GE Healthcare launches 3 diagnostic imaging product lines

General Electric company arm, GE Healthcare has launched three new powerful diagnostic imaging product lines to help reduce the radiation dose to patients and improve the quality of images during diagnosis. "Optima, Brivo and Discovery--the new offering encompass GE's diagnostic imaging products that enables healthcare providers to do research, diagnose, treat, monitor and share critical information for diseases," said company VP and GM Molecular Imaging & Computed Tomography, Gene L Saragnese. These digital imaging systems are far superior to the earlier generation of analogue system and can examine one in seconds thus reducing the radiation dosage to patients and also giving clearer images to the radiologists, Global GM, GE Healthcare X-Ray, David Wildman, told media here.

Healthcare providers are looking for ways to find disease sooner to help people live longer and full lives and GE is going one step further in focusing on 'Early Health', or prevention and pre-symptomatic disease detection, he said.
GE Healthcare Research and Development has invested heavily in India (Bangalore) especially which employs over 1,000 engineers and scientists.

Describing 'Optima', Wildman said, it delivers the functionality clinicians need to accommodate high patient volumes thus reducing radiation dose to each patient. 'Brivo' provides functionally straight forward and practical package for quality digital results. While, 'Discovery' product lines offer breakthrough applications including real-time cardiac imaging, multi-contrast abdominal images with outstanding fat/water separation and high-resolution muscular-skeletal exams with high patient throughput.

Source: economictimes.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

STAR Marketing Announces New Breed of Healthcare Relationship Marketing Service

STAR Marketing- a network of customer experience management agencies, has announced the launch of healthcare specialty unit STAR Healthcare. STAR Healthcare is uniquely structured to deliver integrated, personalized communications programs across specialist relationship marketing disciplines. This model supports the patient with appropriate communication throughout the entire patient journey from symptom recognition through the diagnosis and management of their condition.

STAR Healthcare combines deep experience in Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare with deep cross-media expertise. It pulls together STAR Marketing's specialty agencies under a single leadership team to answer the changing needs of today's healthcare brands and the patients they support. This new structure will enable STAR Healthcare to provide media neutral channel expertise across appropriate channels, guided by a complete understanding of patient communication needs, as either an end-to-end or tactical solution.

Two unique positions within STAR Healthcare assist in this effort: the Patient AdvocateTM and the Client ChampionTM. The Patient Advocate serves as a single voice for the patient across all channels and tactics, creating the strategic document that outlines each stage of the patient experience, how each stage affects the patient journey, and the role of each media channel throughout their progression. The Patient Advocate also focuses on the interdependencies between what patients learn and what they do later on. The Client Champion provides clients with a single point of accountability, serving as the client's voice within the agency team.

STAR Healthcare provides a variety of specialty marketing disciplines, including interactive, direct, e-mail, digital media planning, strategic consulting, mobile and teleservices depending on client needs. The STAR network is comprised of the following industry leading, technology-driven units: Critical Mass, Innovyx, Javelin Direct, Optima Direct, SigmaWorks Group, ECI, OMD Digital and OMG Direct.

"STAR Healthcare is an insight-driven, behavioral Model. It is targeted to the global challenge that patients consistently demonstrate a lack of compliance with their prescriptive medicines, and the pharmaceutical industry's challenge to provide unified messaging and design elements across multiple channels," said Tom Harrison, Chairman, CEO Omnicom's Diversified Agency Services (DAS) Group.

"STAR Healthcare exemplifies a new way of thinking about providing a consistent message and recognizing the roles played by multiple units in crafting that message," said Rob Dhoble, President, DAS Healthcare. "It will better serve both clients and patients as a result."

Source: marketwatch.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

Philips acquires medical equipment co Meditronics

Philips has acquired Mumbai-based medical equipment maker Meditronics for an undisclosed amount, its second buy in healthcare segment in three months.

The Dutch firm which operates three businesses, lighting, healthcare and consumer electronics and appliances, had acquired another Mumbai-based firm Alpha X-Ray Technologies in September.

Both Meditronics and Alpha are medical imaging companies targeting the economy segment of the Indian market. Alpha manufactures cardiovascular X-ray systems and Meditronics makes general X-ray systems.

Philips global CEO Gerard Kleisterlee said at a press conference in Delhi, “The Meditronics acquisition strengthens our presence in India and gives us strong manufacturing capabilities.”

Meditronics, started by Kanti Gada and Vinod Vora in 1979, focuses on surgery and radiography. It employs around 150 people and has four manufacturing units in India. This deal is Philips’ fifth healthcare acquisition in emerging markets in the past two years.

Besides Alpha in India, Philips has acquired two firms in Brazil and and one in China. Sharing his views on the global economic slowdown, Mr Kleisterlee said, “There is clearly a slowdown in developed markets and we are not immune to it. But healthcare is recession-proof so we are safe.”

“There is a bigger slowdown in the US and Europe for consumer durable products. But some essential segments such as mother and babycare products and electric shavers are doing well. Big-ticket items such as LCD televisions are seeing a slowdown in demand,” he added.

Mr Kleisterlee said Philips is looking to shift ‘resources’ such as people, advertising budget and investments in R&D from developed to emerging markets in the wake of the global slowdown: “Emerging markets will play a crucial role in driving growth in future.”

He declined to elaborate on the measures that Philips was taking to overcome the difficult economic conditions except that he wouldn’t mind rightsizing in some markets.

Source: clickjobs.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

Long Term Oxygen Therapy

Many bio chemical reactions in the body depend on oxygen utilization. Supply of oxygen to the tissues depends on many factors like ventilation, diffusion across alveolar-capillary membrane, hemoglobin, cardiac output, and tissue perfusion. Oxygen therapy is required for respiratory failure in many conditions like severe asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and myocardial infarction, etc.

Oxygen therapy is the process where consumer receives oxygen that is supplemental oxygen administered for the purpose of relieving low levels of oxygen in the blood. Oxygen therapy increases collagen and elastin, heals micro fractures and fissures, and has anti-inflammatory effect on the skin.

The primary goal of oxygen therapy is to correct alveolar and/or tissue hypoxia. Therefore, any disorder causing hypoxia is a potential indication for oxygen administration. But the tissue oxygen delivery depends upon an adequate function of cardiovascular (cardiac output and flow), haematological (hb and its affinity for oxygen) and the respiratory (arterial oxygen pressure) systems. Therefore, tissue hypoxia is not relieved by oxygen therapy alone – functioning of all the three organ systems also needs to be improved.

The respiratory system is concerned with the delivery of an adequate amount of oxygen to

and elimination of a corresponding amount of carbon dioxide from the cells of the body and

maintenance of normal acid-base balance in the body. Proper supply of oxygen and elimination of carbon dioxide from various tissues of the body depends on the optimal functioning of

various parts of the respiratory system like chest wall and respiratory muscles, airways and lungs, CNS ( Central nervous system including medullary respiratory centres), spinal cord, and endocrine system. A disorder in any portion of these systems can lead to respiratory failure.

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Source: futurehealthcare magazine Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

GE Global Research to Build Mobile Imaging System to Improve Nuclear Threat Detection

GE Global Research, the technology development arm for the General Electric Company, today announced it has been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a working prototype of a mobile Standoff Radiation Imaging System (SORIS). The research is part of a DHS program to advance technologies that provide new tools for law enforcement and first responders to better protect against nuclear threats.

The goal of the project is to build a prototype imaging system that can identify radioactive sources from longer distances with greater specificity, pinpointing their origins almost to an exact location. The system will be highly sensitized to detect the weakest signs of radioactivity from a distance, while in a moving vehicle such as a SUV or cargo van.

"GE researchers are building a roving nuclear threat detector that will enable law enforcement and first responders to more effectively root out dangerous radioactive threats at our borders, bridges, tunnels and other highly trafficked public areas," said Scott Zelakiewicz, GE Global Research's principal investigator on the SORIS project. "Increasing the distance at which these threats are detected is a central goal of this project. Fortunately, we can leverage complementary technology and expertise in medical imaging to help meet DHS' goal of getting these solutions to market faster." GE researchers will be adapting nuclear medicine imaging technology from the GE Healthcare business.

Zelakiewicz added, "The same imaging technology doctors use today for the detection of cancers will be used to sense radioactive materials in the environment, giving first responders a new tool to combat and protect our nation from potential nuclear threats."

Development of GE's initial prototype for the mobile standoff radiation system marks the second phase of a multi-phased $7 million program with DHS to support advancements in standoff radiation detection. Phase I began in October of 2007, with developments progressing at a significantly accelerated pace due to GE's extensive knowledge in imaging, materials and radiation detection technologies.

Once completed, the Standoff Radiation Imaging System will add radiation detection to a broad portfolio of detection products offered today by GE's Homeland Protection business. The business now offers products for the detection and identification of explosives, narcotics, chemicals and biological threats. "SORIS will provide an important technology tool to help law enforcement better protect communities, borders and high-risk facilities," said Dennis Cooke, president and CEO, GE Security's Homeland Protection business. "This is another great example of GE's commitment to providing more and better advanced technology solutions to help our customers address real world security challenges."

Source: marketwatch.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

Global Med Technologies(R), Inc. Partners With Biomedical Synergies to Offer Advanced Tissue Tracking Solutions for Hospitals and Surgery Centers

Global Med Technologies(R)Inc, an international e-Health, medical information technology company, and Biomedical Synergies, Inc. ("BSI"), a privately held healthcare consulting and software development company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, announced that they have signed an agreement under which Global Med will distribute TRACS4Life(TM) tissue tracking software. BSI specializes in human tissue/implant tracking management software for the medical industry. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Global Med will actively promote TRACS4Life to the healthcare marketplace through its direct sales force. This mutually beneficial arrangement will greatly expand the coverage of BSI's current sales force, allow greater market penetration of TRACS4Life and serve the needs of both Global Med and Biomedical Synergies' customers and ultimately, and most importantly, help improve patient safety.
Source: earthtimes.org Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research Team

AstraZeneca, Cognizant Announce a Five-Year Deal; Expand Their Global Services Partnership

Cognizant, a leading provider of consulting, technology and business process outsourcing services, today announced a five-year agreement with AstraZeneca to provide application maintenance services to AstraZeneca's global enterprise in the business-critical areas of research, clinical development, and sales and marketing. The agreement will further expand Cognizant's long-standing relationship with the pharmaceutical major.

Under the expanded agreement, Cognizant will work with AstraZeneca's Global Shared Services organization and implement world class, end-to-end application maintenance services. As part of this innovative agreement, Cognizant will adopt an "Outcome" or "Effect-based" model to provide these services by leveraging its global delivery network, talent pool and best practices. This will ensure a predictable service model, reduce the overall cost of IT ownership, and deliver year-over-year efficiency improvements.

"Our strategic partnerships will enable us to streamline operations efficiency, raise standards and deliver world-class services. The selection of Cognizant will allow us to leverage their global operations to meet the needs of our business and increase our focus on our core business -- to make the most meaningful difference to patient health through great medicines," said Richard Williams, Global CIO at AstraZeneca.

"We are pleased to have been selected by AstraZeneca's global shared services organization to provide application-related services," said Francisco D'Souza, President and CEO of Cognizant. "We look forward to helping AstraZeneca identify and deploy operational improvements in its applications process that will enhance R&D and sales and marketing efficiencies, and help strengthen and extend the company's leadership status in the global life sciences industry.

Source: au.sys-con.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

Indo-US healthcare summit in Delhi in January

The influential Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) will host their second Indo-US Healthcare Summit in New Delhi in January in collaboration with the Indian government to discuss among other things how to reach out to the rural poor.

"The health summit would focus on prevention, diagnosis, treatment options and share ways to truly improve healthcare transcending global boundaries," Dr Sanku Rao, AAPI president, said announcing the three-day Jan 2-4, 2009 conference.

Rao said the public-private initiative between AAPI, a prestigious organisation with over 40,000 physicans as members, and the Indian government was all about dedication and commitment of Indian American physicians to improving healthcare in India.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss will inaugurate the meet and deliver a keynote address. Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi will attend the summit and has extended full support of his ministry to the event.

Besides the ministries of health and overseas Indian affairs, Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Medical Council of India (MCI) have also joined hands with AAPI in organising the second annual summit.

At the meeting, a wide variety of speakers including senior government officials, think tanks, hospital administrators, healthcare professionals and eminent physicians would debate on how to work together to solve the healthcare challenges facing India.

A large contingent of leaders from AAPI, BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Oorigin) and Canadian Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage (CAPIH) are expected to attend the summit, Rao said.

Together with the involvement of IMA and MCI, AAPI has plans to reach out to the rural poor in India. AAPI has identified seven areas - heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, deafness of new-born, mental health, infectious diseases, mother and child health care and emergency care for cooperation between India and the US. Some of these diseases have been successfully tackled by US physicians, thanks to advances in medicine and technology.

Last year, the first summit, that too was held in New Delhi, came in for praise from the president and prime minister of India as it ushered in a new era of cooperation between physicians of both the US and India.

Both the prime minister and health minister had urged AAPI to give priority to improving maternal and child healthcare, where the gap between the rich and the poor is huge. AAPI has drawn up a three-pronged strategy to tackle the issue: maternal health, new born and child health and adolescent health.

Now that infectious diseases has been approved as a specialty course and for fellowship and training in India following AAPI's efforts, Rao said AAPI would promote geriatrics as the next specialty and conduct specialised courses in the discipline in medical colleges.

Source: hindu.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

MedTouch and Paquin Healthcare Companies Announce Special Webinar Focused on Consumer Health Research Online and Retail Healthcare

MedTouch, the leading provider of interactive, web-based solutions for healthcare organizations, announced a special webinar entitled A Day in the Life of an Online Healthcare Traveler which focuses on demystifying the ways consumers use the Internet for health research and proposing how hospitals can capture a greater share of this interest through innovative marketing and commerce strategies.

"Health systems need to realize that they cannot live on reimbursements alone," said Paul Griffiths CEO of MedTouch. "Since the gyrations in the global markets have crippled the bond market, investment returns, and charitable giving, it is more critical than ever that hospitals find alternative sources of revenue and think outside confines of traditional business models.

"Online retail healthcare is a tremendous, untapped revenue stream for hospitals. But most important of all, if you don't develop online marketing and loyalty programs today, you can't depend on the volume you need tomorrow."

"The Retail Healthcare marketplace is currently estimated to be 500 billion in revenues annually and projected to be one trillion within five years," states Tony Paquin, CEO, of Paquin Healthcare. "The individual empowered consumer will be the key to substantive change in healthcare over the long term."

This webinar is the first step in a new partnership between MedTouch and Paquin Healthcare, also announced today, to ensure hospitals and integrated health systems capture and retain patients online. Through this collaboration, both companies will provide services and software to clients through bundled, turnkey offerings, turning existing hospital sites into new sources of income and helping hospitals position themselves as the online home for local healthcare consumers.

Source: economictimes.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

New Mobile Terminals for German eHealth Market

XIRING a European leader in security solutions for remote transactions, and SCM Microsystems a leading provider of solutions that open the Digital World, today announced their close collaboration to develop mobile eHealth smart card terminals for the new generation German healthcare system. Beginning in late 2008, new electronic health insurance cards will be distributed to 82 million German citizens, creating a market for compatible mobile eHealth terminals that facilitate at-home patient consultation and treatment by Germany's 310,000 healthcare professionals and 130,000 physiotherapists. With this agreement, the two companies aim to achieve a leading share of this new market. SCM will sell the mobile terminals in Germany through its existing distribution channels and Value Added Partners.

XIRING, the leader of the French healthcare terminal market (SESAM-Vitale scheme), brings strong technical and field experience to the collaboration, highlighted by its robust mobile platform for healthcare professionals that is widely deployed in France. SCM Microsystems has developed several generations of proto-type and market-ready desktop eHealth terminals based on its close, multi-year collaboration with gematik, the German healthcare organization overseeing the country's eHealth scheme, and the German Federal Office of Information Technology, BSI (Bundesamt fur Sicherheit in der Informationstechnologie), in charge of defining security requirements for the program. XIRING and SCM are uniquely qualified to address the demanding technical specifications and strict security targets for mobile terminals in the German program.

"XIRING has the broadest range of healthcare solutions in France and their products are well recognised for their quality, performance and ergonomics. XIRING's experience makes them an ideal partner to help SCM bring mobile eHealth terminals to the German market in the tight timeframe the program demands. Thanks to this strategic collaboration we are in the unique position to offer a complete terminal portfolio, including mobile as well as desktop models, for German health professionals," commented Felix Marx, chief executive officer of SCM Microsystems.

"SCM Microsystems has played a major role in helping to develop card terminal specifications for Germany's new eHealth scheme. They have the necessary software expertise, know-how of the German market and a strong understanding of the new program's requirements. By joining our efforts, we are sure to provide the perfect mobile solution to German healthcare professionals," commented Georges Liberman, chairman and chief executive officer at XIRING.

Source: marketwatch.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

A New, 'Smart' Approach to Brain and Spine Surgery

A medical revolution emerges when technology blends with smart care. Sacred Heart Hospital makes this connection with its new Smart OR(TM) -- a specialized neurosurgical suite providing state-of-the-art treatment for neurosurgery, spine and trauma patients.

A configuration of advanced imagery and mapping technology, the Smart OR helps neurosurgeons perform complex brain, spine and trauma procedures in a more effective way.

Sacred Heart Hospital -- in Eau Claire, Wisc. -- is the first hospital in the country to use this technology configuration for both surgery and diagnostics. It is also the first hospital of its size to have a BrainSUITE(R) with the IMRIS iMRI (intra-operative magnetic resonance imaging) operating suite and eventually the iCT (intra-operative computed tomography) operating suite. And Sacred Heart is one of only 17 hospitals in the world to offer this technology configuration for patients.

The delicacy of brain and spine surgery can be compared to tightrope walking, proposes Kamal Thapar, MD, Marshfield Clinic neurosurgeon and director of the Brain & Spine Institute at Sacred Heart. "Imagine navigating a tightrope blindfolded. If you deviate off the path, even slightly, you fall. In surgery, the Smart OR is the ultimate tool ensuring that we don't 'fall,'" Thapar says. "The technology goes beyond what the human eye can see, removing that blindfold. It provides real-time, high definition data, allowing us to chart an exact path to tumors during operations -- so surrounding, healthy tissue is not damaged."

"The Smart OR is the operating room of the future," Thapar adds. "It is a quantum leap forward in the way surgery is performed. It's 'smart' technology -- it's 'smart' care." 'Smart' Technology:

Various technological elements work together to equip Sacred Heart Hospital neurosurgeons with the highest level of precision and accuracy for the complete removal of brain and spine tumors.

One distinguishing element of the Smart OR is that the iMRI technology moves to and from the patient -- helping keep them still, lessening the risk of complications that can occur with movement. Up-to-the-second imagery is available during surgery to assure tumors are entirely removed, before the patient ever leaves the operating table. Prior to this technology, standard MRI scans could only be done pre and post surgery. Conducting an iMRI scan while the patient is still in surgery drastically reduces the need for follow-up surgery.

In addition, real-time images are captured with the VectorVision Sky, considered the global positioning system (GPS) for the brain, and the high magnification Zeiss OPMI Petro C Microscope. All of this imagery is managed via a surgical mapping system called the BrainSUITE(R). This tool provides easy access to data throughout procedures -- allowing the surgical team to quickly reference information on flat screens mounted in the operating room.

Collectively, the Smart OR components are housed in a unique neurosurgical suite at Sacred Heart Hospital's Brain & Spine Institute.

'Smart' Care:

Ultimately, the Smart OR reduces trauma, leading to a faster recovery time and shorter hospital stay. It also reduces the risk of various complications, significantly reducing the need for follow-up surgery.

"Patients entrust us with their lives, and we owe it to them to invest in the world's best technology and treatment options. The Smart OR is an innovative tool that helps our neurosurgeons perform operations with greater accuracy and precision," says Steve Ronstrom, Chief Executive Officer of Sacred Heart Hospital.

Sacred Heart Hospital employs a calculated, yet aggressive, approach to identifying strategies and tactics to blend the latest technology with its strong tradition to uphold quality care.

"The Smart OR provides unmatched healthcare value," Ronstrom adds. "Our patients benefit greatly from the neurosurgical expertise found in our Smart OR and with our nationally renowned neurosurgical team."

Source: marketwatch.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

Examine the Global Markets for Neonatal/Perinatal Monitoring and Treatment Products in the U.S., Europe and the Rest of World

The global market for products used to monitor and treat neonatal and perinatal patients will reach $938 million in 2008 and will grow by 5.1% annually through 2013 reaching over $1,195 million.

Growth in Asia-Pacific and other international markets will be driven by expanding populations and increasing birth rates, greater demand for these products, and the growing availability of low-cost or locally manufactured technologies. Developing countries account for the vast majority of annual births and preterm infants, which are at risk for developing conditions requiring ventilation, warming therapy, jaundice management, and neonatal monitoring. Driven by a growing middle class, demand is increasing for these products, which are well-established in the developed markets of the U.S., Western Europe, and Japan. The growing availability of low-cost and locally manufactured products will continue to drive sales of new units in these countries.

Sales growth will be relatively flat in the U.S. and Europe through 2013. Revenues will be driven by replacement technologies and accessories, and hospitals will continue to prefer devices that offer multiple functions. In infant ventilation, sales will increasingly shift towards comprehensive units capable of treating a full range of patients including neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients. Hybrid warming devices that can be configured as either open warmers or closed incubators will also be preferred. Specialty products such as high-frequency ventilators will also see strong sales growth through 2013. Homecare will represent a growing source for sales of monitoring and jaundice management products.

Source: marketwatch.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

GE Scientists Develop Battery-free, Multi-Detection Wireless Sensors

GE Global Research, the technology development arm of the General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), today announced a battery-free, multi-detection radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensing platform that could enable a wide range of low cost wireless sensing products in healthcare, security, food packaging, water treatment and pollution prevention. GE's unique RFID sensors are built on traditional RFID tags.

This "first-of-its-kind" sensing platform, in which a single sensor can provide a highly selective response to multiple chemicals under variable conditions, operates without a battery. GE's sensor technology overcomes limitations in today's sensors such as inadequate response selectivity and the need for an on-board power source. Without a battery, new sensors can be designed to be smaller than a penny and manufactured at very low cost. This could enable many exciting product applications, including:

-- New security sensors that more effectively can detect dangerous chemical and biological threats

-- In-the-field water purification monitoring, checking for water impurities

-- Food and beverage safety monitoring, measuring the freshness of goods in transport or that are stored in the refrigerator at home

-- Portable vaccine manufacturing, ensuring the purity of a vaccine manufactured on-site during an emergency response to a flu outbreak or other potential pandemic.

-- Emissions monitoring at power plants

Radislav Potyrailo, a principal scientist at GE Global Research who leads this multidisciplinary wireless sensing development team, said, "We believe GE's battery-free wireless sensing platform will be a game-changer across many product platforms in healthcare, security, water and pollution prevention, to name a few. Without the need for batteries, we can make sensors that are much smaller in size and at substantially reduced costs. These attributes, combined with the sensors' highly selective chemical and bio sensing capabilities, provide new breakthrough sensing opportunities that will open the door to many new, innovative applications."

Potyrailo added, "Because these sensors can be made at such low cost, they also can be made for one-time use. Similar to how your groceries get scanned for a price, imagine pointing a handheld sensor reader at a milk carton or packaged food to see whether it has been spoiled. This is just one of the new applications you can begin to consider with disposable, low cost multi-detection RFID sensors."

These new RFID sensors use a conventional RFID tag, but are coated with a chemically or biologically sensitive film. The sensor reader can obtain several varied responses, which allows the sensor to identify and measure individual chemicals in different mixtures and variable conditions. GE's sensors can detect trace concentrations of toxic gases such as toxic industrial chemicals (TICs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and chemicals in liquids.

To operate without batteries, the power is obtained wirelessly from the sensor reader. The reader activates the sensor antenna and the RFID chip and collects several response data parameters. The measurement of these parameters provides the ability to selectively detect different chemicals with an individual sensor.

The development of GE's novel wireless sensing platform illustrates the power of GE technology to leverage multiple areas of technical expertise from across many disciplines represented at GE's Global Research Center. A multidisciplinary team comprised of analytical chemists, RF engineers, polymer scientists, and microfabrication engineers contributed to the development of this new platform.

Source: marketwatch.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG

Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center Awards $496,000 to Arteriocyte

Arteriocyte, a clinical stage biotechnology company announced today that the company has been awarded $496,000 through the Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center (GCIC), to continue clinical research on its lead stem cell therapy (ACY001) for use in chronic coronary ischemia. This funding is in addition to the first year GCIC support received in 2007, to accelerate the company's cardiac stem cell therapy development. Under the GCIC project, Arteriocyte participates as one of a number of companies working as research partners with the Cleveland Clinic.

Source: marketwatch.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

Pill Wonder- Medicine Pill with Camera

Doctors have used small cameras on snaking tubes for years to check patients’ intestinal troubles. These days, they’re asking some patients to swallow the entire camera.

With a single pill loaded with technology similar to a digital camera, doctors can view more than 50,000 still images captured during the trip through the final 20 feet of the small intestine that previously was visible only on X-rays.

The pill, known as the M2A Capsule Endoscopy, is about the size of a multivitamin and is swallowed with a sip of water.

The camera, encased in a white plastic capsule, takes pictures which are transmitted on a radio frequency. The images are captured in a recording device worn on a belt around the patient’s waist. After eight hours, the belt is turned over to the doctor.

The device is a “marvel of microelectronics,” said Dr. David Ramkumar, a gastroenterologist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where patients since the beginning of the year have been swallowing the capsules to diagnose intestinal problems.

Patients fast for 10 hours before taking the pill, and are able to go about their days as long as they avoid strenuous activity.

The pill isn’t 100 percent successful because, due to its small size, the camera can capture an image of only about 70 percent of the digestive tract at any one point, he said.

Still, “If you compare that with what we had before, we were looking at rates optimistically in the 30 to 40 percent range,” Ramkumar said. “We’re practically doubling our success.”

Once the images are recorded and the camera belt is removed, the patient simply passes the pill.

Source: msnbc.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

World’s First Bluetooth(R)-Enabled, Wireless Fingertip Pulse Oximeter

The US-based Nonin Medical, Inc. has introduced a wireless fingertip oximeter with Bluetooth wireless technology for the first time.

The fingertip oximeter assists patients who suffer from diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure (CHF) by allowing vital signs to be easily monitored and sent wirelessly through communication devices (cell phones, PDAs, PCs, etc.). Patients can also take readings outside of the home and transmit the time-stamped data after their return using the device’s Store and Forward facility.

The Onyx II 9560 has a new power saving feature that automatically adjusts transmitted power based on distance from the main unit. It can save up to a minimum of 20 single point measurements. The pulse oximeter incorporates the electronics and the sensor into one unit weighing just two ounces, delivers an accurate pulse rate and blood oximetry in just seconds. It interacts with other devices through the Bluetooth Medical Device Profile (MDP) protocol. It facilitates patients and clinicians to manage monitored information easily and cost-effectively.

Oximeter’s SmartPoint technology removes the speculation of determining which oximetry values to be used for analysis. It provides a fast and accurate picture of the patient's SpO2 and pulse rate. The Onyx II 9560 sends the SmartPoint spot-check measurement typically 30 seconds from turn-on.

Source: worldwideweb Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research JSG Team

H.E.A.L. Global Introduces First Ever 'EUSocial' Media Network

HEAL (Health Empowerment Access Links) Global, Inc., a company committed to promoting a lifestyle of wellness through meaningful social interaction and resource sharing; today announced the launch of its groundbreaking “euSocial” media environment HEALMYBody.net. From the Greek word ‘eu’ meaning ‘good’ + ‘social’, HEAL My Body offers a timely and practical alternative for consumers seeking a tangibly different social networking experience. While the initial focus will be on the college community, HEAL My Body seeks to serve all people looking to interact with other like-minded persons committed to leading healthy physical, emotional, spiritual and financial lives. College students, both new and familiar to campus life, face physical and emotional fatigue as well as disease and injury due to such pervasive issues as binge drinking, date rape, STDs, hazing, depression, eating disorders, online gambling, academic, and peer pressure as well as a host of others. According to College Drinking Prevention and Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse: 1,700 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes Each month 49 percent of full-time college students, about 3.8 million, binge drink and/or abuse prescription and illegal drugs. In 2005, approximately 1.8 million of those students, 22.9 percent, met the medical criteria for substance abuse and dependence. Estimated 310,000 U.S. college students smoke marijuana daily and 636,000 students use illegal drugs (other than marijuana), such as cocaine and heroin. More than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape. Additionally, a report by the Institute of Medicine states that "…it is unreasonable to expect that people will change their behavior so easily when so many forces in the social, cultural, and physical environment conspire against change.” HEALMYBody.net seeks to disrupt this conspiracy with its unique “euSocial” environment as a practical and innovative web-based solution providing peer-based support in conjunction with an array of professional resources. “HEAL My Body was created as a unique and sophisticated online community to educate, empower and encourage those looking for a ‘real place to heal’ on the Internet,” said J. Allen Zow, Sr., social entrepreneur & founder of HEAL Global. “HEAL My Body’s mantra ‘Release pain ~ Share healing’ is relevant and therapeutic in light of the intense pain being felt in our society due to the current economic and healthcare crises,” Zow concludes. HEAL MY Body is a free membership-oriented, interactive, prevention-based site exclusively dedicated to the four dimensions of health—physical, emotional, financial and spiritual. Each member can create a private personalized “Empower Page” profile with a unique URL. A member’s “Empower Page” may reflect their personal or favorite videos, music, poems, photos, RSS feeds, and more, all designed to uplift, inspire, educate and empower the member on a daily basis. HEAL My Body membership provides access to the following community features: My Home page, RSS feeds, media sharing and mobile uploading, profile pages, viral widgets, messaging, friends/groups, blogs and podcasts, chat and message boards. HEAL My Body’s resources also include over 150 groups, a marketplace and online tools with links to trusted information and products related to the four channels.
Source: pr-canada.net Contributed by: DMSMedwire Research Team

Frost & Sullivan Award Recognises TietoEnator's Exceptional Product Differentiation Innovation

The 2008 Frost & Sullivan European Laboratory Information Systems Product Differentiation Innovation Award is conferred on TietoEnator for continuously innovating and upgrading individual disciplines of laboratory information systems (LIS) technology. Diverse healthcare IT solutions, uncompromising customer support and focused innovation contribute to TietoEnator's success.

"TietoEnator's deep understanding of customer requirements, the provision of complete healthcare IT solutions, and strategic technology upgrades have enabled the company to capture nearly 47.5 per cent of revenues in the LIS market in Scandinavia in 2007-2008," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Shriram Shanmugham. "TietoEnator clearly understands that in a mature LIS market, it is imperative that existing customers be satisfied and individual LIS disciplines experience technological innovation at regular intervals."

Quality customer service and support have been central to the company's success. TietoEnator endeavours to constantly enhance the lab operator's competency in using the LIS product. The company-client relationship is unique and built on a system of continuous feedback. With demand surging, TietoEnator is currently working to boost its LIS product development workforce capacity.

The company also offers a broad portfolio of outstanding healthcare IT solutions. It is one among two companies in Scandinavia that provides LIS management solutions to all disciplines (hematology, microbiology, cytology, etc) supported by hospital laboratories. In addition to LIS, TietoEnator also provides a reliable hospital information system (HIS) module.

"With installations across nearly half of Scandinavia's hospitals, patient data can be easily shared among hospitals that have TietoEnator's products," remarks Shanmugham. "Moreover, hospitals in Scandinavia consider seller reputation an important criteria for choosing an LIS; the exceptional performance of TietoEnator's products is encouraging hospitals to invest in the company's solutions."

Hospitals are subjected to paying 200,000 to 1,000,000 for licensing the LIS module from TietoEnator. TietoEnator understands that it is risky to introduce an entirely new LIS for a replacement. Instead, it provides upgrades or new versions for the sub-disciplines of a basic laboratory operation.

"For instance, during the first year of installation, TietoEnator will provide an upgrade to the hematology division and for the successive year, it may provide a new version of technology solution for the cytology discipline," explains Shanmugham. "While the lifecycle of most LIS modules ranges between 8 to 10 years, the LIS module provided by TietoEnator -- thanks to its strategic technological upgrades -- lasts for 12 to 15 years."

Currently, TietoEnator is developing an upgrade to a new lab discipline -- genetic health control. This is a specific diagnostic tool used in a hospital laboratory to screen symptoms of cancer. It is particularly aimed at monitoring women's health in Scandinavia.

Source: marketwatch.com Contributed by: DMSMedwire Team

Ranbaxy SL towards Pre-empting Illness

Out of the overall Indian healthcare industry growth, a promising 25 % growth has been seen in Preventive Healthcare Industry in the last five years. With the increase in stress, change in people’s working lifestyles and their frequent adaptation to latest trends, we can see large percentage of people in young & adult age-group, are paying limited or no attention to their healthcare needs and are thus facing risks to many lifestyle disorder chronic diseases including mild to moderate obesity, eye pain, hypertension etc.

According to a September 2007 report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER); “It is projected that india will lose US $ 23 Billion annually as foregone income over the decade i.e. between 2005 to 2015 owing to deaths related to lifestyle chronic diseases. In order to safeguard & prevent this revenue loss over the decade, corporate groups like Apollo, Max, Fortis, Wockhardt etc are entering preventive diagnosis and pre-empt health checkups market and are also conducting many physiotherapy lessons for young & adult professional groups.

Ranbaxy SL has also stepped towards pre-empting illness and has shown a promising growth by having more than 500 health checkup centers which include new small setups’ by Ranbaxy, and has developed strategic partnership with Corporate like Fortis Groups enrolling private clinics & doctors.

Preventive health checkup Concept is now widely accepted & implemented by many Government organizations for their workforce so as to provide improved working environment and supervised health checkups for their e workforce.

According to us, this business model would not only give a new breakthrough to those who face daily life stress and wait for last moment diagnosis and consecutively end up paying exorbitant medical bills , but would also provide High ROI for Ranbaxy SL and other Corporate groups who identify themselves with the real meaning of opportunity cost.

We feel this to be a very result oriented approach by Ranbaxy SL towards preventive healthcare. We can say this because this concept not only benefits the upper class families but also help in catering to mid-lower and backward sections of the Indian society. Well as we all know; “prevention is always better than cure”. This is indeed a great concept.

Source: DMSMedwire Research (Joint Study Group) Contributed by: DMSMedwire Team