Common sense is probably the biggest factor to use as a guide when looking to buy new medical technology and equipment. However, sometimes emotions, territorial department heads, old-school resistance to change and personal preferences influence or override the decision-making process in any profession.

When diagnosing trauma patients, speed and accuracy is essential. As a result, there is a movement away from traditional film to digital X-ray to make images immediately available to doctors anywhere in the hospital, or even on computers outside the hospital

Today’s patients present to the emergency department (ED) with a slew of complaints and injuries ranging from a chronic cough to a sudden life-threatening head trauma. As such, the ED is no longer reserved for those patients with dire life or death circumstances, as the standards of emergency care apply to all patients and handle a larger caseload. With this changing dynamic, physicians rely heavily on imaging modalities to quickly triage patients and uphold emergency standards of care in providing an accurate, complete and immediate diagnoses.

December 19, 2007 - Toshiba Medical Systems Europe recently announced the company’s newest product, the Artida ultrasound system, designed to meet the demands of the growing cardiac 4D market.

With Artida’s real-time multi-planar reformatting capabilities, physicians can reportedly quantify global and regional LV function, including LV ejection fraction, volume and severity of regurgitation. Arbitrary views of the heart not available in 2D imaging are also obtained that can help with surgical planning, according to the company.

December 19, 2007 - Volcano Corp., provider of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and functional measurement (FM) products designed to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of vascular and structural heart disease, has completed its acquisition of CardioSpectra Inc.

December 19, 2007 - The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) announced yesterday a series of new educational initiatives aimed at eliminating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which include Clostridium difficile-associated disease and the three infections that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have classified as preventable occurrences: catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs), central line catheter-associated blood stream infections, and mediastinitis (a deep infection following coronary artery bypass surgery).

December 19, 2007 - Novadaq Technologies is the recipient of the Frost & Sullivan North American Medical Imaging Product of the Year award for its SPY Intra-operative Imaging System, reportedly the first and only fluorescent imaging system cleared by the FDA that enables cardiac surgeons to visually assess bypass graft functionality during coronary artery bypass procedures.

December 19, 2007 - Abiomed Inc. today announced that it has received approval from the FDA for U.S. commercial distribution of the Company's combination iPulse Circulatory Support System, enabling Abiomed to enter the $200 million intra-aortic balloon market.


In healthcare, as in any industry, the ability to stay competitive involves proper protection and management of assets. Outside of its personnel, one of a hospital’s biggest assets — and a major contributor to the facility’s bottom line — is the OR. As a result, many hospitals are redesigning workflow, automating processes and integrating equipment in order to optimize efficiency, safety and productivity in the surgical suite.

Without a doubt, the technical specifications and functional options list on your latest anesthesia cart will not compete with the technological specifications of a NASA spacecraft or even your personal computer or laptop. But, even so, it is still very important to the users of these variable tool-chests that they provide a core set of functional options and control features that make them easy to use, safe and secure, and versatile enough to adopt to the rigors of everyday life in the anesthesia world.

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