IP2Biz has announced that a prototype wound measurement camera is being tested by wound specialty nurses at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The handheld device determines and captures wound boundaries and wound area using proprietary software and low-cost hardware. The device provides fast, accurate and repeatable digital documentation of wound progression, a necessary component to validate payment from insurance and government agencies. Nurses using the device say that the device easily fits in hands, can be operated with just a click and gives confidence that the measurements can be repeated consistently.

Intel Corporation has announced the Intel Health Guide, a tablet-PC which offers management tools for health care professionals that treat patients with chronic conditions. The Health Guide represents Intel’s entry into a new category of personal health systems, and it promises functions beyond the simple, common remote patient monitoring systems, providing a wider range of processing abilities. The Intel Health Guide received 510(k) market clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2008. It’s a comprehensive personal health system that combines an in-home patient device, the Intel Health Guide PHS6000.

IMS MAXIMS has launched a range of browser-based clinical software packages that have a ‘zero footprint’ on a hospital’s PCs and devices. MAXIMS requires no software installation on the desktop PC. It works through Internet Explorer 6 or 7 or on a Windows Mobile device. The system allows clinical staff to electronically manage a complete patient journey, streamlining patient data across the following areas: full clinical, order communications, scheduling, bed management, 18 week RTT management, nursing documentation, clinical noting clinical outcomes, discharge summaries and 31 specialist departmental modules.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers announces the launch of ESPRIMO MA, a sophisticated mobile tablet PC developed for the healthcare sector. The robust tablet PC is an ideal companion for visiting wards. The ESPRIMO MA features a fully sealed housing and can be completely sterilised for use in healthcare environments. Functions such as integrated high-speed 3G/UMTS (3G is optional) and WLAN enable digitally-archived patient data to be accessed anywhere, at anytime bringing a “paperless” hospital one step closer. Instead of noting patient data on paper and later transferring that data to a PC, nursing staff can archive information digitally on-site.

Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc., has launched Microcyn Wound Care product into the U.S. podiatry market. The product has received three FDA 510(k) clearances for use in moistening, lubricating, cleaning and debriding wounds. It is available to podiatrists for treatment of, and distribution to, their patients in 8 oz. and 500 ml. bottles. Oculus is also pursuing a U.S. drug approval using a different formulation of the Microcyn Technology. The company intends to secure a partner that will assume clinical, regulatory, and commercial responsibilities along with costs for the drug formulation approval.

Smith & Nephew’s Advanced Wound Management division has announced the launch of its new product, ACTICOAT Flex, to expand the ACTICOAT range. Designed to support physicians dealing with injuries at high risk of infection, the product utilizes the Silcryst(R) nano-crystalline silver technology. It is highly conformable - ideal for awkward anatomical areas such as face and hands to improve patient comfort during wear. The product will be available in the markets of USA and EU by early 2009.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance to Ivera Medical Corporation, allowing it to market its Curos™ Port Protector. The product decontaminates needle-less intravenous access ports, preventing touch and airborne contamination. Designed to lessen patients’ exposure to the risks of bloodstream infections acquired from hospitals, the Curos Port Protector facilitates infection control. Such infections lengthen a patient’s stay in hospital and can be dangerous too. Thus, the device can be really useful in improving patient care through promotion among healthcare professionals.

The issue of ‘American Family Physician’ dated October 15 comprised of a review that had information on techniques for usage of corticosteroid injections for common musculoskeletal conditions. Doctors say that to administer successfully, conducting the correct diagnosis (who to inject), carrying out the right procedure (how to inject), and use of the appropriate pharmaceutical (what to inject) is important. To relieve from pain, reduce inflammation and improve mobility, corticosteroids can be injected into articular, periarticular, or soft tissue structures. For rapid pain relief, anesthetic agents can be added to the injection. Along with that, steroid injections may provide useful diagnostic information.

Dutch firm developing radiation oncology solutions, Nucletron, will now be offering innovative solutions for the treatment of cancer in Asia. The company specializes in brachytherapy (curing cancer from the inside by bringing a radioactive source close to the tumor) The procedure has been found to be effective for certain types of cancer, reducing treatment time from two months to as little as one day. The approach is more accurate, safer and cheaper, offering convenience to patients with localized treatment. As more and more hospitals in Asia spend increasingly on the upgradation of health care facilities, Nucletron plans expansion in Asia especially in terms of projects with clinical teams to enhance standards of patient care.

Baxa Ltd has launched its Baxa ZR pre-filled saline IV syringes in Britain. The new line of sterile syringes is safer than manually filled syringes. Easy to administer, ZR is cheaper, more effective and uses lesser shelf-space than its alternatives. They are available in the units of 10 mL and 5 mL. Clear labeling reduces errors in liquid medication. A pull-off cap on the tip hints towards a broken seal, preventing re-use. The shelf life is two-years and the nursing staff can see the expiry dates clearly.