December 26, 2007 - A new line of functional and comfortable tracheostomy tube holders that are offered with designs for babies, kids and teens was introduced this week by Dale Medical Products Inc. of Plainville, MA.

December 28, 2007 - The 2008 Annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference and Exhibition is set for Feb. 24-28, 2008, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

HIMSS 2008 is where healthcare IT professionals, physicians, nurses, HIT executives, pharmacists and vendors from around the world come together for a week of networking, education, and to see the latest technology available for venders.

December 26, 2007 - The loss of more than 50 percent of the North American Mo-99 supply is now having an impact on the ability of physicians to perform diagnostic cardiac nuclear medicine studies which depend on a reliable daily supply of isotope Technetium (Tc-99m).

December 26, 2007 - Varian Medical Systems has received FDA 510(k) clearance for a new proton scanning dose algorithm that reportedly offers clinicians greater control over how proton beams are used to target tumors and other abnormalities, adding more function to its Eclipse treatment planning software.

December 26, 2007 - Visage Imaging is the recipient of the 2007 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Line Strategy Leadership in the advanced visualization market, highlighting the company’s approach to the changing market paradigms.

December 26, 2007 - Royal Philips Electronics offered $430 million for a merger agreement with clinical IT and service provider Visicu Inc., aiming to integrate the company’s remote patient monitoring and clinical decision support technology with Philips’ patient monitors.

December 26, 2007 - Varian Medical Systems has acquired Pan-Pacific Enterprises Inc., an independent distributor of medical X-ray tubes in China, for approximately $2 million in cash plus an additional amount based on achievement of specified milestones, for the purpose of marketing, sales, and distribution of Varian X-ray imaging products in China.

Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp. recently introduced reusable instruments made from high-grade plastic that can be sterilized.

The company says these instruments can be sterilized in an autoclave and are resistant to chemicals and ultrasonic waves. The patterns available include: sponge forceps, towel clamps, stitch scissors, mosquito forceps and kocher forceps. Spectrum’s plastic instruments are designed to be used for approximately 100 sterilization cycles.

The Plasma Surgical PlasmaJet is a surgical device that reportedly offers patient safety and effective coagulation.

It produces a very high level of thermal and kinetic energy in the form of pure plasma, which is a highly ionized gas containing an equal number of positive ions and electrons. The device can be used on a variety of tissues to coagulate, seal and prevent fluid loss. When used at higher settings, the PlasmaJet can vaporize and remove unwanted tissue growth.

Stryker Medical’s InTouch is a new high-acuity bed that gathers bed information for each patient, has an on-board protocol to encourage compliance based practices, can control other patient care equipment, and through a full-featured data port can connect into hospital computer systems.

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