Certain processes used to sterilise blood products could potentially cause serious health issues in transfusion recipients, according to an international study by Dr. Patrick Provost of Universit

The Siemens Museum for Medical Technology held its grand opening last May in
Erlangen. Occupying 400 square meters in all, the Siemens MedMuseum offers an overview of the development of medical technology, a field in which Siemens has played a key role for more than 160 years

IBA (Ion Beam Applications SA), the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer recently announced that it had received combined clearances from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that will enable IBA to market-launch the proton therapy specific Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) system. IBA has received clearance from the FDA for its imaging platform adaPT Insight* (FDA 510(k) K132847) and for the Compact Gantry Beam Line (FDA 510(k) K132919). Those combined clearances will enable the CBCT to be marketed in IBA’s two Proton Therapy versions, Proteus^®PLUS and Proteus^®ONE, in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
As a component of IBA’s Image Guided Proton Therapy (IGPT) system, CBCT provides 3D imaging for increased accuracy in patient treatment. It is fully integrated with IBA’s imaging platform adaPT Insight to offer fast 6D corrections of patient positioning for the Proteus^®PLUS and Proteus®ONE proton therapy systems. IBA’s first CBCT is at the validation phase and the first clinical use is expected for the second half of 2014.
Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA commented: “We are delighted to be the first company to receive marketing authorization from the FDA for the proton therapy specific CBCT technology. The development of imaging capabilities is critical to the expansion of the use of proton therapy in new cancer indications and IBA has developed advanced radiation therapy solutions that improve the overall treatment experience for both clinicians and patients. CBCT is just one example of the latest technological advancements achieved by IBA as we maintain our unrivalled position as the world’s leader in the innovation and delivery of proton therapy.”

On September 11 IBA announced the signing of a global collaboration with Philips Healthcare. The collaboration covers sales, marketing, research and development (R&D) of imaging and therapy solutions in oncology. By merging their respective expertise in therapy and image guidance systems, IBA and Philips will innovate with an integrated vision for more efficient, personalized cancer care. Leveraging high quality imaging and proton therapy offers the potential to increase confidence in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, reduce short- and long-term side-effects and potentially enhance the quality of life of the patient before, during and after treatment, while reducing the cost of treatment for the healthcare system. The collaboration will also enable both organizations to mutually leverage technologies and solutions: IBA will benefit from Philips diagnostic imaging products offered to oncology care centres, while Philips will leverage IBA proton therapy solutions within its offering for customers in select markets around the world. The commercial collaboration also includes an integrated offering for Molecular Imaging Centres, combining IBA’s expertise in PET radioisotope production centres with Philips’ imaging and diagnostics expertise.
www.iba-worldwide.com

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center used two relatively simple tactics to significantly reduce the number of unnecessary blood tests to assess symptoms of heart attack and chest pain and to achieve a large decrease in patient charges.

The team provided information and education to physicians about proven testing guidelines and made changes to the computerized provider order entry system at the medical centre, part of the Johns Hopkins Health System. The guidelines call for more limited use of blood tests for so-called cardiac biomarkers. A year after implementation, the guidelines saved the medical centre an estimated $1.25 million in laboratory charges.

In this case, part of the focus was on tests to assess levels of troponin, a protein whose components increase in the blood when heart muscle is damaged. Frequently, troponin tests are repeated four or more times in a 24-hour period, which studies have suggested is excessive, and they are often done along with tests for other biomarkers that are redundant.

In a report the research team describes how these interventions reduced overuse of troponin and other biomarker testing without compromising patient care. If adopted widely, the team says, cost savings could be substantial.