Medicare, the U.S. insurance program for elderly and disabled Americans, should lump the price of anemia drugs with overall payments for kidney dialysis services to improve efficiency and contain costs, according to a government report released on Tuesday.

Medicare's method of paying separately for anemia drugs, primarily Amgen Inc.'s Epogen, and for dialysis services is a concern as use grows, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said. Medicare covers about 43 million Americans and spent $2 billion on Epogen in 2005.

University of Pennsylvania alumni Ralph J. Roberts and his son Brian L. Roberts have pledged $15 million to help create the first-of-its-kind proton therapy center for the treatment of cancer.

GE Healthcare today announced the introduction of ergonomically-designed radiology reading rooms developed in collaboration with the VA Maryland Hospital and Eliot Siegel, M.D., chief of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, VA Maryland Healthcare System.

iCAD Inc. has announced a product integration and distribution agreement with Viatronix in which Viatronix will incorporate iCAD’s CAD solutions with its virtual colonoscopy technology as part of its plan to enhance the early detection and identification of polyps, which can be precursors to colon cancer.

Under the agreement, Viatronix will offer iCAD’s CT Colon CAD software in conjunction with its V3D System for virtual colonoscopy.

Combining positron emission tomography and computed tomography provides quicker and more precise information to guide the treatment of colorectal cancer, according to a study published in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers at Germany’s University Hospital Essen found that the PET/CT combination was 22 percent more accurate in defining the exact stage of the tumor than CT or PET alone.

SonoAce X8 by Medison integrates new “smart software” protocol-based ultrasound, allowing users to modify system controls with simple, intuitive steps.
A multimodality ultrasound system, SonoAce X8 adapts to meet all imaging needs, whether performing abdominal OB/GYN, small parts, vascular and/or cardiac examinations. The system features a variety of functions including high-resolution 3-D imaging, Live 3-D, 3-DXI, Full Spectrum Imaging, Dynamic MR and Spatial Compound Imaging.

The ThermoSuit System by Life Recovery Systems uses innovative technology to rapidly cool a patient's core temperature. It consists of a disposable body suit and a means to pump coolant within the suit over the skin of the patient.

With its integral suction lumen and evacuation port, the Hi-Lo Evac endotracheal tube by Tyco/Mallinckrodt provides a safe way to suction the subglottic area above the ET tube cuff. The lumen avoids trauma to the vocal cords and the device has been shown to reduce or delay the onset of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

The R Series defibrillator offers several firsts in the area of simplifying operation, according to ZOLL Medical Corp. It includes a OneStep System that provides a single cable for pacing, monitoring and defibrillation. It also includes one electrode set through which clinicians can monitor, pace, defibrillate and get real-time feedback on chest compressions, also known as Real CPR Help.

The INVOS System is a patient monitoring system that noninvasively and continuously monitors changes in the regional oxygen saturation of the blood in the brain and consists of disposable, single-patient use SomaSensors, an INVOS monitor display and associated accessories.
The system monitors changes in regional saturation of oxygen, or rSO2, within a sample of blood in the cerebral cortex. Changes in INVOS (In Vivo Optical Spectroscopy) values monitor the critical balance between oxygen delivery and cerebral consumption.

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