Medical Design and Outsourcing Archives - Page 102 of 154

Instron launches Bluehill Central lab management software

[Image from Instron]

Instron announced today that it launched the Bluehill Central lab management solution for Bluehill Universal software.

Norwood, Massachusetts-based Instron’s Bluehill Central platform allows lab managers to remotely manage all test systems running Bluehill Universal, regardless of the number of systems and regardless of their location around the world, according to a news release.

The company said the new software uses a single database to manage Instron systems and data at the enterprise level in an effort to simplify the lab management process. It gives lab managers a method to manage tasks across all frames on their network, including all Bluehill Universal users and permissions, test method templates, results, file revision approvals and audit trail data.

Bluehill Central centers on groups of users sharing common files and settings, with an individual operator’…

Lenovo, LG to collaborate on radiology technology

[Image from Lenovo]

Lenovo and LG announced today that they are collaborating on new medical imaging solutions to aid the radiology community.

According to a news release, the companies will work together to bundle LG’s high-performance medical monitors with the Lenovo original equipment manufacturer (OEM) solutions commercial third-party portfolio of offerings.

Get the full story at our sister site, MassDevice.

Baxter, 3M, Abbott near the top of Newsweek’s most responsible companies list

Several medtech, healthcare and life sciences companies, including big names like Abbott (NYSE:ABT), 3M (NYSE:MMM) and Baxter (NYSE:BAX), are among the 500 “most responsible,” according to Newsweek.

The outlet published its “America’s Most Responsible Companies 2022” list, marking the third installment of the compilation (in partnership with Statista), this time expanded to include 500 of the largest public corporations around. Companies were judged with an overall score out of 100 that combined environmental, social and corporate governance performance assessments.

Get the full story at our sister site, MassDevice.

Carlyle makes a significant investment in Resonetics

Carlyle-managed funds have acquired a significant interest in medical device contract manufacturer Resonetics.

Today’s announcement did not include the investment size, but the deal values Nashua, New Hampshire–based Resonetics at roughly $2.25 billion.

Carlyle joins existing investor GTCR as a meaningful shareholder in the company.

Resonetics focuses on producing highly technical components for medical device applications, providing services from design and development to high-volume manufacturing.

“Our business has advanced significantly over the past four years, expanding on our scale and capabilities and becoming an increasingly valuable partner to our customers, and we look forward to keeping the momentum going,” Resonetics CEO Tom Burns said in a news release.

Steve Wise, a Carlyle managing director and head of global healthcare, said Carlyle’s global network will open up new avenues of organic opportunities for Resonetic…

HHS reports 63-fold increase in telehealth use during pandemic

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

A new study from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that there was a 63-fold increase in Medicare telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report analyzed Medicare fee-for-service data frmo 2019 and 2020 and highlighted that telehealth services were more sought after and accessed more in urban areas and rural communities. The report also showed that Black Medicare beneficiaries were less likely than white beneficiaries to use telehealth.

“This report provides valuable insights into telehealth usage during the pandemic,” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in a news release. “CMS will use these insights – along with input from people with Medicare and providers across the country – to inform further Medicare telehealth policies.”

Specialists like behavioral health provider…

Interpreting Pump Performance Curves

Reading pump performance curves is crucial to proper pump selection. This piece reviews the creation and use of diaphragm pump performance curves to determine flow at given vacuum or pressure conditions. Included is a lesser-known method to interpolate pump performance when flow restrictions exist on both the inlet and outlet sides of the pump.

Download the white paper from KNF Neuberger to learn more.

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BD elaborates on diversity and equity goals

BD (NYSE:BDX) earlier this week outlined its efforts this year related to global inclusion, diversity and equity.

Franklin Lakes, New Jersey-based BD released its 2021 Global Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (ID&E) Report, which highlighted the progress it’s made in human health as part of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, according to a news release.

In the report, BD explained its “2030+” goals, which aim to maintain a healthy and thriving workforce that cultivates a culture of inclusion, safety and well-being while contributing to community and company health.

Among the 2030+ goals is the aim to improve ethnic and gender diversity by 1% year-over-year at the management and executive levels, as well as ensuring equal pay by gender worldwide. At the end of fiscal 2021, women held 39.9% of management roles and 29.9% of executive positions at BD, which it said were improvements from the previous year and come in…

How to protect medical devices from hidden cybersecurity risks

[Image by Tumisu on Pixabay]

Your software supply chain could be a cybersecurity risk. Here’s what you can do.

Vince Arneja, GrammaTech

The healthcare industry has been fighting a war on two fronts during the COVID-19 pandemic against the virus and an outbreak of cyberattacks. The Department of Health and Human Services says the sector reported a 9,851% increase in cyberattacks in 2020 compared to 2019.

Cybercriminals see healthcare organizations as “soft targets” that are not as well defended; they need to be accessible to users and have heavy traffic of files and records, which leave multiple attack vectors open for criminals. In addition, healthcare is in the midst of a technology expansion, with explosive growth in Internet of Things (IoT) connections, patient portals and telehealth.

All these new medical technology applications run…

Integer completes $220M Oscor acquisition

Integer Holdings (NYSE: ITGR) announced today that it has completed its purchase of Oscor — a deal that expands the capabilities of what was already one of the world’s largest medtech contract manufacturers.

Integer said the acquisition would cost $220 million when it first announced its plans in October.

Oscor is the creator and marketer of various specialized implantable cardiac pacing and neurostimulation leads, venous access systems and diagnostic catheters. Integer officials note that Oscor’s finished introducer systems, guiding sheaths and proprietary lead wire technologies give it even more exposure to higher-growth markets — including cardiac pacing, electrophysiology, neurostimulation, cardiovascular, peripheral vascular and structural heart.

Integer’s Oscor acquisition adds design, development and manufacturing operations in Palm Harbor, Florida and the Dominican Republic, business offices in Germany and 900 employees.

…

Respira Labs seeks FDA clearance for its wearable lung monitor

Respira Labs recently announced that it has developed a wearable device that continuously assesses lung function without the need for traditional pulmonary function tests.

Mountain View, California-based Respira Labs designed its Sylvee wearable initially to assess chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COVID-19 and asthma patients. It is embedded with speakers and microphones that measure change in acoustic resonance as a proxy for changes in lung air volume, which is the basis for traditional pulmonary function tests.

Sylvee is worn on the lower part of the rib cage and monitors the lung function over time to provide a comprehensive overview of a patient’s condition. It injects noise into the lung area and measures the type of sound that is produced. If air is trapped in the lung, it makes a different sound than the resonance of sound produced when air is fully expelled from the lungs.

Air trapping is an early symptom of respiratory decline. With…

Owen Mumford starts work on new production center in U.K.

Owen Mumford this week announced that it has started building its new production facility in Witney, Oxfordshire in the U.K.

The new building is commissioned to align with the Woodstock, England-based company’s sustainability agenda that is in accordance with the latest environmental standards needed for a BREEAM certification.

The investment project, which is valued at £14 million ($18.6 million), will facilitate Owen Mumford’s development of medical devices through sustainable design and manufacturing methods. The BREEAM certification will recognize the highest levels of environmental, social and economic sustainability performance. The company has worked closely with ecologist specialists to ensure there is no negative impact on biodiversity.

Owen Mumford’s new Witney facility will stand as a production site for the company’s recently launched, next-generation auto-injector Aidaptus.

“Since we first started to significan…

FDA’s Woodcock reassures about COVID-19 tests, vaccines under Omicron

Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock

Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock thinks many COVID-19 tests will continue to work with the new Omicron variant — with information coming soon on vaccine efficacy.

In a statement posted yesterday, Woodcock said she thought the agency is well-positioned to work with companies to address the potential impact of viral mutations on COVID-19 tests, therapeutics, and vaccines.

“Getting vaccinated or receiving a booster with one of the currently available vaccines is the best thing that you can do right now (in addition to standard precautions like wearing a mask) to help protect yourself, your family and friends,” Woodcock said.

Discovered in late November in South Africa, the Omicron variant has more than 30 changes to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The variant has enough mutations to raise concerns worldwide, even though it is still un…