Fujifilm has unveiled an upgraded version of its FCR Go portable digital X-ray system. The FCR Go2 now has a more powerful X-ray source and a larger workstation more comparable in size to stationary units. Along with the same user-friendly features that led to the success of the FCR Go and provided high image quality and efficiency gains, Fujifilm’s FCR Go 2 is now equipped with a higher output X-ray generator to better accommodate imaging of dense areas. Abdomen and spine exams, for example, which are frequently performed with portable systems, as well as X-rays of bariatric patients, will now result in even sharper images. The new system features a full size, 15 inch image display and upgraded functionality at the onboard workstation. By having more of the same features available at the portable station that are accessible at the main radiology workstations, technologists and radiologists can preview a full size image at the patient bedside, using a familiar platform. Additionally, the FCR Go 2 features a smaller, lighter weight chassis design, coupled with an improved driving system that will provide greater ease of maneuverability during transport in tight corridors and imaging environments. Press release: Portable Digital Imaging System with upgraded capabilities: FCR Go 2…

Cellnovo is a London, UK based startup working on an interesting mobile diabetes management system, that is still mostly in stealth mode. The company hopes that its technology will make routine diabetics’ tasks and decisions more mobile, intuitive, and socially friendly, by integrating its insulin pump, as well as the touch-screen mobile-connected device, into a social network-like environment. The investors are also impressed with the technology, as the company has just closed a Series B £30 million ($48.4 million) financing round. A recent article in IN VIVO: The Business and Medicine Report, describes Cellnovo pump technology as the most accurate to come to the market in years. To learn more about Cellnovo, here’s a link to the company website… More: Diabetes management system could be ‘iTunes of diabetes care’ ……

Cellphones have come a long way with the rise of the smartphone. What used to be simply a means of making phone calls remotely, now is the way by which we can send emails, text messages, photos, and…acquire fetal images! You can thank Redmond, Washington-based Mobisante for that last one, because it has announced that its MobiUS ultrasound imaging system has received FDA approval to be marketed in the United States. MobiUS is the world’s first smartphone-based commercial ultrasound system. It consists of an ultrasound probe and a Toshiba Windows Mobile-powered smartphone with Mobisante’s software on it. Since the system is based on smartphones, it is extremely portable and very affordable compared to traditional ultrasound systems. In addition, it can utilize the cellular network and Wi-Fi capabilities of the smartphone to send images remotely. Mobisante hopes to get their portable ultrasound systems into remote villages and rural hospitals where resources are limited, population density is lower, and medical assistance is not as easily accessible. Although if things continue to progress well for Mobisante and portable ultrasound technology as a whole, we may soon find expectant moms uploading fetal pictures of their bundle of joy to their Facebook newsfeeds. Thanks to Tom Cruise, only if they live outside of California, of course. Press release: World’s first smartphone-based ultrasound imaging system cleared by the FDA… (.pdf) Company page: Mobisante … Flashbacks: The Signos, Self Contained Handheld Ultrasound Gains FDA Approval; Mobile Clinical Imaging On a Smart Phone (hat tip: Engadget)…

A few years ago we wrote about the punnily named ResQPOD, pictured on top, an impedance-threshold device that prevents air from re-entering the lungs to assist with cardiac filling. The Lancet has just published a study comparing standard CPR to CPR using ResQPod combined with another assist device called the ResQPump (side below), both from Advanced Circulatory Systems, Inc (Roseville, MN). From the abstract: Findings 2470 provisionally enrolled patients were randomly allocated to treatment groups. 813 (68%) of 1201 patients assigned to the standard CPR group (controls) and 840 (66%) of 1269 assigned to intervention CPR received designated CPR and were included in the final analyses. 47 (6%) of 813 controls survived to hospital discharge with favourable neurological function compared with 75 (9%) of 840 patients in the intervention group (odds ratio 1·58, 95% CI 1·07—2·36; p=0·019]. 74 (9%) of 840 patients survived to 1 year in the intervention group compared with 48 (6%) of 813 controls (p=0·03), with equivalent cognitive skills, disability ratings, and emotional-psychological statuses in both groups. The overall major adverse event rate did not differ between groups, but more patients had pulmonary oedema in the intervention group (94 [11%] of 840) than did controls (62 [7%] of 813; p=0·015). Interpretation On the basis of our findings showing increased effectiveness and generalisability of the study intervention, active compression-decompression CPR with augmentation of negative intrathoracic pressure should be considered as an alternative to standard CPR to increase long-term survival after cardiac arrest. Full abstract in Lancet: Standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation versus active compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation with augmentation of negative intrathoracic pressure for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a randomised trial Good summary from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New CPR devices save lives, Medical College study finds… Study info and product pages: THE RESQ TRIAL……

NuPathe Inc. out of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania has announced that US FDA has accepted for filing the company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for Zelrix electronic transdermal patch, a pharmaceutical designed to treat migraines. A year and a half ago we reported on positive results from a Phase III clinical trial of the single-use arm patch that quickly and consistently delivers sumatriptan on demand into the blood stream. More about the Zelrix from NuPathe: Zelrix is an active, single-use, transdermal sumatriptan patch in development for the treatment of migraine. Zelrix is designed to provide migraine patients fast onset and sustained relief through a tolerable, non-oral route of administration. Zelrix may provide an attractive treatment option for many migraine patients because it avoids the need for oral administration and does not depend upon gastrointestinal absorption. Many migraine patients delay or avoid treatment with oral migraine medications as a result of underlying nausea and fear of vomiting. In addition, the reduced gastric motility experienced during migraine may affect the efficacy of oral medications. Zelrix is powered by SmartRelief, NuPathe’s proprietary transdermal delivery technology. SmartRelief consists of a controlled delivery technology that uses a mild electrical current to actively transport medication through the skin using a process called iontophoresis. Press release: NuPathe Announces FDA Acceptance of Zelrix NDA for Filing… Product page: The Zelrix Patch… Flashback: Zelrix, A Migraine Patch, Is Moving Forward…

iApp Creative has released a new update to its iPrescribe app for iPhones and iPads. The tool makes it intuitive and quick to prescribe your favorite pills to your favorite patients. Features from the product page: Transmit and receive electronic prescriptions. iPrescribe is Surescripts™ certified for New Prescriptions and Refills. After writing a prescription you can save the drug and the specific way you prescribe it to your Favorites list for faster future prescribing. Send prescriptions and receive refill notices without annoying and time consuming phone calls and faxes. Pre loaded with over 3,500 FDA approved medications including all available dosages. Supported by our iPrescribe website for fast, easy and secure patient data entry. Patient ID, name, phone number, address, birth date, gender, and notes can be entered into the database and wirelessly synced to your iPhone at any time. Patient data can also be entered manually into the iPhone. Here’s a quick demo of a typical prescription: Product page: iPrescribe……

Philips has unveiled its new DigitalDiagnost – ER Wireless, and is now making available the Juno DRF X-ray system in the U.S. DigitalDiagnost – ER Wireless is an X-ray system specifically meant for use in emergency rooms, recovery, and trauma applications. The Juno DRF is a digital radiography and fluoroscopy system in one package The two-in-one system is capable of all common radiographic procedures, gastro-intestinal studies, tomography and vascular studies. Its unique Source Image Distance (SID) of 180 cm (71”) and the high table weight capacity of up to 284 kg (626 lbs), without any restrictions for movements, allows for diverse exams and patient types. An optional stitching function and vascular imaging package also expand the system’s capability. The Juno DRF has been for sale in Western Europe since January 2010. By eliminating hardware and peripheral equipment that typically hinders access to the patient, the DigitalDiagnost – ER Wireless radiography configuration eases access to critical patients in emergency rooms (ER), trauma units and recovery bays. The rugged wireless portable detector with built-in handle and cable-free design enables simple maneuvering for even the most difficult anatomical views, allowing the system to be seamlessly integrated into the ER. The wireless portable detector also helps minimize the risk of interference with life-saving equipment. Press release: Philips introduces X-ray systems designed to advance patient care Product pages: Juno DRF; DigitalDiagnost……

Valeritas, from Bridgewater, N.J., has received FDA approval for its V-Go disposable insulin delivery device. The V-Go does both continuous subcutaneous insulin delivery and on-demand bolus dosing. It is fully disposable, meant to be worn for 24 hours before replacement and uses no electronic parts. The device uses the company’s h-patch technology featuring a microneedle, an earlier version of which is shown above. It is aimed at type 2 diabetic patients and is available with preset basal rates of 20, 30 or 40 Units of insulin per 24 hours, with 2 Unit boluses. The device is small enough to be worn under normal clothes and weighs approximately 1 ounce when full. The V-Go will be commercially available in 2011. It seems like a great solution for type 2 diabetics, although details on pricing have not yet been disclosed. Press release: Valeritas Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for the V-Go™ Disposable Insulin Delivery Device… Product page: Valeritas V-Go……

3M is announcing the new Littmann Scope-to-Scope Tele-Auscultation System that allows physicians to remotely listen to patients using a stethoscope as though they’re on-site. Using Bluetooth connectivity, the system transfers in real time audio gathered on one Littmann Model 3200 stethoscope to another anywhere in the world. It is pretty amazing how the stethoscope, from being a medical diagnostic device, has moved to also become a communication and telemedicine device. Allows clinicians to provide world-class patient care by hearing internal sounds of the body clearly across data networks in real-time, from anywhere in the world Uses the Bluetooth® enabled Littmann® Model 3200 electronic stethoscope Offers a user-friendly design and phenomenal sound quality Requires one-time software set-up that takes only a few minutes to complete At the patient site, the Scope-to-Scope Software digitally captures heart sound with a state-of-the-art sound sensor, wirelessly transfers the sound to software using the Bluetooth® enabled Littmann® Model 3200 electronic stethoscope, and sends the sound across the Internet securely At the consultant site, the sound is delivered to the eartips of the consultant who hears the patient’s internal sounds as if the patient were in the room Press release: New 3M™ Littmann® Scope-to-Scope Software Transforms Tele-Auscultation Experience ……

Here’s an interesting simple technology that might come handy to anesthesiologists and others who tend to do lots of central lines. Making sure that you are not in a carotid (or subclavian or femoral arteries, etc) is not always as simple as many think. Sure, you can do a blood color comparison. You can also connect a vertical column, and see how far the blood will rise. But why to do these maneuvers, if you can have something at the end of a finder needle that does not add steps to your procedure? Meet Mirador Biomedical of Seattle, Washington that has just received FDA’s 510(k) clearance for its Compass Vascular Access pressure measurement device, as well as a similarly designed Compass Lumbar Puncture pressure monitor. From the Compass Vascular Access product page: Focus on the Procedural Site View your hands, the patient and the pressure without additional cabling, operators or connections Integrate Seamlessly with Needles and Syringes Easily incorporated into the Seldinger technique for inserting catheters Eliminate “Blind” Guidewire Insertion The port allows insertion of the guidewire while monitoring the pressure From Compass Lumbar Puncture product page: Indication of CSF Entrance: Entrance into the target space is indicated by a pressure increase. Seamless Integration with LP Needles: The CompassTM LP connects to standard Lumbar puncture needles. Immediate and Continuous Measurement of Opening Pressure: View the pressure continuously without additional cabling, operators or connections. Press release: Mirador Biomedical, developing the innovative Compass™ family of disposable medical devices, announced FDA 510(k) clearance of its two leading products… (.pdf) Product page: Compass pressure measurement devices……