A new series of compact refrigerators has been specifically developed to address the need of clinical laboratories and patient care facilities for cold storage equipment that enable secure and energy-efficient storage of vaccines, medicines, lab kits and breast milk, while offering quiet operation and a small footprint. Powered by Phononic’s solid state cooling technology, the new TSG refrigerators have been designed to provide uninterrupted temperature stability and cleanroom-compatible readiness for reliable storage of the most sensitive materials. Furthermore, the systems offer quiet operation at less than 35 dbA, meaning they can be placed in clinical laboratories, nurse’s stations, and even patient rooms and intensive care units, without disrupting the work environment and patient comfort. With ENERGY STAR-rated performance, the TSG Series refrigerators consume significantly less energy than similar models, meeting clinical settings’ sustainability objectives and reducing operating costs. In addition, as they feature fewer refrigeration components compared to other available units, they require only minimal maintenance and offer increased storage capacity. The solid state technology used in the TSG Series allows for minimal impact on the clinical environment through reduced operational noise and heat output, while the systems’ small size maximizes working space. As with the Thermo Scientific TSX Series of freezers and refrigerators, the new TSG Series uses environmentally-friendly refrigerants in line with global initiatives aimed at minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the systems feature an alarm capability, notifying users of temperature fluctuations, door ajar and power failure, enabling for corrective action to ensure ideal storage conditions are always maintained throughout the internal chamber. The TSG Series refrigerators are available in undercounter (TSG505) and countertop (TSG205) configurations to suit varying application needs.
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Medtronic received CE Marking of its MiniMed™ 780G system, a next generation closed loop insulin pump system for the treatment of type 1 diabetes in people age 7 to 80 years.Leveraging the company’s advanced SmartGuard™ algorithm, the system automates the delivery of both basal insulin and correction boluses every five minutes to help people with diabetes avoid highs and lows with greater ease.
The MiniMed 780G system enables the personalization of glucose goals with an adjustable target setting as low as 100 mg/dL (5.5 mmol/L) – lower than any other advanced hybrid closed loop system – and is designed to help stabilize blood sugar levels and further improve glucose control.
“We wanted to design a system that further simplifies diabetes management and adapts to people’s life with the goal of enhancing their experience in a seamless way,” said Sean Salmon, Executive Vice President and President of the Diabetes Group at Medtronic. “We know it can be challenging to have to calculate carbohydrate intake before every snack or meal on a daily basis to ensure the right amount of insulin is dosed. With this system, users will have an extra layer of coverage for those times they miscalculate their carbs or forget to pre-bolus with an algorithm that automatically corrects for high glucose when needed. We want to help people spend more time living their life and less time worrying about their diabetes management – we’re confident this system delivers on that important goal.”
In addition to the automated algorithm which includes technology from DreaMed Diabetes, the MiniMed 780G system is easy to use with little input from the user. With the addition of Bluetooth connectivity, the MiniMed 780G system will enable users and their care partners to see real-time glucose data and trends on compatible iOS and Android smartphones via apps. Additionally, healthcare providers will find that managing patients on the system is simple as there are only a few settings that need adjustment to enable optimal use of the technology.
The system is expected to begin shipping this Autumn in select countries in Europe. In the United States, the MiniMed 780G system is investigational use only and not approved for sale.
For more information, visit: www.medtronicdiabetes.com
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AI-Rad Companion Chest CT is a software assistant that brings artificial intelligence (AI) to computed tomography (CT). Using CT images of the thorax (chest), the software can differentiate between the various structures of the chest, highlight them individually, and mark and measure potential abnormalities. This applies equally to organs such as the heart and lungs, the aorta and the vertebral bodies. The software automatically turns the findings into a quantitative report. AI-Rad Companion Chest CT is the first application based on the new AI-Rad Companion platform. It is designed to help radiologists interpret images faster and more accurately, and to reduce the time involved in documenting results. CT examinations of the thorax are common procedures in daily clinical practice. For radiologists, this means more examinations in a limited amount of time and usually for low reimbursement rates. In radiology, examinations of the chest, a region containing multiple organs, are also challenging because the images display a wide variety of information. Radiologists mainly assess images regarding the primary indication – in other words, the possible disease – which was the reason for performing the CT scan. By contrast, the algorithms in AI-Rad Companion Chest CT pay equal attention to all areas of the chest and can mark abnormalities in places that the radiologist might not consider so closely. The software assistant generates standardized, reproducible, and quantitative reports based on the AI-supported analysis. AI-Rad Companion Chest CT currently supports a variety of tasks, such as identifying lung lesions and calculating cardiovascular risk based on an analysis of coronary artery calcification on non-ECG-triggered CT images. A study in collaboration with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has also shown that AI-Rad Companion Chest CT can segment and measure the diameter of the aorta, an important parameter for potential aneurysms. AI-Rad Companion Chest CT also examines the spine in the patient’s chest region. It detects and segments the individual vertebrae, labels and analyses them for bone density and possible fractures. This can be helpful for detecting osteoporotic changes at an early stage. AI-Rad Companion Chest CT is a cloud-based solution and uses certified, secure teamplay infrastructure that complies with the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S., and with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU. The software integrates seamlessly into existing clinical workflows and conforms to Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standards. The images and all supporting information can be made automatically available in the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) in line with the radiologist’s individual requirements. The solution is particularly helpful for time-consuming, basic, and repetitive tasks. AI-Rad Companion Chest CT is vendor-neutral and can analyse image data from all CT manufacturers.

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St Mary’s Hospital is one of London’s four major trauma centres and uses point-of-care ultrasound extensively in the assessment of patients visiting its extremely busy A&E department. Dr Ehsan Hassan, a consultant in emergency medicine with a special interest in ultrasound, explained: “Our normal practice with trauma patients is to perform a FAST scan during the primary survey. This can make a significant difference to the care of unstable patients – for example, stab wounds to the heart – giving you a diagnosis straight away. This approach has enabled some patients to be fast-tracked into theatre.” The department’s SonoSite X-Porte ultrasound system is based in resuscitation, although its portability means it can be easily moved to other areas of A&E as required. Dr Hassan continued: “The Royal College of Emergency Medicine requires that all A&E consultants are trained to perform FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma), aortic scans, IV access and basic echo. However, once you are familiar with the techniques, it has a role in assessing so many different conditions – shock patients, abdominal pain, query ectopic pregnancies, pneumothoraces or hemothoraces, and numerous musculoskeletal complaints – as well as for draining pleural effusions and placing central or difficult-to-access IV lines. It is a very versatile technique.”
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