Archives for February 2008
Expanded Indications for Immunicon’s CellSearch
Immunicon’s CellSearch Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Kit has received FDA clearance as an aid in the monitoring of patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
The kit is now cleared for three of the four most prevalent cancers; a combined ≈$1 billion market, according to the company.
The CellSearch CTC kit was originally cleared in January 2004 to predict […]
Exactech Expands Direct Distribution Abroad
Exactech, a developer of orthopedic implant devices, surgical instruments and biologic materials, announced yesterday the opening of a wholly-owned distribution subsidiary in Japan and the planned acquisition a distribution subsidiary in France.
Japan and France are two of the largest orthopedic device markets outside the U.S.
The move is part of a larger plan to aggressively grow […]
New Competition for OraQuick Advance? Sublicense Agreement Expands Opportunity for Chembio’s Oral Fluid HIV Diagnostic
Chembio Diagnostics has acquired a worldwide, non-exclusive sublicense from Bio-Rad Laboratories. Under the terms of the agreement, Bio-Rad will permit Chembio to manufacture and market a rapid test for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 under Chembio brands.
Bio-Rad will retain rights to patents claiming the HIV-2 virus and various means to detect its presence in infected patients.
In […]
MedicalRecords247: A Lesson in Destructive Marketing
One of the surest and quickest ways to alienate your target audience is through the use of comment spam.
It pains me to see a new business adopt a terrible, cheap marketing strategy.
Such is the case with MedicalRecords247 – an online service that manages personal health records. Here’s one of several comments they left to piggyback […]
ATS Medical’s CryoMaze: Initial Clinical Results Promising
The Cox-Maze procedure creates a series of incisions in the right and left atria of the heart to interrupt the conduction of abnormal electrical impulses which cause Atrial Fibrillation (AF). This allows sinus impulses to travel to the atrioventricular node as they normally would.
The Cox-Maze procedure has the highest success rate (≈90%) of any surgical […]
Google to Tackle the Electronic Personal Health Record Industry with a Patient-Centric Focus; Monetization Opportunities Abound
The Cleveland Clinic will facilitate Google’s potential domination of the electronic personal health record (PHR) space. Google chose the Clinic because they offer 100,000 patients the tools to manage their medical records online and coordinate care with doctors using a PHR suite called eCleveland Clinic MyChart. An invitation will be extended to 1,500 - 10,000 […]
U.S. Supreme Court Rules 8 to 1 in Favor of Medtronic in Riegel v. Medtronic
The decision affirmed the dismissal of the lawsuit brought by Charles Riegel, who was injured after a Medtronic balloon catheter burst during an angioplasty procedure in 1994.
Makers of medical devices are protected against liability for personal injuries provided the FDA has approved the device before it is marketed.
The Court ruled in favor of a 1976 […]
Medical Device Alternatives for Treating Depression
In the U.S., millions suffer from psychological disorders including depression, anxiety and insomnia. Doctors typically rely upon pharmaceuticals to treat the underlying symptoms. The negative side effects of these drug regimens have prompted many to look for alternative treatment methodologies.
Electronic therapeutic devices may reduce the number of drug-related errors by reducing the amount of medication […]
The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nothing But the Truth: No Lie MRI
“It is always the best policy to speak the truth – unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar,” so spoke the English author Jerome K. Jerome. This, of course, was back in the days when being an ‘exceptionally good liar’ was enough.
From individuals to corporations to governments, trust is a critical component of […]
AdvaMed 2008 Now Accepting Panel Proposal Applications
Our friends at AdvaMed are gearing up for their annual medical technology conference and exhibition to be held September 21-24, 2008 in Washington, D.C.
In 2007, the event attracted more than 1,100 senior level executives representing some 500 companies from 35 states and 25 countries. AdvaMed members produce nearly 90% of the health care technology purchased […]
