. 17 June 2008
Superman's
bicycle helps paraplegic patients keep fit and healthy
A new type of exercise equipment can help prevent serious lifestyle
illnesses in paraplegic patients. The Ergys 2, which was partly
developed at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
in Trondheim, was first designed for the American actor Christopher
Reeve. 8 June 2008
Brain imaging identifies ways to help stroke
patients regain speech
An important breakthrough in understanding how the brain works could
help stroke patients to regain their speech. The new study shows that
brains of stroke sufferers may have to 'relearn' how to put together
different types of information in order to understand speech by using
different parts of the brain to compensate for damaged areas. 6 June
2008
IHA to assess value of medical devices and
improve use
The Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) of California has been
awarded a $1.3m grant to implement statewide collection of comparative
data, evaluate purchasing and payment systems, and develop a new
episode-based payment method for medical device purchasing. 6 June 2008
Lung cancer in Europe not prioritised
despite poor survival rates
The fragmented organisation and management of lung cancer diagnosis and
care in many European countries are exacerbating already poor survival
rates amongst patients with the disease, according to a report from a
group of leading Swedish researchers. 6 June 2008
International Diabetes Federation to set up
global framework for diabetes education
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) will begin designating
centres of education globally to improve clinical outcomes, care and
knowledge of healthcare providers and people with diabetes. IDF is
calling for applications from institutions and member organisations that
have a recognised reputation in health professional education. 6 June
2008
New report:
Major world markets for stents and the economics of drug-eluting
technology. 3 June 2008
New report:
Cell therapy. Technologies, markets and companies. 3 June 2008
Multidetector CT scan can detect dissolved
drugs
The smuggling of dissolved drugs, especially cocaine, in bottled liquids
can be decreased with the use of multidetector CT according to a recent
study conducted at Bern University. 3 June 2008
Nonin Medical launches wireless fingertip
pulse oximeter with open standards
Nonin Medical, Inc. has launched a wireless fingertip pulse oximeter.
The Onyx II, Model 9560 fingertip pulse oximeter enables patients to
accurately monitor vital signs and remotely connect with their
clinicians. 3 June 2008
Quest Diagnostics collaborates with Google
to provide diagnostic test results online
Doctors can securely provide diagnostic data with a brief explanation of
test results to a patient's Google Health account. The system is
expected to empower patients and physicians to collaborate more closely
in making more well-informed healthcare decisions. 3 June 2008
Medtronic awarded $250m in patent lawsuit
against Boston Scientific
Medtronic, Inc. has been awarded $250 million in damages by a US
District Court that found that Boston Scientific Corporation has
infringed three patents on angioplasty catheters owned by Medtronic. 3
June 2008
First
use of infrared laser imaging system to analyse coronary artery plaque
Physicians at a hospital in Michigan have successfully used the
InfraReDx LipiScan coronary imaging system in a patient undergoing a
cardiac catheterisation. The system detects how much fat and other
substances are contained in a plaque. 2 June 2008
US verification program for Internet
pharmacies
LegitScript LLC has launched an Internet pharmacy verification and
information service. The service, which is free to consumers and
pharmacies in the US, includes information on whether an online pharmacy
meets standards of quality and safe business practices. 2 June 2008
Endoscopic probe can detect whether polyp
in colon is benign
An endoscopic probe that can tell whether or not a cell living within
the human body is veering towards cancer development may revolutionize
how future colonoscopies are done, say researchers from the Mayo Clinic
in Jacksonville, Florida. 2 June 2008
New endoscopic device improves detection of
polyps in colon
A multi-institutional study has shown that a new device, the 'Third Eye
Retroscope' developed by Avantis Medical Systems, improves the
ability of physicians to visualize abnormalities in the colon. 2 June 2008
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