Medical devices

Today, at the 94th annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) unveiled two innovative solutions to help radiologists save time and improve patient diagnosis. Closing the imaging loop to address efficiency in the scanning suite At RSNA, Philips announced that it is partnering with the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) on a first-of-kind closed loop imaging research trial.

Siemens Healthcare has introduced its new biopsy unit to the market, enhancing the Mammomat Inspiration digital mammography platform with stereotactic breast biopsy. The digital system with basic functions for screening has been on the market since the end of 2007. Since then, it has been installed in countless hospitals and private practices worldwide. The new device with its supplemental biopsy function recently went into operation in Copenhagen and Dortmund.

Acrobot, the medical devices company specialising in computer assisted orthopaedic surgical navigation, and Alliance Medical part of the largest pan-European medical imaging company in Europe, supporting more than 400 hospitals and clinics in the UK, today announce they have entered into a partnership which will help improve surgical outcomes through the provision of advanced imaging techniques.

This week at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Konica Minolta is highlighting the ImagePilot CR System with AutoPilot Image Processing. AutoPilot is a patented, innovative technique that optimizes image quality while eliminating the need to define and select image processing parameters for each body part and orientation.

In response to hospitals' need for a digital X-ray environment that is flexible, efficient, and cost-effective, Konica Minolta is showcasing the REGIUS Digital Imaging Suite at the 94th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Konica Minolta Medical Imaging introduced the FlexDR, an upright, flat panel digital radiography system at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The FDA-cleared FlexDR features an Amorphous Silicon (aSi) and Cesium Iodide (CsI) receptor that boasts ultra-high detective quantum efficiency (DQE) for high-quality images even with minimum X-ray exposure. The product will be available for sale in the U.S. in the 1st quarter of 2009.

Konica Minolta Medical Imaging USA announced today the release of the DRYPRO 873 laser imager, one of the fastest, most compact imagers available today. Engineered for unparallel image stability, the DRYPRO 873 boasts a higher silver ion capacity, an automatic density control function and automatic calibration to produce sharp, stable images. These features make the DRYPRO 873 a perfect solution for digital mammography.

BRIT Systems introduces BRIT Speak, a stand-alone dictation, transcription, report distribution and optional voice recognition solution that uses the latest Web technologies. BRIT Speak provides real-time workflow across a virtual environment with minimal user intervention and is available with the company's Roentgen RIS and Roentgen Works remote reading solution.

Today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, BRIT Systems introduced a powerful new DICOM Viewer that is downloaded and supported over the Internet. The viewer's user-friendly design coupled with a go-live module that includes training and support will enable users to quickly include BRIT PACS View as an integral component of their DICOM imaging environment.

UroToday.com - Our multi-institutional study on robotic partial nephrectomy for renal hilar tumors is the first to focus solely on renal hilar tumors and represents one of the largest series in the world. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy requires advanced skills in laparoscopy to achieve precise tumor resection and renal reconstruction while minimizing warm ischemia times and minimizing the risk of complications, such as urinary fistula and postoperative bleeding.

In a development that researchers say is likely to quell concerns about the value of costly computed tomography (CT) scans to diagnose coronary artery blockages, an international team led by researchers at Johns Hopkins reports solid evidence that the newer, more powerful 64-CT scans can easily and correctly identify people with major blood vessel disease and is nearly as accurate as invasive coronary angiography. Reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine online Nov.

Medtronic, Inc. has successfully acquired CryoCath Technologies Inc. at $8.75 (Canadian) per share under its previously announced offer dated Oct. 3.

Medical device makers Zoll Medical Corp. and Masimo said they will work together to develop defibrillators that can check for carbon monoxide poisoning.  

Suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a growing number of patients at the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), have become the beneficiaries of a North American breakthrough: high efficacy hemodiafiltration (HDF). An extracorporeal blood purification technique, HDF is indicated for ESRD patients.

German biotech company Partec is expanding its global leadership in specialized HIV monitoring and AIDS patient follow-up diagnostics for developing and emerging countries. In the year 2008, 2.5 million patient tests have been performed with the portable, robust and highly affordable "CyFlow" system, supporting already more than 1 million people living with HIV/AIDS.

VIDA Diagnostics Inc. announced that its primary product, Pulmonary Workstation 2.0 (PW2) has obtained FDA 510(k) clearance for sale. PW2 is the first commercial release of lung image analysis software from VIDA and comprises a comprehensive approach to quantitative, repeatable lung measurements including the industry's first so-approved automatic lobe density and airway system measurement functions.

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Hitachi Europe Ltd, Display Products Group (DPG) has announced the introduction of a new 19inch 1.7MegaPixel WSXGA+ TFT display module. The new TX48D21VM0CAA display implements the latest evolution of Hitachi's In-Plane-Switching technology, IPS-Pro, which provides a stable colour image from any viewing angle, excellent colour saturation and a very high contrast ratio.

Judith Sheft, associate vice president for technology development at NJIT, has been awarded funds from the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology to assist faculty researchers with the most promising patentable inventions with funding grants of up to $50,000. The money, known as Gap grants, is designed to help bridge the chasm between an interesting idea and a commercial product. Sixteen grants have been made since 2006 to NJIT faculty researchers.