A Medical Device Daily
Siemens Medical Solutions (Malvern, Pennsylvania) and Imris (Winnipeg, Manitoba) reported the signing of a global OEM agreement.
Siemens Magnetom Espree and Magnetom Symphony MRI systems will be incorporated into Imris' ceiling-mounted surgical imaging systems, used in neurosurgical, spinal and soft tissue procedures.
iMotion, Imris' ceiling-mounted MRI, can be moved between the diagnostic imaging area and operating room by a track system, ensuring advanced medical technology in multiple locations. In addition, the combination of Siemens' diagnostic technology and Imris' surgical innovations are designed to enable surgeons to remove diseased tissue more efficiently, reduce damage to healthy tissue, and decrease visits to the operating room (OR) for subsequent surgeries. Ultimately, this helps to improve patient outcomes and provides a strong financial platform for medical facilities, the company said.
“The challenge of having an MRI system solely in the OR is that it can be costly and may take medical facilities years to recoup their investment,“ said David Graves, president, Imris. “By offering a system that can be used in the OR as well as the diagnostic imaging department, a facility can realize a significantly improved return on investment.“
The Magnetom Espree with Tim (Total imaging matrix) technology is the world's only 70 cm Open Bore 1.5 Tesla (1.5T) MRI system, the companies said.
In other agreements:
• Sharps Compliance (Houston) and subsidiaries, providers of medical waste disposal solutions for industry and consumers, reported execution of a three-year exclusive agreement with InterFit Health (West Lafayette, Indiana) to provide the Sharps Disposal By Mail system to its health screening and RediClinic operations.
Since 1989, InterFit Health has provided health screening and other personal health management services. It bills itself as the largest provider of retail health screening services in the U.S.
• WellPoint (Indianapolis) and Resolution Health (RHI; Columbia, Maryland) reported an alliance to help improve members' compliance with care recommendations and reduce out-of-pocket expenses through personalized communications that empower members to take greater control of their health and healthcare decision-making.
WellPoint will use RHI's proprietary technology and more than 1,000 computer algorithms to identify opportunities to help close the gap between care that is recommended – based upon nationally accepted, evidence-based clinical guidelines – and care that members actually receive. In addition, WellPoint will use RHI tools to inform patients about the amount of money they can save out-of-pocket by making more informed healthcare decisions.
Using its data analytic capabilities, RHI will analyze WellPoint members' medical and pharmacy claims data, lab results and information that members self report through online health assessments and personal health records. These analyses will serve as the foundation for customized communication programs that target both members and their physicians.