Category: “Medical Device Manufactures”

"Implementing ultrasound DICOM structured reporting tools yields a significant improvement in dictation times over conventional reporting methods, according to a study presented on Friday at the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) meeting. Using DICOM structured reports from ultrasound systems significantly reduces dictation time, representing potential time savings of nearly seven days a year for the institution, said presenter Dr. Steven Horii from the University of Pennsylvania Health System."

Nearly 60% of Firms with 510(k) Submissions Got FDA's Refuse-to-Accept Letters in 2013

The U.S. ultrasound market will grow to $1.88 billion by 2018, representing an annual rate of growth of 5.8 percent

Driven by growth from the emerging markets and gains from cost cutbacks, profits from GE 's healthcare segment have risen strongly in the last few years.

Medical device firms' success in the future will depend on how successfully their customers manage patients and costs. Venders are trying to transform into partners instead of just sellers. Medtronic’s CEO, for example, wants to become a top medtech solutions partner. What does a Kaiser Permanente executive think of that lofty goal? “Medtronic’s reluctance to release pacemaker data to patients does not align with our values,” said Chief Medical Information Officer and Assistant Medical Director John Mattison.

Driven by the idea that handheld ultrasound can be the modern day version of the stethoscope the POC (point of care) ultrasound market is exploding. GE, Fuji and a rash of other venders have rushed in with products. Ultrasound is an growing and important imaging modality with the advantage of not using ionizing radiation. However the clinical efficacy of POC ultrasound hasn't been proven. This article notes the challenges of POC Ultrasound and believes smaller mobile ultrasound is the answer, not hand-held units. In Ultrasound size does matter.