A new ultrasound breast scanner that provides accurate volume images and can be used to diagnose cancer in dense breast tissue is now available across Europe.

The Acuson S2000 Automated Breast Volume Scanner (ABVS) from Siemens Healthcare has been installed in radiology and gynaecology clinics in Switzerland, France, Portugal, Norway and Germany.

The new system is the first multifunctional ultrasound breast scanner that automatically acquires volume images of the female breast. The accurate 3-D images enable a much higher early detection rate of breast cancer among women with dense breast tissue.

The ABVS system provides clinicians with data about the entire breast – including a coronal view (in a plane parallel to the skin), which had not previously been available with ultrasound systems. The system can display a coronal view of the breast in slices, making diagnosis faster and easier.

The new system’s automatic image acquisition also shortens the examination time: while conventional ultrasound examinations take up to 30 minutes, the ABVS can be used in less than 15 minutes.

Dr. Frank Stöblen of the Diavero Diagnostic Center in Essen, Germany, commented: “The ABVS system is a fascinating advancement from the previous method of manually guided ultrasound examinations. The automated system provides consistent image quality, regardless of the examiner.”

The new system will have an important role in breast cancer screening, according to Dr Stöblen: “This technology will play a key role in early detection. It can also be used for the examination of high-risk patients, for example in case of genetic predisposition or for follow-up during and after cancer treatments.”

 
Acuson S2000 ABVS

Eschmann Equipment has won a national manufacturing award for the processes by which it fulfilled a major contract to supply operating tables to Iraq.

The Sussex medical equipment company received the Innovative Working Practices Award at the first national EEF Future Manufacturing awards.

Eschmann’s award recognised the radical approach taken by the company in order to fulfil an export order for 300 operating tables, needed in the rebuilding of Iraq’s hospitals. Eschmann was able to deliver the order two months ahead of schedule, meeting all the demanding specification and logistical challenges.

Philip Kennedy, Managing Director of Eschmann, said: “By innovating across our entire business, we have been able to expand the scope of our operations to deliver one of the largest contracts in the firm’s history and set a new platform for future growth. This has been an enormous team effort and we are delighted to have received this recognition for our work.”

The EEF awards recognise world-class performance in four categories: innovation, enterprise, environmental responsibility and skills development. The Chair of the Judging Panel, Prof Stephen Evans, commented: “Eschmann not only delivered the order but re-engineered the company along the way. The deal has left an impressive legacy for future growth.”

Based in Lancing, West Sussex, Eschmann designs and manufactures equipment for operating theatres and other healthcare environments, including operating tables, lighting systems, surgical suction units and electrosurgery units.

EEF is a manufacturers’ organisation that provides companies with business services, government representation and industry intelligence. Around a quarter of the UK’s manufacturing businesses are EEF members.

Professor Alan Barrell, Executive Chairman of Health Enterprise East (HEE), has been appointed Chairman of the new NHS Regional Innovation Council.

The Innovation Council, established by the SHA for the East of England, is responsible for building partnerships to promote innovation across NHS organisations by supporting and sharing best practice in order to meet the requirements of the QIPP (quality, innovation, productivity and prevention) agenda.

The Innovation Council will also oversee and advise on the allocation of the £1.6 million Regional Innovation Fund for 2009/10.

Members of the Council include stakeholders from industry, academia, the NHS, voluntary and public sectors.

Alan Barrell, who has spent almost 30 years in senior executive positions in technology-based industries, commented: “Innovation in the NHS has never been higher on the agenda, and I am delighted to be chairing this new initiative to maximise its promotion within the East of England. This role is highly complementary to my position of Chairman at Health Enterprise East, the region’s NHS Innovation Hub, which is now in its sixth year and going from strength to strength.”

Based at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire, HEE provides a broad range of professional IP management services to NHS Trusts across the region. It also provides services to medtech companies, facilitating access to NHS expertise and providing advice on clinical evaluation and market research to support the adoption of new medical devices.

 
Alan Barrell

IT solutions provider Hytec has added two new members to its healthcare team: Keith Eyles and Tim Henstock.

Hytec works with local authorities and health trusts to implement solutions for connectivity, information sharing, mobile applications and infrastructure management. The new staff members will help Hytec to extend its coverage across the UK.

In recent months, Hytec has been involved in a number of early adopter projects to help healthcare organisations improve their efficiency and quality of care. Both Keith and Tim will be responsible for account development, discussing systems for information security, mobilisation, systems integration and infrastructure managed services.

Keith Eyles has worked in a variety of technology roles, addressing both corporate and public administration, over the last 12 years. He will be responsible for developing Hytec’s presence among SHAs and PCTs in the south of England.

With 25 years’ experience of selling and marketing IT solutions, Tim Henstock has spent the last 10 years working with local authorities and health trusts. Working with SHAs and PCTs, he will be responsible for healthcare sales at Hytec in the north of England.

David Bryant, Hytec’s Managing Director, said: “We work with health trusts in the design and implementation of IT infrastructures that support good information governance, information sharing and flexible working.

“The addition of Keith and Tim to our account team will enable us to reach more trusts and help them to implement effective systems that support both clinical staff and PCT professionals in their day-to-day work.”

Part of the OLM Group, Hytec is based in Eynsham, Oxfordshire.

Keith Eyles                                                                    Tim Henstock

Clinical software development company HD Clinical has launched an innovative system for integrating health information.

Solus is a web-based system for getting the best value from integrated health records by providing tracking, reporting and data access facilities.

The system interfaces to medical data sources and devices across a wide range of clinical activities. Images, waveforms, numerical data and reports are integrated into the clinical record with links to PACS, RIS, PAS, pathology, clinical information portals and other applications.

The core structure for all Solus functions is called Solus Enterprise. Clinical modules and electronic prescribing can be added when required, integrating with other Solus modules and allowing access to patients’ medical records.

Solus Stroke, the first clinical module made available, enables acute stroke management with target monitoring and real-time decision support. Modules for respiratory medicine, cardiology, cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery will follow in the near future, with a maternity system also scheduled.

Clinical modules can be built to handle any specified departmental dataset; a generic module is also available.

Based at Thremhall Park near Stansted Airport, HD Clinical is a leading UK provider of systems for integrated clinical records and clinical audit. Its products are currently installed in over 110 NHS Trusts.

Medtech industry specialist MedilinkWM has strengthened its Connectivity team for information management by promoting Awen Clement to the new role of Project and Knowledge Management Controller.

A major aspect of MedilinkWM’s work is sharing knowledge and providing collaboration opportunities across four ‘networks’ covering human engineering, infection control, assisted living and digital health. As part of her new role, Awen will monitor the organisation’s success in delivering this project through to 2012.

Awen has been with MedilinkWM since 2008, when she joined as an information analyst and gave the organisation’s knowledge management processes a thorough overhaul. She is also one of the founders of the Birmingham Knowledge Network, which exists to further best practice and thinking in the information management sector.

The Connectivity team identifies commercial, industrial, political and academic information across the life sciences spectrum and distributes it among over 1,000 associate organisations.

Connectivity Director Chris Dyke commented: “The life sciences industry is very broad, and no two parts of it require the same information. Also, the industry moves and changes at a very fast rate. Awen has brought a focused but thorough approach to knowledge and information management throughout our organisation. Our partners are already witnessing the benefit of her extensive expertise.”

 
Awen Clement

Diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of diabetes in the NHS have improved in the last year, according to a report from the Department of Health.

Six Years On: Delivering the Diabetes National Service Framework updates progress made since the NSF was developed in 2001. It recognises achievements made in 2009, including the first survey to establish how many people under the age of 18 are living with diabetes in England.

Dr Rowan Hillson, National Clinical Director for Diabetes, said: “Diabetes is one of the biggest challenges facing the NHS today, affecting over 2 million people. This report reflects on the excellent progress being made in treating diabetes in England, but there is still more work to be done. In the next year I hope to see more focus on working with patients to help them understand and manage their diabetes more effectively.”

The report draws attention to the updated NICE guidance (2008) on insulin therapy, which recommends insulin pump treatment as an option for children aged below 12 years with type 1 diabetes where multiple daily injections have been found ineffective.

Another change noted is the expansion of the former National Diabetes Support Team to create NHS Diabetes, which now has a dedicated regional programme manager in every SHA. One of the areas NHS Diabetes has focused on in its first year is best practice guidance for treating people with diabetes while they are in hospital.

The report also identifies current priorities. A key focus is helping staff from NHS Diabetes to work more closely with patients. This is supported by the commitment to offer all patients with a long-term condition a personal care plan by summer 2010.

 
Dr Rowan Hillson

A new hospital kidney unit for children combines a unique range of facilities with an innovative ‘healing environment’.

Birmingham Children’s Hospital has opened its new kidney unit – the first in the UK to bring together surgical, medical and nursing expertise for children with diseases of the kidney and urinary system, and one of a few units to have dialysis and transplant facilities in the same clinical area.

The unit’s ‘healing environment’ for young people is also unique, featuring a large computerised Imagination Light Canvas and flat-screen TV sets.

Birmingham Children’s Hospital is a major centre for the treatment of kidney disorders in the region. Long journeys to spend four hours a day, three or four days a week, on a haemodialysis machine are common.

David Milford, Lead Renal Consultant at BCH, said: “The huge amount of time that children spend on dialysis means that their hospital environment is particularly important. Although we have always given a first-class medical service, the patient environment on the old unit was poor. Studies show that providing a relaxing, interesting hospital environment is a vital component of treatment.”

The new kidney unit, which cost £2.7 million, was based on guidelines from the King’s Fund. The walls are curved and painted in soft blues and oranges. The Imagination Light Canvas from Philips (3m by 1.5m) features 144 LED points that react to pressure, displaying coloured animations and shapes.

“Our goal is for every unit in the hospital to be as modern,” said Sarah-Jane Marsh, Chief Executive of Birmingham Children’s Hospital. “The generosity of charities, companies and our local community allows us to go the extra mile, providing cutting-edge healing environments and enabling us to stretch our NHS funds across more areas.”

A businessman in the USA has been jailed for selling unapproved medical devices which he claimed could cure diabetes and stroke.

James Folsom has been sentenced in a San Diego federal court to serve 51 months in prison and pay a $250,000 fine following his conviction on 26 felony counts relating to the sale of unapproved devices.

The devices, marketed under the brand names NatureTronics, AstroPulse, BioSolutions, Energy Wellness and Global Wellness, consisted of a micro-current frequency generator with a digital display, two steel cylinders and associated items of equipment.

Users were provided with a list of digital settings for treatment of specific conditions including diabetes, stroke, AIDS and ulcers. They were told to connect the cylinders to the machine and touch them to the body.

Between 1997 and 2008, Folsom sold over 9,000 units to distributors for $1000–1200 and to retail customers for $1995, with total sales above $8 million. The devices were manufactured by him and others in a location not registered with the FDA as a device manufacturing establishment. He used false names for sales, distribution, storage and bank accounts.

The devices were marketed without a valid investigational device exemption, without pre-market approval, and in violation of an FDA electrical performance standard. They did not bear the manufacturer’s name or address.

The case reflects the fact that it is still possible to circumvent regulatory processes in the manufacture and sale of medical devices – but the cumulative breaking of many regulations may carry serious penalties.

A new imaging application makes faster treatment of stroke patients possible following their initial diagnosis.

The syngo Neuro Parenchymal Blood Volume, Interventional Suite (PBV IR) from Siemens Healthcare is the first device to display cerebral blood flow during minimally invasive interventions in the brain.

Minimally invasive techniques for stroke treatment involve guiding a thin catheter through the cerebral arteries to remove the blood clot mechanically or with a drug. By displaying the current condition of the cerebral tissue directly in the angio suite, the syngo Neuro PBV IR assists in the accurate guidance of the catheter.

The new application can also be used for the biopsy and treatment of brain tumours.

The PBV data are generated by two C-arm rotations around the patient together with a steady-state contrast injection. The system’s processing algorithms generate a neurological PBV map, which is available in less than 40 seconds.

The new software is capable of providing blood volume data for the whole brain, unlike traditional CT acquisition, and allows the clinician to review the information from any orientation.

“Approximately 110,000 people suffer from stroke every year, making it the third biggest cause of death in the UK,” said Susie Guthrie, AX Product Manager at Siemens Healthcare. “Time is vital in stroke care and the earlier the condition is treated, the larger the chance that as little brain tissue as possible is destroyed. Our new application for stroke treatment assists in speeding up minimally invasive procedures to ensure that the patient receives the fastest and most effective treatment.”

The syngo Neuro PBV IR is available on Siemens’ Artis zee range of products for interventional radiology and cardiology.

 
syngo Neuro PBV IR image