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JULY 15th, 2005
Kodak's Dental Systems Group, as part of its imaging and practice
management system operations, now offers USB 2.0 connectivity for its KODAK 1000 Intraoral Video Camera System. The USB connection
offers dentists the capability to easily interface the camera to a wide range of computer peripherals and PCs, simplifying
the installation process and allowing dentists in multi-office environments to share in the costs and benefits of the KODAK
1000 system. According to Paul Tucker, Dental Market Manager at Kodak's dental systems group, "Our improved intraoral video
camera delivers a streamlined, digital option our customers can use to quickly and easily acquire video images and access
them from their desktops. We're pleased to add this new camera system to our growing portfolio of integrated digital imaging
systems."
The KODAK 1000 System, besides not requiring any needed hardware to install, also comes with KODAK
Dental Imaging Software version 6.0.5 to simplify image acquisition and management tasks.
JUNE 7th, 2005
In order to assist doctors in their diagnosis of breast cancer,
without a biopsy, a new tool from Cedara Software Corp. is expected to be available soon in the United States. That tool,
the Cedara B-CAD, a Computer Aided Detection (CAD) solution for breast ultrasound, which has just received 510(k) clearance
from the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA), according to the company is particularly well-suited for the
analysis of palpable masses in young, pregnant, and lactating women.
Jennie Sharpe, Clinical Specialist at Cedara Software, in apparant
reference to pregnant women, implied the tool would help eliminate the need for many unnecessary and traumatic biopsies "Today's
acid test for malignancy in breast cancer is the core biopsy. This is an invasive procedure that can be particularly traumatic
for women already concerned about their health. This said, statistics show that approximately 50% of biopsies ordered are
benign. It is our hope that further improvements to diagnostic imaging will help radiologists assess the need to biopsy a
selected nodule." The company also noted that trauma wasn't the only issue here, scar tissue as a result of the biopsies can
often complicate the non-invasive imaging process.
Speaking about the ultrasound based tools diagnostic capability
was also Dr. A. Thomas Stavros, MD of The Sally Jobe Breast Center, "This tool should facilitate acceptance and utilization
of the ACR BI-RADS Ultrasound Lexicon by radiologists as a standard upon which the foundation of CAD enabled ultrasound can
be built. Ultrasound CAD has many possible indications including assisting radiologists in analysis of solid breast nodules,
which is a significant first milestone. This tool may improve a radiologist's interpretive confidence."
Jeff Collins, CEO of Medipattern, the company that developed B-CAD,
noted applications of the tool to other diseases, "We have every intention of extending our pattern recognition platform to
other indications and modalities to help in the earliest possible detection and intervention for cancer and other diseases."
Medipattern Corporation (Toronto: MKI), develops Computer Aided Detection (CAD) software for the medical imaging market.
Cedara Software Corp., also a medical software company, is a division
of Merge Technologies Incorporated (NASDAQ: MRGE) (Toronto: MRG). Cedara, with the announcement, noted that approximately
216,000 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer were recorded in 2004. Breast cancer incidences have risen from 1 in 20 in
1960 to 1 in 8 today. In citing those statistics, Cedara referenced the American Cancer Association.
JUNE 6th, 2005
DALSA Moves further into Medical Market with X-Ray Image
Sensor Contract
DALSA Corporation (TSX:DSA) has received a renewal contract for its image sensor chips from
an undisclosed medical equipment OEM. The company indicated that sales from the contract, in Canadian dollars, are expected
to total $3.8 million. One-third of the deliveries of the image sensors are planed in 2005, one-half in 2006 and the remaining
one-sixth scheduled for 2007.
DALSA indicates that the x-ray CCD image sensors used in this x-ray
diagnostic application replace x-ray film. With advances in the imaging capability of image analysis systems, DALSA's technology
is expected to further a medical trend to eliminate the need for many biopsies now often used in disease diagnosis. For this
particular application, DALSA notes that the "DALSA image sensors allow the OEM customer to produce x-ray systems that offer
reduced patient discomfort and reduced x-ray levels for the patient."
MAY 23rd, 2005
Zynex Medical Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: ZYNX), a company that specializes
in pain management systems and electrotherapy products, reported that its sales increased 107.2 percent for its first quarter
of 2005 when compared to the same quarter a year ago. Revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 were $544,943, compared
to $262,941 in the first quarter of 2004. The company also reported a profit of $0.002 a share.
Zynex President, Thomas Sandgaard commented on the positive sales
trend, and the company's stroke recovery product, NeuroMove, "We are seeing accelerating sales for our standard electrotherapy
products, which continue to gain market share, and more importantly we are also beginning to make strong inroads for our flagship
NeuroMove stroke recovery product, which represented a significant portion of sales in the quarter. With four million Americans
suffering from the debilitating effects of a stroke, we see solid potential for our proprietary and patent pending technology.
Sales of the NeuroMove to date have largely been through word-of-mouth and from a high number of inquiries that we receive
on our web site. We believe this sales effort could ramp up significantly with the marketing initiative we plan to implement
this year."
The NeuroMove system is an electro muscular training system. The
system monitors brain-to-muscle signals to determine if the patient is attempting to move a specific muscle. That specific
muscle is then moved through electrical simulation. In this way, the non-afflicted portions of the brain learn how to compensate
and send out the necessary neuro signal to move the muscle. The company indicates that the treatment has been successful and
that the treatment can also be used for spinal cord injuries.
MAY 20th, 2005
SourceOne Healthcare Technologies, Inc., a distributor of medical
imaging systems, has reported that the Xplorer DR System, has resulted in strong equipment sales. Sales of the direct digital
radiography (DR) solution, from Imaging Dynamics Company, LTD., (IDC TSXV Symbol IDL), were attributed to the cost / performance
ratio of the system, which is priced at less than $200,000.
Jerry C. Cirino, CEO, SourceOne Healthcare Technologies, commented
on the products ranking and acceptance in the marketplace, "IDC's technology represents the strongest price to performance
DR offering in the digital X-ray market and has been readily adopted by hospitals, imaging, and outpatient centers and orthopedic
clinics throughout the country. IDC's product line is commanding the attention of key decision-makers to now look at DR as
an affordable digital solution with superior productivity."
Imaging Dynamics Co., developer of the product, was also pleased
with SourceOne's performance. Darryl Stein, CEO, had this to say, "SourceOne has greatly impressed us with their ability to
bridge many of the coverage gaps that we had been experiencing prior to signing our nationwide distribution agreement. SourceOne's
excellent reputation will greatly increase our road to success for meeting our U.S. sales objectives in 2005 and beyond."
The customers also had positive comments, Curt Layton, Director
of Radiology, at the Redmond Regional Medical Center said, "Our imaging department is responsible for the performance of approximately
80,000 procedures annually. While researching ways to improve our delivery of service to our patients and physicians, we wanted
to explore all options. After completing a site visit, we were impressed with IDC's DR system on a number of levels, including
its ability to produce high quality images, opportunities to improve our operational efficiencies, and a detector warranty
that is not matched by any of the other system manufacturers that we considered. All of these points made it an easy decision
to add the Xplorer DR system to our imaging department at Redmond."
MAY 20th, 2005
Research Institute Licenses GeneGo's Genome Data Mining
Tool
GeneGo, Inc., a provider of high throughput computational platforms for the data and computive
intense genome analysis and drug discovery market, has licensed its MetaCore platform to Translational Genomics Research Institute
(TGen). MetaCore, which generates, compares and interprets biological networks and pathways, will be used by Tgen in its translational
genomics research efforts. According to Dr. Edward Suh, TGen's Chief Information Officer, "GeneGo enables our scientists to
generate global pathways and smaller targeted networks, and in addition, extending pathways and networks with GeneGo was a
very attractive feature for gaining information." The goal of transitional genomics research is to analyze information obtained
through the Human Genome project to improve the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of a number of serious diseases.
GeneGo's
products include MetaCore, MetaBase and MetaDrug. MetaCore, which is integrated with MetaBase, a knowledge database, is for
pharmaceutical scientists. One of the end-functions of MetaCore is to identify biomarkers related to disease and toxicology.
MetaDrug is used to predict the effects of small molecule compounds on human toxicity and metabolism.
APRIL 29th, 2005
AMI Semiconductor Enters Into Medical Technology Development
Agreement
AMI Semiconductor (NASDAQ:AMIS), a mixed signal semiconductor company, has entered into a development
agreement with Interventional Rhythm Management Inc. (IRM), a cardiology device company focused on cardiac arrhythmias and
heart failure.
Christine King, CEO of AMI Semiconductor gave details about the
agreement, "AMIS is proud to partner with IRM to facilitate the development of its pioneering electrophysiology technology
platform. By coming to AMIS for turnkey, mixed-signal, low-power and MICS data communications solutions, IRM has clearly demonstrated
that it is not necessary to employ armies of design engineers to implement ground breaking medical designs. We look forward
to further proving the depth of our experience and helping to bring other revolutionary life-saving medical technology to
market to enhance the lives of patients."
MARCH 1st, 2005
BioSilicon Begins Search for Silicon Bandage Partners
So will silicon be in your
next band aid? There is a good chance. Tissue can utilize silicon as a porous
platform to intertwine itself through and close wounds quickly. As well, silicon can be made such that it will dissolve and
decompose safely.
pSivida Limited (Nasdaq:PSDV)
is now on the look out for partners who may be interested in that type and other applications for its BioSilicon technology.
For that task it has signed on Puretech Development LLC to help evaluate out-licensing opportunities for BioSilicon. BioSilicon,
which according to the company is a nano-structured porous elemental silicon, has numerous potential healthcare and possible
environmental applications. These include biocompatible and biodegradable semiconductors
and micromachine applications for tissue engineering applications. BioSilicon has a honeycomb structure that is often found
in nature. Your teeth, for example, have a honeycomb structure. It is in these honeycombs where numerous bacteria live. For those that love sugar, bear in mind that so do those bacteria.
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