A Medical Device Daily

Swissray (Elizabeth, New Jersey), a manufacturer in the direct digital radiographic systems industry, reported that it has signed a five-year agreement with the imaging division of orthopedic products maker Stryker (Kalamazoo, Michigan).

Stryker will sell the Swissray DR systems into the U.S. orthopedic private practice market under the Stryker brand name HDDR. Swissray will use their U.S. service and support organization for the installation, application training and maintenance of the Stryker High Definition Digital Radiography (HDDR) systems. Swissray was chosen by Stryker Imaging as its DR partner because of the high quality and performance of its technology as well as the special orthopedic functionalities such as Automated Positioning, AutoStitching, Off Center Imaging, True Size Imaging, Scoliosis Imaging, Long Leg Imaging and Weight Bearing Studies, Swissray said. Stryker Imaging will sell all 10 different Swissray DR models.

Stryker products include implants used in joint replacement, trauma, craniomaxillofacial and spinal surgeries; biologics; surgical, neurologic, ear, nose & throat and interventional pain equipment; endoscopic, surgical navigation, communications and digital imaging systems; as well as patient handling and emergency medical equipment. Stryker also provides outpatient physical therapy services in the U.S.

Swissray provides a full range of DR systems for orthopedic applications, imaging centers, hospitals and emergency departments. All of Swissray's DR systems include its fully automated, remote controlled, automated positioning system.

In other grants/contracts news, Computer Sciences (CSC; El Segundo, California) reported today that it has signed a contract with the American Red Cross (Washington) to develop a business case to transform the humanitarian organization's information technology (IT) infrastructure.

CSC will work with the Red Cross IT department to modernize and enhance the organization's IT infrastructure to support service delivery for Red Cross entities throughout the nation. CSC said the new infrastructure will help Red Cross chapters better serve communities and respond to disasters; improve the stability and resiliency of the technology supporting manufacturing, management and delivery of nearly half the nation's blood supply; and more effectively integrate suppliers, partners and stakeholders, including donors, vendors, hospitals and disaster responders.

"Standardizing IT solutions and implementing competitive-edge technologies will reduce the overall cost of operations and enable delivery of high quality services to all levels of the Red Cross organization," said Steve Cooper, senior VP and chief information officer for the Red Cross.

"The Red Cross mission is critical to the country," said Mike Laphen, CSC president/COO. "CSC has the experience to support mission-critical systems for commercial and federal clients, and we understand the significance of delivering superior results to the Red Cross to provide efficient disaster relief and safeguard the nation's blood supply."

Computer Sciences provides customers in industry and government with solutions crafted to meet their specific challenges and enable them to profit from the advanced use of technology.