Program Online » Business Buzz

Siemens to acquire MobileMD

letchells — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:23:07 +0000

Siemens Healthcare has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire health information exchange (HIE) technology firm MobileMD of Yardley, PA.

MobileMD’s cloud-deployed HIE service is designed to make available patient information among healthcare providers, regardless of geographic, organizational, or health IT system boundaries, to enhance the coordination of patient care. The service is used by more than 110 hospitals and more than 2,000 physician practices.

The transaction is not subject to any regulatory clearances and should be completed soon, according to Siemens. www.auntminnie.com

Supreme Court to review healthcare reform

letchells — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:20:45 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court has indicated that it will hear arguments against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) passed in 2010.

The main questions to be argued are whether the individual mandate provision of the law is unconstitutional — that is, can Congress legislate that all Americans purchase health insurance — and whether the suit brought by respondents to challenge the minimum coverage provision of the PPACA is barred by the Anti-Injunction Act.

Finally, the court will consider whether the rest of the law would be viable if the mandate for all Americans to purchase health insurance fails, since it is supported by revenues collected by the insurance mandate. www.auntminnie.com

Zonare promotes Ryland to VP post

letchells — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:58:55 +0000

Ultrasound technology developer Zonare Medical Systems has promoted PJ Ryland to vice president of business development and corporate accounts.

Ryland, who joined Zonare in 2005, will lead the company’s U.S.-based clinical applications group. She previously served as the company’s national accounts manager.

Prior to joining Zonare, Ryland was with Siemens Healthcare’s ultrasound division and Acuson for 20 years, serving in various sales and national accounts positions, according to Zonare. www.auntminnie.com

Report: SonoSite wooing Samsung

letchells — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:55:00 +0000

SonoSite is reportedly up for bid and Samsung is among the potential candidates to acquire the compact-ultrasound developer, according to an article from Bloomberg.

The company is asking for second-round bids and aims to reach a sale agreement by mid-December, according to an anonymous source in the article. Bloomberg also reported that SonoSite has hired JPMorgan Chase to advise it on a possible sale.

SonoSite did not immediately respond to a request for comment. www.auntminnie.com

Mindray achieves prosperous Q3

letchells — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:50:09 +0000

Strong sales growth in China powered medical equipment manufacturer Mindray Medical International to a double-digit increase in total revenues in the third quarter (end-September 30).

Third-quarter net revenues increased 30% to $218.4 million, compared with $168.3 million in the third quarter of 2010. International sales rose 26%, contributing $124.9 million in total revenues, compared with $99.2 million in the third quarter of last year.

Sales from China rose 35% to $93.5 million, compared with $69 million in the same quarter of 2010. Net income advanced 4% to $37.3 million, compared with $35.9 million in last year’s third quarter.

For the nine-month period, net revenues climbed 25% to $616.6 million, compared with $493.3 million in the same period of 2010. International sales totaled $359.9 million, compared with $289.7 million in the same period a year ago. For the nine-month period, income increased 4% to $119.9 million, compared with $114.4 million in the same period of 2010. www.auntminnie.com

MedPro Adds 4D Transducer Repair

letchells — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:21:57 +0000

Ultrasound dealer MedPro Imaging announced that its Advanced Probe Repair Division has added 4D transducer repair capabilities at its Longmont, CO, facility.The company also announced that it has achieved certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and will now be able to provide probe repair services to multivendor service providers, hospitals, and imaging centers. (www.auntminnie.com)

Obama Signs Bill Nixing Medicare SGR Cuts

letchells — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:38:19 +0000

President Barack Obama has signed into law legislation that delays for one year the scheduled 23% cut in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule under the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.

The reduction would have gone into effect on January 1, 2011. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives both passed the bill to avoid the cut in Medicare payments to all physicians. www.auntminnie.com

European Women’s Imaging Market to Hit $1.6 Billion in 2016

letchells — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:59:30 +0000

The market for women’s medical imaging products is projected to grow by 26% over 2009 levels to hit $1.6 billion in sales by 2016, according to research conducted by market research firm Frost & Sullivan.

In a new report, the San Antonio based firm found that the total market for women’s imaging, including mammography, bone densitometry, breast MRI, and breast and ob/gyn ultrasound, earned revenues of $1.2 billion in 2009. In 2016, these revenues are estimated to reach $1.6 billion.

Key to the growth will be the ability of vendors to develop new products for an increased and aging patient population requiring more mammography and bone density screening, the company said.

Europe’s densitometry market will be driven by the replacement of old axial dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) systems, while the market for mammography systems will grow as analog systems are replaced by digital — sparked by new digital requirements in Europe, according to the report.

The growth will not be without obstacles, however, in the form of tight capital budgets that will delay the purchase of new equipment, as well as low levels of reimbursements, Frost & Sullivan said. www.auntminnie.com

St. Jude Launches Intracardiac Ultrasound, Echo Catheter

letchells — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:44:16 +0000

St. Jude Medical has launched its ViewMate Z intracardiac ultrasound system and ViewFlex Plus intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter.

The ViewMate Z system is designed for image guidance and visualization of the cardiac anatomy, according to the St. Paul, Minnesota based company. The system is able to deliver images that help to diagnose or provide therapy during electrophysiology procedures. The system is compatible with the new ViewFlex Plus ICE catheter, which offers one-handed control and steering angles up to 120 degrees. The ViewMate Z system is designed to allow clinicians to better visualize a patient’s cardiac anatomy and the effects of treatment. www.healthimaging.com

TechniScan, Womens3D Ink Breast Ultrasound Development Plan

letchells — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:33:33 +0000

Medical device manufacturer TechniScan has signed a $1.5 million agreement with Womens3D to co-develop a warm bath ultrasound breast imaging system. Under the agreement, Womens3D purchased a $250,000 prototype of the machine and will potentially contribute an additional $1.25 million to support the development of a specialized whole breast ultrasound system based on the TechniScan Warm Bath Ultrasound machine.

Salt Lake City based TechniScan said that it will supply technical support for the product and the customization of the imaging network that will be used to store and transmit images. Womens3D develops imaging devices specialized for women’s health and is based in Austin, Texas. www.healthimaging.com