News archive
September 2008
SCM Microsystems' ehealth terminal approved
for German eHealth card program
SCM Microsystems, Inc. has announced that its ehealth200 BCS terminal
has been approved by the gematik, the German healthcare organization
overseeing the implementation of Germany's ehealth card program. 29
September 2008
First successful use of Sorin's new
pediatric oxygenator and arterial filter
The Sorin Group has announced the first successful uses in the US of its
newest pediatric devices for cardiovascular surgery at the Children’s
Medical Center Dallas. 29 September 2008
Italiano
Demand for urinary incontinence devices in
Europe growing due to patient demand
The European urinary incontinence market is facing challenges such as
lack of sufficient clinical safety studies and price pressures due to
intense competition. However, rising awareness among the target patient
population and the introduction of innovative devices and techniques are
sustaining market expansion. 29 September 2008
BSI launches new fast track program for
medical device CE marking
Quality management systems registrar BSI has launched a new fast track
program, called CE-45, that expedites the review process in which most
reviews are completed in 45 working days for medical devices headed to
the European markets. 29 September 2008
International
Diabetes Federation launches diabetes awareness campaign
The International Diabetes Federation is calling on groups and
individuals worldwide to get involved in activities to raise awareness
of diabetes leading up to World Diabetes Day on November 14. The theme
for this year’s campaign is “Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.” 29
September 2008
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Philips in partnership with University of
Urbino to develop magnetic nanoparticle contrast agents for blood cells
Philips Research and the University of Urbino (Urbino, Italy) have
signed a research agreement to study the encapsulation of magnetic
nanoparticle contrast agents inside living blood cells to prolong the
retention time of these agents in the blood. 29 September 2008
First Bernhard Dräger Award for advanced
treatment of acute respiratory failure
The Award winner is Dr Hermann Heinze, from Schleswig-Holstein
University Hospital for a project to study improving respiration therapy
using non-invasive monitoring. 29 September 2008
Cerus and German Red Cross collaborate in
red blood cell system development
The German Red Cross in the Baden-Württemberg–Hessen region of Germany
will provide expertise and personnel towards system development and
regulatory approval for Cerus' Intercept blood system for red blood
cells in exchange for royalties on sales. 28 September 2008
GE Healthcare gains FDA approval for
diagnostic imaging agent for detecting neuroendocrine tumours
GE Healthcare's AdreView is a molecular imaging agent that provides high
quality images that allow physicians to detect tumours, both at the time
of initial diagnosis and at later examinations when relapse or
recurrence is suspected. 28 September 2008
Gyrus ACMI launches lightweight digital
nephroscope
Gyrus ACMI, a subsidiary of Olympus, has launched the Smith Digital
Percutaneous Nephroscope which features an ultra-miniature 1 mm CMOS
imaging sensor. 28 September 2008
Parachute accident victim implanted with
mini neurostimulator to treat chronic pain
St Jude Medical has announced the first patient implant of its Eon Mini
neurostimulator. Weighing just 29 gms it is designed to treat chronic
pain of the trunk or limbs and pain from failed back surgery. 27
September 2008
Likvor announces instrument to treat normal
pressure hydrocephalus
Swedish startup company Likvor AB has announced a new instrument that
can measure the pressure, flow and conductance of cerebro spinal fluid
(CSF). It facilitates more accurate diagnosis of idiopathic normal
pressure hydrocephalus. 27 September 2008
Salient Surgical Technologies launches
flexible electronic surgical sealing device
Salient Surgical Technologies, Inc. has introduced the Aquamantys
malleable bipolar sealer with light, which uses radiofrequency energy to
seal wounds and significantly reduce bleeding in hard-to-reach anatomy
during joint-replacement surgery. 27 September 2008
Report: Medical Nanotechnology Markets
Nanotechnology has reached critical mass. Nowhere is this more evident
than in medicine. Rising medical costs, demands for less-invasive
procedures and pressures for immediate feedback of medical conditions,
all point to nanotechnology as offering a new approach in healthcare.
According to US National Science Foundation estimates, by 2015 the
annual global market for nano-related goods and services will top $1
trillion, thus making it one of the fastest-growing industries in
history. Read
more ...
Enigma Diagnostics awarded £1.8 million to
develop rapid DNA test for infectious diseases
Enigma Diagnostics will develop a 'gold-standard' portable, rapid,
automated DNA analysis (PRADA) molecular test system for the diagnosis
of infectious diseases in decentralised and point-of-care settings such
as GP surgeries. 23 September
RapidArc image-guided radiotherapy treating
tumours of the head and neck
Cancer treatment centres in the United States and the Netherlands are
now treating head and neck cancer using RapidArc radiotherapy technology
from Varian Medical Systems. 23 September 2008
Cranfield University to develop
drug-delivery monitor for critical care
Cranfield University and Sphere Medical Holding PLC are to receive an
investment of £322,000 from the UK Technology Strategy Board to develop
a novel drug sensor which will improve the care of critically ill
patients by ‘personalising’ their medication. 23 September 2008
UK technology board invests £15m in medical
device and telecare R&D
The UK Technology Strategy Board has awarded grants of £5 million for
nine projects to research and develop telecare products and a further
£10 million for 22 projects developing new medical devices. The projects
will bring together the best UK expertise from industry, the health and
care professions and universities. 23 September 2008
Computer modelling provides breakthrough in
psoriasis management
LEO Pharma has unveiled a ground-breaking computer-modelling tool
designed to help those involved in the assessment, planning and
provision of psoriasis treatment in primary care to balance optimum
outcomes with the growing need for cost control. 23 September 2008
Online health record of limited use for
diabetic patients
An online personal health record system that allowed people with
diabetes to check their lab results and get guidance about medication
proved to be of only limited use in improving their health outcomes,
according to a new American study published in the Archives of
Internal Medicine. 23 September 2008
Picis launches critical care information system
Picis has launched eView for Critical Care Manager, part of the
company's CareSuite family of software for intensive care units. The new
product is designed to consolidate clinical information for the entire
intensive care unit (ICU) patient census and present it in a concise,
web-based view to help clinicians identify patients requiring attention.
23 September 2008
New technology for manufacturing
radioisotopes for cancer diagnostic imaging
Newly-developed technology at the Delft University of Technology in the
Netherlands could prevent global shortages of radio isotopes for cancer
diagnosis. 18 September 2008
Informing patients of the advantages of
interventional radiology and minimally invasive surgery
The Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE)
ran a Patient Awareness Programme at its annual meeting this week to
bridge the gap between the potential of interventional radiology and
patients' knowledge of it. 18 September 2008
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SunTech Medical blood pressure monitor
chosen by GE for cardiac stress ECG systems
GE Healthcare will offer the SunTech Tango+ blood pressure monitor with
its CASE cardiac assessment system for exercise testing and CardioSoft
exercise stress testing. 18 September 2008
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Italiano
Cryopreservation can restore fertility for women cancer victims Advances in cryopreservation are increasing hope of restoring fertility for women after diseases such as ovarian cancer that lead to destruction of reproductive tissue. 18 September 2008
War against malaria in the tropics failed partly due to poor advice
The war against malaria in tropical countries was fought and lost in
the 20th Century on the basis of faulty intelligence, a ‘dodgy dossier’
which argued that the same methods used to tackle the disease in
temperate countries would also work in the tropics. 18 September 2008
NuGEN and Hamilton increase sample
throughput for gene expression analysis
NuGEN Technologies, Inc. and the Hamilton Company have assembled an
automated, total target preparation solution that increases the
throughput in processing large sets of clinical samples for global gene
expression analysis. 18 September 2008
RapidArc radiotherapy technology now
treating tumours of the head and neck
Doctors at cancer treatment centres in the United States and the
Netherlands are now treating head and neck cancer using RapidArc
radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems. 17 September 2008
Sigma-Aldrich launches breakthrough
genome-editing tools
Sigma-Aldrich has launched its CompoZr platform of zinc finger nuclease
(ZFN) reagents. The reagents are expected to provide researchers with
the ability to target and precisely manipulate the genome of living
cells, resulting in cell lines or whole organisms with defined gene
deletions, insertions, or corrections. 17 September 2008
Merck Serono and Ablynx in agreement to
research and develop nanobodies
Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, has entered into an agreement
with Ablynx, to co-discover and co-develop Nanobodies against two
targets in oncology and immunology. 17 September 2008
Agendia and Ferrer in sales agreement for
cancer diagnostic services in European markets
Agendia BV and Ferrer inCode have announced an agreement that will give
Ferrer exclusive rights to sell two of Agendia's signature cancer
diagnostic services in Germany, France, Italy, and Portugal. 17
September 2008
Genetic testing can help predict treatment
response in colorectal cancer
Genetic testing can identify a group of patients with advanced
colorectal cancer who are likely to survive on average twice as long if
treated with the drug cetuximab, new results have shown. 17 September
2008
Brain scans show optimal times for
multitasking
Multitasking has become an increasingly necessary part of our daily lives,
but it is a notoriously inefficient way of working. However, a new brain
imaging study finds that there are optimal times when we are better suited
to multitask. 17 September 2008
UK medical technology industry body
announces new chief executive
The Executive of the Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI)
has announced the appointment of Peter Ellingworth as its new Chief
Executive. He replaces John Wilkinson, who left to take over as Director
General of EUCOMED earlier this year. 12 September 2008
US National Cancer Institute signs up to
Thomson Reuters'BIOMARKERcenter.
The National Cancer Institute's Developmental Therapeutics program and
the associated Biomarker Program will integrate BIOMARKERcenter into its
programme to investigate novel chemical and biological agents for their
potential to improve cancer therapeutics. 12 September 2008
Francais
Español
Fairway Medical Technologies wins US Navy
contract to develop battlefield blood-borne pathogen detector
Fairway Medical Technologies has received a $900,000 contract from the
US Department of the Navy to apply its pulsed laser optoacoustic
technology to the real-time detection of blood borne pathogens and
biological warfare agents under battlefield conditions. 12 September
2008
Report: Molecular Diagnostics. Technologies, Markets and Companies
This best-selling report describes and evaluates the molecular
diagnostics technologies that will play an important role in practice of
medicine, public health, pharmaceutical industry, forensics and
biological warfare in the 21st century. Aimed at chief executives and
chief development officers, it is the most comprehensive and up-to-date
one-stop source of information on technical and commercial aspects of
molecular diagnostics. It includes profiles of 250 companies
more ...
Report: Top
20 cancer therapy brands
Cancer therapy brand sales totalled over $30 billion in the seven major
markets in 2007, growing by 20.1% since 2006. The high growth of this
market makes it attractive to companies keen to emulate the blockbuster
status achieved by several brands. However, with several impending
patent expiries due, companies will need to work hard to maximize their
return throughout the lifecycle of their brands.
more ... 9 September 2008
Report: Antidiabetics — switching to new antidiabetics drives market growth
Datamonitor expects the antidiabetics market in the seven major markets is expected to
grow from $18 billion in 2007 to $29 billion in 2017 at a rate of 5%
CAGR. Significant unmet needs remain in diabetes fuelling a large
pipeline. The epidemiological growth of the market, driven by the
obesity epidemic and improved diagnosis rates, is further driving the
market. 9 September 2008
Early
warning system for cardiac patients
Latvian company Integris Ltd, has developed an inexpensive, real-time
heart activity monitor for personal use. The device is small enough to
be worn continuously and can monitor both heart activity and the
patient's physical activity and alerts the patient of abnormalities. 9
September 2008
Data analysis methods for classification of patient samples shown to
be worthless
Computer-based methods that have been used for 25 years for classifying
patient samples are worthless, according to researchers at Uppsala
University, Sweden. 9 September 2008
Laser
fluorescence technology highlights cell surface protein receptors in
real time
Researchers at The University of Nottingham have developed laser
fluorescence technology that enables observation of protein activity on
living cell surfaces for the first time. 9 September 2008
Protein microchip breakthrough could lead
to rapid detection of diseases and drug discovery
A new method for attaching active proteins to biological microchips that
could lead to rapid detection of disease and identification of new drugs
has been developed by Scientists at the University of Manchester. 8
September 2008
Urinary abnormality successfully treated
with robot-assisted surgery
Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery has been successfully used to repair
abnormal openings between the bladder and vagina known as fistulas, it
is reported in the online version of the Journal of Urology. 8
September 2008
Diagnostic imaging tests across Europe
disrupted by isotope shortage
The closure of three European nuclear reactors producing medical
isotopes is causing a worldwide shortage of the isotopes and limiting
European hospitals to between 20% and 40% of their usual nuclear
medicine activities, the European Association of Nuclear Medicine has
warned. 8 September 2008 *corrected*
Variant of mad cow disease may be transmitted by blood transfusions The risk of transmitting bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, commonly known as 'mad cow disease') by blood transfusion is surprisingly high, according to a nine-year study in sheep conducted at the University of Edinburgh. 6 September 2008
New guidance on insulin pumps gives UK
school kids with diabetes freedom from injections
New UK guidance on the use of insulin pump therapy from the National
Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) looks set to
revolutionise the way children manage their diabetes in the country. 6
September 2008
Medicsight's colonography analysis software
receives Brazilian regulatory approval
Medicsight PLC, the London-based developer of computer-aided detection
and medical image analysis software has received approval from the
Brazilian regulatory agency, Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria (ANVISA),
for its ColonCAD software. 3 September 2008
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