Jul-Aug 2006
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Assessing success of a stent graft 

EndoSure Wireless AAA Pressure Sensor is indicated for use during an endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The Sensor is inserted during the same procedure as the stent graft. Once in place, the Sensor remains in the sac. 

Along with pictures taken during the stent graft procedure, the EndoSure Sensor helps assess whether the stent graft has been successful in excluding the aneurysm wall from systemic blood flow. An antenna is held over the patient’s abdomen to measure pressure inside the aneurysm sac. The reading does not cause any discomfort and dye or radiation is not needed to take the pressure measurement. 

For more info visit: www.cardiomems.com



Dual display mobile PACS workstation 

Ergotron, the leader in mounting solutions for plasma and LCD displays, has introduced the StyleView Dual Display Cart, a new computer workstation designed to provide comfortable access to information. 

The StyleView Dual Display Cart allows mounting two LCD monitors side by side, taking PACS to a whole new level. The dual display feature assures quicker and more comfortable visualisation of images and data in emergency and operating rooms, labs, radiology, nurses' stations – wherever patient data or images need to be accessed. Ergonomically designed with input from nurses and healthcare IT Professionals; the StyleView Cart brings Constant Force (CF™) technology to healthcare mobile computing. CF™ technology provides fluid onetouch vertical movement. 

The StyleView Dual Display Cart provides effortless maneuverability. Highperformance dual casters provide stable movement on all types of floor surfaces. The cart’s small 45 x 45 cm footprint allows users to fit a complete imaging system in space constrained areas. 

For further information visit: www.ergotroneurope.com 



New generation of CCD endoscopes 

Richard Wolf has introduced the latest generation of CCD endoscopes. The tradename eyeMAX stands for optimised endoscopes in this particular technology, autoclavable if necessary. Ergonomics and durability are the main focus of eyeMAX. 

CCD laparoscopes can be reprocessed in automatic washers and can be autoclaved afterwards. Camera cable and flexible light guide are the most vulnerable parts of the entire video chain. As a consequence both parts can be removed at eyeMAX laparoscopes. Whenever necessary, both parts can be replaced or exchanged easily. The endoscope itself always remains operational. Image sensor and optical system are located inside the distal tip of the endoscope.  

For more information email: middle.east@richard-wolf.com



 Non-PVC anaesthetic facemasks 

EcoMask™ is Intersurgical’s innovative range of single use non- PVC anatomical anaesthetic facemasks that are lightweight and clearer versions of the reliable rubber facemasks. This range has been enhanced by introducing non-slip rings around the full circumference of the mask shell to allow more grip, enabling a gentle but firm, downward pressure to facilitate the seal with the patient. Colour coding has also been introduced on the mask seal corresponding with the mask size to allow for easy selection – ‘Choose the size, select the colour’. 

For further information visit: www.intersurgical.com



 New from Intersurgical – The Drum 

Intersurgical has launched The DrumTM – a new easy-to-use prefilled 1kg soda-lime cartridge for use with anaesthetic machines. 

The Drum is an alternative to loose fill absorbents and offers ease of exchange with minimal handling. The Drum can be used on all anaesthetic machines with single or double absorber that have been designed to take the conventional prefill cartridges. Intersurgical are the only supplier to give you the choice of a full range of absorbents. 

Choose from LoFloSorb – alkali hydroxide free absorbent, Spherasorb – conventional type Soda Lime but with a reduced risk of drying out and only a very low level of alkali hydroxide and Intersorb plus – standard soda lime. 

For further information visit: www.intersurgical.com



Cool Pair’s OEM alternatives 

Cool Pair Plus announced the successful completion of two important projects to better serve its MRI customers. The company now offers on-site service for the APD SCR8 cold head installed in Philips Enterra systems, and repair or exchange services for the APD SC10 cold head installed in Siemens Symphony systems. As with all cold head models offered by the company, appropriate compressors are also available and are backed with a full warranty. These new products reflect Cool Pair’s continuing commitment to providing top quality alternatives to OEM service and parts. Many Middle East Health readers were able to meet with Cool Pair’s representatives at the Arab Health 2006 show in Dubai, and will recall that the company offers a complete line of cold heads, compressors and accessories for GE, Siemens, Philips, Picker and Marconi MRI systems. Cool Pair Plus is celebrating 10 years of world wide sales and service.

For more information visit www.coolpair.com


 
GE launches range of powerful laptop ultrasound systems

GE is introducing four new clinically specialised ultrasound systems to address healthcare providers’ growing demand for sophisticated, real-time imaging at the point of care. GE says the Compact Series is a new line of ultrasound products that places the power and imaging capabilities of a large high-performance system into a laptop-size design.” 

Omar Ishrak, president and CEO of GE Healthcare’s Clinical Systems division said miniaturisation was the first step in bringing basic ultrasound to the point-ofcare. He said GE had developed the Compact Series to address the needs of image quality, portability and clinical specialisation. 

The Compact Series builds upon GE’s successful introduction of Vivid i in 2005, a high-performance cardiovascular ultrasound system in a compact design. GE’s Compact Series is now expanded to include the new Voluson i – world’s first and only 4D compact ultrasound system – and LOGIQ i systems. Each “i” product is designed to bring specialised, console-quality imaging performance and portability to traditional applications. Voluson i is designed for Obstetrics & Gynecology applications, while the LOGIQ i will serve the general imaging needs of Radiology. 

Both GE’s Voluson i and LOGIQ i are FDA cleared. Voluson i was expected to be commercially available in the US in June and LOGIQ i in should be available in September this year. 

“We want to create a pathway for ultrasound to become as ubiquitous in patient care as the stethoscope is today,” Ishrak said. 

GE expects to double its compact ultrasound business – delivering more than 5,000 compact Vivid i, LOGIQ i and Voluson i ultrasound systems worldwide in 2006. 



Time-of-flight PET unveiled 

Philips unveiled a new PET/CT system at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) meeting in Vienna, Austria earlier this year. 

The company is referring to the product as a breakthrough in PET/CT technology for oncology, cardiology and molecular imaging. 

Philips says: “The GEMINI TF is the first PET system to use atomic particle time measurements to deliver increased image quality and consistency, helping earlier disease detection in patients. The advantages of the technology have been previously demonstrated in a research environment, but Philips is the first healthcare technology provider to translate these benefits into a solution for consistent and reliable clinical use.” 

The time-of-flight PET/CT system raises effective image sensitivity by more than two times over conventional PET, according to Philips. 

Image acquisition is shortened to less than 10 minutes for a whole-body PET scan, even for larger patients, who had previously needed additional scan time. Consistent with all GEMINI PET/CT systems, GEMINI TF also features Philips patented OpenView gantry design, allowing for increased patient comfort. 

The combined benefits of faster sampling, longer useful imaging times from short-lived isotopes and the use of new low-efficiency tracers are set to significantly increase the utility of PET/CT and bring the system more into the mainstream of clinical healthcare. 

Philips says the system will be available in 16- and 64-slice configurations. The Gemini TF was expected to be commercially released at the end of June.  


    
The birth of mobile Point of Care (POC) ultrasound 

Spun-off from ATL Ultrasound (which was subsequently acquired from Philips) as an independent, publicly owned corporation in April 1998, SonoSite shipped their first high performance ultrasound system – the SonoSite180 system – in September 1999. With more than 25,000 units sold worldwide since 1999, SonoSite products have rapidly become known for exceptional durability with a high design value. 

Point of Care ultrasound 
More affordable than their cart-based counterparts and with comparable image quality, POC ultrasound systems can make a genuine difference to hospital working practices and patient care. POC systems are able to deliver solutions that improve patient care, reduce costs and increase department efficiency. High quality images are essential, but the great advantage of these systems is their flexibility – to go anywhere a patient needs attention, such as remote, rural communities, where a durable, totally self-contained system is essential. 

Using POC ultrasound allows clinicians to diagnose more confidently, save time and provide instant information at the point of care, the clinical benefits can result in countless lives being saved. 

Remote offices and satellite clinics can create increased echo capacity without the need for substantial capital investment or increased operating expenses. With second and third generation POC instruments from SonoSite now on the market, exciting new developments in mobile ultrasound look set to permanently change the face of clinical practice. 

For more information visit www.sonosite.com



Space-age incubator 

The PremaCare Incubator, designed by 360 Grader Produktdesign AS of Oslo in concert with paediatricians in hospital settings, employs a revolutionary dome that keeps tiny patients away from noisy mechanical parts and magnetic radiation. PremaCare’s clear doublewalled, temperaturecontrolled hemisphere gives parents and hospital staff a 360-degree view of the infant and convenient fivedoor access. The device, which won the grand prize in the SolidWorks Design Contest 2005 is expected to begin production this year at US-based Delphi Medical Systems in Troy, Michigan. 

360 Grader Produktdesign last year surveyed healthcare providers who raised concerns about traditional incubators. The PremaCare incubator will deliver improvements in
- Temperature – A doublewall dome maintains air flow at a steady temperature, keeping the baby warm even when access is needed and the doors are open. 
- Air quality – An open conventional incubator exposes the patient to unfiltered air. A specially designed filtering system ensures that air entering the incubator continues to be filtered even when the incubator doors are open. 
- Noise – The incubator’s design places components away from the infant to reduce noise and electromagnetic radiation. 
- Ergonomics – The incubator’s patented 360- degree access system provides more convenient proximity to the infant. With components placed at the bottom, this incubator is unusually stable and can be set at different heights. It also provides easy access to all components for cleaning, repair, or replacement. 



Hi-Lo cribs reduce hospital staff injuries, improve paediatric patient care 

Second only to truckers, nursing staff are at significant risk of back injuries – some career ending – most of which are attributed to patient handling. Potential risk factors for injuries in patient handling include: multiple lifts per shift (anything more than 20); an unnecessarily long distance from the patient to the staff worker (such as when the bed is too low); and any awkward postures required for the activity, such as reaching up and over a bed rail. 

In response to the needs of hospital workers that care for children and babies, equipment manufacturers are starting to supply pediatric cribs and youth beds that now come fully equipped with Hi-Lo features to help reduce the stress and strain caused by lifting of these small patients in and out of youth beds and cribs. Leading the charge is Hard Manufacturing, based in Buffalo, New York. All of Hard’s cribs and youth beds have adjustable bedspring heights from 71 to 97 centimetres, operated either manually or by electric motor. 

“The crib’s spring has two levels: one level is the support, and the top level is the functioning spring,” explains Bill Godin, PhD, a contributing designer to this new bed. “Whatever function you have in a regular crib, such as Trendelenberg, Gatch, and Fowler, is still available. The spring does not change, but by moving the support level up and down, the patient position can be adjusted to fit the needs of the healthcare worker.” 

What Hi-Lo beds do is simply position the mattress height of the crib at the location that best suits the healthcare worker and the job being performed. It can be kept low to the ground for patient safety, and then raised up when needed for interaction with the staff. 

“Hi-Lo cribs are definitely a good idea,” says Brenda Myers, an Ergonomic Specialist with the University of Michigan Health System. “Nursing is our largest injury group across the institution, which is why we have a major initiative going forward right now to address their ergonomic concerns. Currently, all our cribs are of fixed height, which is why we are in the process of looking to replace them.”