Breaking news on medical devices
Radiotherapy Delivery Up To Eight Times Faster, Accuracy Improved With Less Time For Movement published
Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 PDT
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) this month became the first U.S. medical center to offer a speedier cancer radiation therapy. The new technique can turn a 20-minute radiotherapy session into a 90-second session for selected patients. Additionally, the new therapy saves healthy human tissue from unwanted radiation exposure at rates that are the same or better than other radiotherapy techniques, according to doctors at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Brain Imaging Improves Anxiety Treatment published
Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 PDT
Wouldn't it be nice if our doctors could predict accurately whether we would respond to a particular medication? This question is important because research studies provide information about how groups of patients tend to respond to treatments, but inevitably, differences among groups of patients with the same diagnosis mean that findings about groups of patients may not apply to individuals from those groups.
New Category Of Device For Stone Extraction To Help Render Patients Free From Kidney Stones And Stones In The Urinary Tract published
Fri, 09 May 2008 03:00:00 PDT
The NGage Nitinol Stone Extractor, engineered and manufactured by Cook Medical, represents an entirely new category in the evolution of stone extraction. Utilising Cook's revolutionary nitinol technology, the NGage allows physicians to easily engage, release and extract stones even in the most difficult anatomy while providing improved irrigation, visibility and enhanced efficiency.
Magnet Lab Researchers Make Observing Cell Functions Easier published
Fri, 09 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
Now that the genome (DNA) of humans and many other organisms have been sequenced, biologists are turning their attention to discovering how the many thousands of structural and control genes -- the "worker bees" of living cells that can turn genes on and off -- function.To do that, they need to develop new techniques and tools.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Warms Up published
Fri, 09 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
Standard magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, is a superb diagnostic tool but one that suffers from low sensitivity, requiring patients to remain motionless for long periods of time inside noisy, claustrophobic machines.
CardioTech Receives Approval For A Second Graft Size For CardioPass Clinical Trial published
Fri, 09 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
CardioTech International, Inc. (AMEX: CTE), a developer and manufacturer of advanced medical devices and materials for the treatment of a broad range of disease states, announced that it has received the necessary Ministry of Health approval to add a 4mm graft for the clinical trial of CardioPass™ , the Company's proprietary synthetic coronary bypass graft. Until now, the trial was only approved for a 5mm graft.
St. Jude Medical Announces FDA Clearance And CE Mark Approval Of Strada Carotid Guiding Sheath published
Fri, 09 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and European CE Mark approval of the Strada™ Carotid Guiding Sheath, a flexible tube through which physicians can deliver balloon catheters, stents and other tools to open blockages in the carotid arteries. The Strada Carotid Guiding Sheath is designed specifically to provide easier and faster access to challenging carotid anatomy.
Boston Scientific Announces FDA Approval Of New Family Of Advanced Pacemakers published
Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its ALTRUA(TM) family of pacemakers. ALTRUA is Boston Scientific's most advanced pacemaker and delivers enhanced therapies while maintaining its small size and battery longevity.
Globus Medical Completes Enrollment Of SECURE(R)-C Cervical Artificial Disc Clinical Trial published
Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Globus Medical, Inc., the largest privately held spinal implant manufacturer in the world and a recognized leader in motion preservation technology, announced the completion of enrollment in its SECURE(R)-C Cervical Artificial Disc IDE study. The SECURE(R)-C device is designed to mimic the normal motion of the spine in order to alleviate pain and restore function as an alternative to fusion in the treatment of symptomatic cervical disc disease.
Carotid Bruit Linked To Cardiovascular Problems published
Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT
People who have a carotid bruit are at a significantly greater risk ofcardiovascular death and heart attack, according to an articlepublished in The Lancet. A carotid bruitis a sound that blood makes when it passes over an obstruction in thecarotid artery, the main passageway for supplying blood to the head andneck. A bruit is usually detected with a stethoscope and is anindicator of arterial blockage.
Lawmakers, Industry Representatives, Officials Discuss Medicare Competitive Bidding Program For Durable Medical Equipment published
Thu, 08 May 2008 11:00:00 PDT
During a House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing Tuesday, lawmakers, officials and representatives of the durable medical equipment industry discussed a Medicare competitive bidding program, including the application process and possible alternatives to the program,
Medtronic Initiates Voluntary Field Actions For Selected Heparin-Coated Products Used During Cardiopulmonary Bypass published
Thu, 08 May 2008 05:00:00 PDT
Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) announced that it is initiating a voluntary and precautionary recall of selected products featuring the Carmeda BioActive surface. The affected devices are disposable products used during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for heart surgeries. Affected products include blood oxygenators, reservoirs, pumps, cannulae, and tubing packs. This action is being taken subsequent to the U.S.
Artificial Golgi Created By Undergrad published
Thu, 08 May 2008 05:00:00 PDT
An undergraduate student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has learned very quickly that a spoonful of sugar really does help the medicine go down. In fact, with his invention, the sugar may actually be the medicine.Among the most important and complex molecules in the human body, sugars control not just metabolism but also how cells communicate with one another.
First Deliveries Of Realistic Neonatal Simulator To Arrive In Hospitals This Month published
Thu, 08 May 2008 04:00:00 PDT
She cries and hiccups. She has a heart beat, moves her arms and legs and will turn blue if she's not getting enough oxygen. The SimNewB, a new neonatal patient simulator developed through a strategic alliance between the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Laerdal Medical, features realistic newborn traits and lifelike clinical feedback that will help health care professionals learn to resuscitate their most vulnerable patients.
Developers Finding Success Of Injectable Drugs Dependent On Numerous Factors -Analysis Trends And Prospects For Six Key Drug Classes published
Thu, 08 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
Technology has a way of providing benefits that create complexities, a lesson that drug developers and their supply chain partners are learning to deal with. Historically, the success of new drugs has focused on tolerability, safety, and pharmacokinetics. The challenges of biologically-derived drugs have added new requirements to successful drug development.
ALS Association Endorses S. 2932, Rehab Carve-Out Bill published
Thu, 08 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
Yesterday in a letter to Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the ALS Association, which represents patients with The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (or Lou Gehrig's disease) endorsed the S. 2931, the bill to exempt complex rehab from competitive bidding.
Picis Launches Total Perioperative Automation Solution In Europe published
Thu, 08 May 2008 01:00:00 PDT
Picis, the leading provider of information systems for the high-acuity areas of hospitals, has announced the European launch of Picis Total Perioperative Automation suite of products designed to help hospitals increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve the quality of care through every aspect of surgery, which is the most resource- and cost-intensive area in the hospital.
Donal Quinn Heads Diagnostics Division Of Siemens' Healthcare Sector published
Wed, 07 May 2008 16:00:00 PDT
Donal Quinn has been appointed new head of the Diagnostics division of the Siemens Healthcare Sector. In his new position, Quinn succeeds Jim Reid-Anderson, who on May 1st became the new CEO of this sector. Prior to his new job, Quinn served as Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of the Diagnostics division since November 2007. Donal Quinn has enjoyed a long and successful career in the healthcare industry.
House Hearing To Address Concerns Over Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Competitive Bidding Program published
Wed, 07 May 2008 10:00:00 PDT
The House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee on Tuesday plans to hold a hearing on a Medicare competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment, CQ HealthBeat reports (Carey, CQ HealthBeat, 5/5).
NJIT Applauds Students For Studies On Brain Injury, Glaucoma And More published
Wed, 07 May 2008 05:00:00 PDT
A better understanding of brain injury, a way to rejuvenate dead nerve endings and a device allowing patients to monitor their glaucoma at home, number among this year's nine winners at NJIT's annual provost's student research day."What surprises me every time I walk through this showcase is the sophisticated array of research projects involving so many NJIT graduate and undergraduate students," said NJIT Provost Priscilla P. Nelson.
Miniature Smart Pump published
Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 PDT
An innovative micro-pump makes it possible for tiny quantities of liquid - such as medicines - to be dosed accurately and flexibly. Active composites and an electronic control mechanism ensure that the low-maintenance pump works accurately - both forwards and backwards.Medicines sometimes have to be administered in extremely small quantities. Just a few tenths of a milliliter may be sufficient to give the patient the ideal treatment.
Stem Cell Maturity Test published
Wed, 07 May 2008 03:00:00 PDT
Stem cells can differentiate into 220 different types of body cell. The development of these cells can now be systematically observed and investigated with the aid of two new machines that imitate the conditions in the human body with unprecedented accuracy.Stem cells are extremely versatile: They can develop in 220 different ways, transforming themselves into a correspondingly diverse range of specialized body cells.
Extreme Lab-On-A-Chip: Pocket-Sized PCR Rapid Test Including Sample Preparation published
Wed, 07 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
Analysis and diagnosis in a chip format are coming of age, but their practical application has been limited because until now, the sample usually had to be prepared separately and on a nonminiaturized scale. Jurgen Pipper and his team at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore want to change this. They have now developed a rapid test for genetic diagnosis that combines the preparation of biological samples with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on one chip.
Cordis Corporation Launches New Peripheral Angioplasty Balloon Catheters published
Wed, 07 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
Cordis Corporation (NYSE:JNJ) announced the U.S. launch of the SLEEK™ and SAVVY® Long PTA Balloon Dilatation Catheters, its most advanced percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon catheters. Todd M. Pope, Worldwide President, Cordis Corporation said, "These products incorporate our most advanced balloon technology and underscore our commitment to providing physicians with a full range of treatment options for patients with peripheral vascular disease.
Autonomous Robot Surgeries Come A Step Closer published
Wed, 07 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT
The day may be getting a little closer when robots will perform surgery on patients in dangerous situations or in remote locations, such as on the battlefield or in space, with minimal human guidance.Engineers at Duke University believe that the results of feasibility studies conducted in their laboratory represent the first concrete steps toward achieving this space age vision of the future.
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