Nov-Dec 2008
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Siemens launches molecular CT
In October Siemens Healthcare
introduced a molecular CT
scanner, with sophisticated
integrated imaging capabilities.
The Biograph mCT is a
CT with molecular capabilities
and a PET scanner with
advanced capabilities in CT.
Dr Bernd Montag, CEO,
Siemens Healthcare, Imaging
and IT Division, said: “As the
inventor of positron emission
tomography-computed tomography
(PET-CT), Siemens
wants to lead the evolution of
hybrid imaging to maximise
innovations and make them
available where they will have
the most impact.”
The Biograph mCT is
designed to obtain functional,
anatomical and
molecular information
from one, noninvasive
diagnostic exam, and
adapts to virtually any
patient and any clinical
need with higher resolution,
contrast and speed.
The clinician has the
option of using one of the
industry’s highest resolution
CT scanners in
conjunction with highdefinition
PET technology
or as a standalone
CT.
Depending on the
case, molecular contrast
can be used for additional
metabolic information.
Siemens says that
from an investment
standpoint, using one,
all-encompassing
scanner is a highly
efficient means of making the
most of an institution’s
imaging equipment and
strengthening the existing
workflows between radiology
and molecular imaging.
“Biograph mCT is the quintessential
definition of efficiency;
one team, one room,
one machine, and one
comfortable patient,” said
Montag.
“It offers the potential
of diagnosing disease earlier
and more effective management
of disease at reduced
costs. Speaking directly to the
bottom line, with Biograph
mCT, an institution may only
need to purchase one imager
instead of two, representing a
huge cost-savings potential in
a time when healthcare
budgets are tight.”
With a small footprint, large
bore, a short tunnel and an
extra-wide, 227-kg-capacity
bed, Biograph mCT is designed
to accommodate all kinds of
patients – including paediatric,
bariatric and geriatric –
comfortably and easily. The
ability to complete studies in
less time can reduce patients’
anxiety.
Biograph mCT’s large
78 cm bore can also help to
alleviate patients’ sense of
claustrophobia and allows
better positioning of RTP
devices, such as breast boards,
and makes scanning of obese
patients easier.
According to Siemens its
unmatched isotropic resolution
in CT, combined with its
industry-best rotation time,
brings out the finest anatomical
details in every scan – routine
and advanced – limiting motion
artifacts. It is available in
detector configurations of 40-,
64-, and 128-slices, a first in
integrated scanners.
Biograph
mCT’s powerful HD-PET technology
delivers highly detailed
images with up to four times as
much contrast. It is the world’s
only PET technology that offers
2 mm uniform resolution
throughout the field of view.
Siemens TrueV extended field
of view (FOV) technology
enables 70% more counts with
30% less bed positions.
Siemens says the Biograph
mCT is the only imaging
device to offer whole-body
PET-CT scanning in just five
minutes, a revolutionary
feature that optimises flexibility
and efficiency.
The Biograph mCT can achieve
this unprecedented fiveminute
PET acquisition time
by leveraging the combination
of ultraHD-PET technology
and TrueV extended FOV.
For more information visit:
www.medical.siemens.com
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
The Ambulo 2400 24-hour
ambulatory blood pressure
monitoring system from USbased
Tiba Medical helps physicians
to better diagnose and
treat hypertensive patients.
Hypertension or high blood
pressure is a silent disease that
affects nearly 1 billion people
worldwide. Left untreated, it
can lead to heart attack, kidney
failure and stroke.
Traditional
blood pressure measurements
are typically performed by a
physician or nurse in the clinic
or obtained by patients at home.
Ambulatory blood pressure
monitoring (ABPM) provides
an alternative to these two
methods by obtaining a thorough
picture of the patient’s
blood pressure variability over a
full 24-hour circadian rhythm.
A small and portable device,
the Ambulo 2400 automatically
obtains blood pressure measurements
during set intervals while the patient goes about daily
activities including nighttime
sleep. Measurements are later
downloaded through a USB
port and analysed by the physician
using the Hypertension
Diagnostics Suite software.
By obtaining a complete
picture of each person’s blood
pressure fluctuations during the
day and night and correlating it to
their daily activities, diet and
medication, GP’s, cardiologists
and nephrologists can better diagnose
and treat patients using thorough
blood pressure measurements.
The Ambulo 2400 can
help rule out the “white coat”
hypertension effect, identify
“non-dippers” during sleep, and
assist in diagnosing and managing
patients with resistant, labile and
postural hypertension as well as
those with hypotensive episodes.
Made in the USA, the
Ambulo 2400 system comes
complete with the ambulatory
BP device, rechargeable AA
batteries, four cuffs, software,
USB cable and all accessories
needed to perform studies.
Clinically validated to the
stringent requirements of the
British Hypertension Society’s
protocols, the Ambulo 2400
has FDA 510(k) clearance
from the United States FDA as
well as CE Mark according to
the Medical Device Directive
of the European Union.
Visit: www.tibamedical.com
Keep a check on CT dose
Swedish company RTI
Electronics has announced a
new simple method for measuring
CT Dose Index (CTDI)
on multi-slice CT scanners.
The
One Shot method, along with
other improvements, is included
in the new release of the CT
Dose Profile Analyser software,
used exclusively with the CT
Slice Detector from RTI.
This method saves time and
avoids needless exposures in the
QA procedure. Only one exposure
is required to obtain the CT
Dose Index. The One Shot
method is based on scientific
experience and knowledge about
the relationship between dose in
the centre and the periphery
holes of CTDI phantoms.
The CT Dose Profile Analyser
software analyses the CT dose
profile and indicates how much
more dose is given in modern
multi-slice CTs, compared with
the traditional CTDI100 measured
with a CT pencil ion
chamber. The resulting analysis
is of great importance due to
increasing dose contribution to
the population coming from CT
examinations.
The CT Slice Detector, CTSD16,
is used with the Piranha
or Barracuda X-ray multimeters
and is conveniently controlled
by the CT Dose Profile
Analyser software. This RTI
software provides evaluation of
CT dose profile, CT dose,
CTDI, CTDIvol, CTDIw, DLP,
AEC and tube current variations.
The probe is robust and
fits into standard phantoms used
for CTDI measurements.
For more information visit:
www.rti.se
AvantGuard bed puts patient first
Hill-Rom’s newest AvantGuard
bed addresses a large variety of
requirements in acute care.
The AvanteGuard 1600
bed’s unique 3-position
mobility-guard side rails , onebutton
EasyChair control and
series of seven coordinated
movements helps achieve an
ergonomic posture and maintain
the patient’s position
when the bed is articulated,
reducing the need for staff to
reposition patients in bed.
For nursing staff Point-of-
Care controls reduce the
walking around the bed each day. Clocking side rails and the
one-hand side rail release allow
the caregiver to not consume
space and to quickly lower the
rail. Smooth surfaces and
removable panels facilitate
easy cleaning and decontamination.
To ensure patient safety the
bed has Intelligent indicators
such as ‘Lowest Height’,
‘Brake-off alarm’ and ‘automatic
lock-out’ of the caregiver
controls after 60 seconds.
By incorporating the
Hospital Bed Safety
Workgroup guidelines into the AvantGuard 1600 bed
design, Hill-Rom has implemented
the latest know-how
in hospital bed safety.
For more information visit:
www.hill-rom.com
FiltaMask helps prevent cross-infection
There is a growing concern in the world market about the possibility
of major viral infections that may be transmitted via the
respiratory tract.
Therefore there is a need to provide a protective
mask for patients undergoing oxygen therapy to prevent
viral contamination from the patient into the clinical environment
and to reduce the risk of cross infection.
Conventional
oxygen masks can generate a plume of particles from their exhalation
ports, which can travel a considerable distance.
The FiltaMask from Intersurgical combines an oxygen
delivery mask with a filter media that offers excellent filtration
performance against aerosolised infectious pathogens.
The mask is designed for patients with respiratory infections
who may become a source of aerosolised infectious pathogens
and who also require supplementary oxygen. It also reduces the
risk of infection to paramedics, hospital staff and visitors.
Visit Intersurgical at: Medica - Hall 11, Stand A59
Arab Health, Dubai, 26-29 January 2009.
For more information visit
www.filtamask.com
Médipréma introduces Mobi bloo phototherapy projector
French company
Médipréma has
recently launched
Mobi bloo
Médipréma
phototherapy
projector. Based on
the LED technology
this device enables
high-end treatment
of hyperbilirubinemia.
The Médipréma
blue diodes have been carefully
selected to match emission
centred on the absorption spectrum
of the bilirubin (DIN5031).
With a minimum irradiance of
3mW/cm˛, (equivalent 47
μW/cm˛/nm), Mobi bloo becomes
an important tool for any medical
team in special care areas.
The Mobi bloo can be easily positioned
next to the newborn without
disturbing it, saving space, reducing
heat dispersion, increasing life and
performance of the light source. The
baby can remain visible and reachable
for care givers while exposed to
an intensive phototherapy.
Médipréma is
marketing several
versions – a clamp
version (to be fixed to a
rail); a wall-mount
version; and a selfsupporting
mobile stand
version.
Since 1976
Médipréma has been
delivering the highest
possible care to
neonates.
The company
designs and manufactures a full
range of products dedicated to
neonatology, such as ICU incubators,
infant warmers, transport
incubators, radiant warmers and
phototherapy equipment.
The company has been
exporting to the Middle East for
the past 25 years. It is a highly specialised and reputable brand
that has a strong reputation for
high quality medical devices.
Visit: Médipréma at:
Medica – Hall 17 B20
Arab Health – French Pavilion
For more information visit:
www.mediprema.com
GE launches ultrasound that fuses images with CT, MR
GE Healthcare has launched a new ultrasound system for radiology
and vascular applications that fuses ultrasound images
with images from other imaging modalities like CT and MR.
The new LOGIQ E9 includes Volume Navigation, an innovative
tool which incorporates two key components to maximise
the system’s new agile ultrasound architecture: ‘Fusion’ to
combine the advantages of real-time ultrasound imaging with
the high spatial and contrast resolution of CT, MR or PET; and
a ‘GPS-like technology’ to track and mark a patient’s anatomy
during the ultrasound exam, bringing confidence and productivity
to both diagnostic and interventional studies.
Terri Bresenham, GE’s Vice President of Diagnostic
Ultrasound and Information Technology, said: “GE’s new
LOGIQ E9 helps address the biggest challenge in ultrasound
radiology and vascular care – how to leverage clinical images
from previous diagnostic imaging studies for interventional or
diagnostic ultrasound procedures.”
This new GE architecture, called Agile Ultrasound, replaces
old assumptions of conventional ultrasound systems with new,
modular mathematical models that provide more accurate
measurements of how sound interacts with different body tissue
types.
The result of the LOGIQ E9 architecture is an improved,
more life-like image without a lot of manual adjustments to
view specific anatomy.
For more information visit:
www.gehealthcare.com
Pharmax introduces mobile hand sanitizer system
In the United States, there are
approximately 2.2 million nosocomial
infections annually,
resulting in more than 80,000
fatalities.
Healthcare providers
are well aware of the significant
role that proper hand hygiene
can play in reducing the spread
of these infections, yet the
problem persists.
Clinical staff are aware of
WHO guidelines yet, in observation
studies, the compliance
is shown to be less than 50%. Pharmax has identified two
reasons for these unacceptably
low compliance rates:
1. Clinical staff are reluctant
to sanitize as frequently as
required, because soap and
water, as well as alcohol
hand sanitizers, cause
drying and, in some cases,
serious skin damage with
prolonged, repeated use.
2. Clinical staff do not have
readily available access to
either soap and water or a
hospital-grade hand sanitizer
for three reasons:
placement, time constraints,
and interruptions. Pharmax has found a way to
overcome these two major
obstacles.
The company has
formulated the first skinfriendly,
non-alcohol hand
sanitizer that is proven effective
against both gram-negative
and gram-positive organisms
and achieves a 5-log10
reduction against the requisite
organisms, utilising prEN 1500
testing methodology.
In instances where clinicians
do not have ready access to
hand washing stations or wallmounted
hand sanitizer
dispensers, Pharmax has
designed the first body-worn
device that is suitable for
dispensing either alcohol or
non-alcohol, hospital-grade
hand sanitizers in the prescribed
dosage to guarantee appropriate
hand hygiene.
Our Sprixx bodyworn
dispensing system enables
clinicians to have sanitizer at
their fingertips. In locations
where this unique, body-worn
device has been trialed, compliance
rates have doubled.
For more information visit:
www.pharmax.ca
Spray-on plastic skin for wounds, burns ...
Laboratorios Inibsa has developed
PLASTOSPRAY, a
plastic skin dressing spray.
It
has multiple uses at a professional
and domestic level.
Some of them are: wounds,
superficial burns, post-operative
use, fixation of catheters,
punctures, fistulas, warts and
vaccinations.
PLASTOSPRAY is elastic,
transparent, waterproof, microporous
and quick and easy to apply.
Laboratorios Inibsa is a pharmaceutical
company with 60
years of experience, comprising
a team of professionals who
develop, manufacture and
commercialise products
offering efficient solutions for
healthcare.
The company is
positioning itself to become a
global benchmark in the
manufacture and commercialisation
of local anaesthetics and
medical devices.
For more information visit: www.inibsa.com
Philips launches cost-efficient HD15 ultrasound system.
Philips says the HD15 “is a
new platform designed to
deliver an advanced level of
image clarity and broad application
support for everyday use
in small hospitals, clinics and
private practices.
The system
may be used as a primary
system for some users, particularly
those in emerging markets
who require a feature-rich
system but may not need all of
the features of a high-end
ultrasound solution”.
The HD15 contains
multiple usability features to
improve workflow, as well as
versatile capabilities for a wide
range of exam types including
general imaging, cardiac,
vascular and OB/GYN applications.
In addition, advanced
features like contrast enhanced
ultrasound and PureWave
transducer technology allow
users to perform real-time
guidance and evaluation of
minimally-invasive treatment
procedures and provide more
diagnostic confidence on
technically challenging
patients and pathologies.
Advanced Philips technologies
such as QLAB quantification
software, XRES image
processing and PureWave
transducer crystal technology
have been integrated into the
HD15 to provide clinicians a
robust system that assures ease
of use and productivity.
New Microfine EX focusing
provides sharper images and
improved tissue uniformity.
Active native data allows
clinicians to manipulate exam
parameters and image settings
even after the patient has left.
Images and Cineloops can
receive further investigation by
manipulating the original image
to see new detail.
Live compare
allows the clinician to compare
a previous exam side-by-side
with an active exam in order to
immediately see changes in
structure or blood flow. This
can be particularly helpful in
comparing changes in cardiac
and vascular anomalies.
For more information visit:
www.philips.com/HD15
Tracoe tracheostomy kit improves patient safety
The most common type of
modern percutaneous dilatational
tracheostomy (PDT is
based on a technique introduced
by Pasquale Ciaglia in
1985 using a number of serial
dilators to create the
tracheostoma.
Modern kits like
the new Tracoe experc kit,
based on the same dilation
technique, only depend on one
single-step dilator.
After the
creation of the tracheostoma
the tracheostomy tube is
inserted over an introducer
instrument (inserter).
A focus of critique of
conventional kits has been the
step between the inserter and
the tip of the tracheostomy
tube which may cause tissue
injury during the process of
insertion.
The Tracoe experc
kit eliminates this source of
trauma by a soft silicone sleeve
on the tip of the inserter which
ensures a stepless transition
between the inserter and the
tip of the tracheostomy tube.
The kit includes a Tracoe
twist tracheostomy tube
premounted on this tailormade
atraumatic inserter. The
tube is individually packaged
and also available separately.
This modular approach is a
significant economic benefit if
during the operation it turns
out that the patient may need
a tube of a different size than
the one included in the kit. In
this case there is no need to
open a complete new kit but
simply select a new tube.
A challenge frequently
reported in relation with the
PDT is the recannulation
when the tube needs to be
exchanged.
A tracheostoma
created by PDT has an
increased tendency to shrink
as opposed to one created by
surgical techniques with the
consequence for the medical
staff to face increased difficulties
during un-aided recannulation.
To avoid the risk of
such a “via falsa” placement
each Tracoe twist tube
premounted on its atraumatic
inserter comes with a flexible
reinsertion tube to reform the
way according to the
Seldinger guide wire technique.
The tapered tip of the
inserter is an additional
feature to assure safe and
atraumatic reinsertion.
For more information visit:
www.tracoe.com
UriSed analyses urine sediment
The UriSed is supplied by 77
Elektronika, which was established
22 years ago to manufacture
blood glucose meters
and urine analysers.
Products
of the company are supplied
to nearly 100 countries under
the brand 77 Elektronika.
OEM is also available.
Key points about UriSed:
Revolutionary new method
for investigation of urine
samples.
Images are stored in a database;
in that way evaluation is
also possible any time after the
measurement without manual
microscopy. UriSed does not need any
special reagent material for
operation.
UriSed can be easily
connected to LabUMat fully
automated Urine Chemistry
Analyzer from the same manufacturer;
the combined system
provides a complete urine
analysis report.
Visit 77 Elektronika at:
MEDICA - stand H1, E36
Arab Health - stand H8, MB11.
For more infoirmation visit:
www.e77.hu
Völker micro-stimulation relieves patients of pressure sores
Völker has a micro-stimulation
system to relieve inactive
patients of pressure sores.
The Völker MiS pressure reduction
system, which has been standard
in Völker hospital and
healthcare beds since 2003,
also supports pneumonia and
thrombosis prophylaxis, as well
as therapeutic nursing of stroke
patients, MS patients, CCI
patients and rehab patients
suffering from perception
disorders due to an underlying
neurological disease.
The objective of “basal stimulation”,
a long-standing
healthcare concept, is to foster
perceptivity, movement and
communication among patients.
It feeds back to them experiences
of their own bodies and
their environment. With
regard to pressure sore prophylaxis,
the promotion of movement
is the most important
aspect of basal stimulation.
At the end of the 1990s parts
of this concept were translated
into a technical system, a
micro-stimulation system.
Based upon that system Völker developed the technical
conditions for the use of a
micro-stimulation system in
institutional healthcare. The
result is the Völker MiS.
This
pressure reduction system is
applied to patients in a prone
position. Its individual elements
are arranged in such a fashion
that they continually trigger
incentives to move.
The microstimulation
system registers
even the smallest movement
made by patients, which is then
fed back to the body as tactile
stimuli. This constant feedback
leads to an increased rate of
movement and/or more
pronounced movement. Microcirculation
in the tissue is
increased, which makes a huge
contribution to pressure sore
prophylaxis.
This MiS Activ was developed
as an active upgrade in
which the suspension elements
under the body’s risk areas are
supported by electromotive
activators. In lieu of the
patient’s very deficient selfinduced
movements a tiny
raising and lowering triggers
tactile and vestibular stimuli
and thus stimulates the
patient’s perceptivity.
An effective use of the basic
version requires some residual
mobility among patients. If a
patient is immobile, and also if
a pressure sore therapy is indicated,
the Völker MiS Activ
system is used.
For more information visit:
www.voelker.de
Date
of upload: 16th November 2008
