A Medical Device Daily
Covidien (Boulder, Colorado) reported that it has integrated its Nellcor OxiMax oximetry system into Philips Healthcare's (Andover, Massachusetts) IntelliVue and M-Series patient monitors.
Customers will have the added flexibility of choosing the Nellcor OxiMax technology in Philips IntelliVue and M-Series patient monitors for critical care areas such as the Intensive Care, Emergency, Anesthesia and Neonatal Care departments.
This enables the IntelliVue and M-Series patient monitors to be compatible with Covidien's Nellcor OxiMax specialty sensors, including the Max-Fast forehead sensor for patients with poor perfusion and the SoftCare nonadhesive sensor line for patients with sensitive skin, including newborns.
In the intensive-care unit and other high-acuity areas of the hospital, Max-Fast and SoftCare sensors support effective, comfortable care for the most critical patients.
"Hospitals and clinicians are under constant pressure to improve outcomes and decrease costs. In turn, they are demanding expanded access to the technologies and medical devices they trust," said Chris Lowery, general manager and vice president, patient monitoring, Covidien.
"Covidien's partnership with Philips gives hospitals access to advanced technology from two leading medical monitoring companies," he said. "The successful completion of this collaboration with Philips, a recognized industry leader in patient monitoring, is consistent with Covidien's mission to provide products that help clinicians deliver safe and efficacious patient care, while simultaneously maximizing hospital efficiency."
"Many clinicians have expressed great interest in Nellcor OxiMax technology in our IntelliVue patient monitors," said David Russell, vice president and chief marketing officer, Informatics and Patient Monitoring, Philips Healthcare. "This collaboration enhances our ability to provide customers in the USA, Europe and many other markets with a choice of their preferred trusted pulse oximetry technology. This partnership also underscores Philips' commitment to providing clear, accurate information to support clinical decision-making across all areas of the hospital."
In other agreements/contracts news:
• Royal Philips Electronics (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)) reported an agreement to become an official medical equipment supplier of the New York Yankees. As part of the agreement, a radiology system was installed inside Yankee Stadium, enabling onsite diagnosis of players by the Yankees' medical team.
In addition, potentially life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are available in both the player areas and in select locations in the stadium, providing emergency care to fans that might be in need during a game.
The Philips BuckyDiagnost, an advanced X-ray system, provides onsite X-ray capabilities inside the Yankees clubhouse. The system comes with a tool that creates crisp digital diagnostic images, which are available to team doctors almost instantaneously. The system also has multiple features that reduce unnecessary X-ray exposure while maintaining image quality.
• Premier Purchasing Partners (San Diego) reported new agreements for patient lifts and lateral transfer devices have been awarded to ArjoHuntleigh (Addison, Illinois), EZ Way (Clarinda, Iowa) and T.H.E. Medical (Barrie, Ontario). Effective Aug. 1, the agreements are available to acute-care and continuum-of-care members of the Premier healthcare alliance.
Premier also reported an agreement in a new category, obstetrical remote surveillance, has been awarded to AirStrip (Oakwell, Connecticut). Effective June 1, the agreement is available to acute care and continuum of care members of the Premier healthcare alliance.
The company also said that other new agreements for patient mobility aids such as wheelchairs, canes, walkers, and bath and toilet assists were awarded to Centicare (Prairie, Minnesota), Cypress Medical Products (McHenry, Illinois) and Medline Industries (Mundelein, Illinois). Effective Aug. 1, the agreements are available to acute-care and continuum-of-care members of the Premier alliance.
The company also reported an agreement in a new category, pediatric and youth disposables, has been awarded to Encompass Group (McDonough, Georgia).
Effective June 1, 2009, the agreement is available to acute care and continuum of care members of the Premier healthcare alliance.
In a final deal for Premier, the company announced new agreements for personal care kits have been awarded to Cardinal Health (Waukegan, Illinois), Careline (Greenbrier, Tennessee), a veteran business enterprise, and Medline Industries (Mundelein, Illinois).
Effective Aug. 1, the agreements are available to acute care and continuum of care members of the Premier healthcare alliance.
• Anika Therapeutics (Bedford, Massachusetts) reported an exclusive U.S. distribution agreement with Coapt Systems (Palo Alto, California) for its aesthetic dermatology franchise. Coapt's suite of bioabsorbable implants for use in facial aesthetic and rejuvenation procedures is highly complementary to Anika's HA-based injectable filler that corrects lines and wrinkles on the face, the company said.
Coapt will distribute Anika's aesthetic dermatology product exclusively in the U.S. for five years and there are two additional renewable terms. Developing line extensions for the aesthetic dermatology franchise will be a priority as Anika and Coapt fill out the family of products, the companies said.