A Medical Device Daily

Thermage (Hayward, California) said it has signed a distribution agreement with Eclipse Medical (Dallas), a distributor of advanced aesthetic technology solutions for physician practices. Eclipse will market Thermage’s ThermaCool systems and treatment tips in the Southwest region of the U.S.

Stephen Fanning, president/CEO and chairman of Thermage, said that the agreement with Eclipse is the company’s first partnership with a U.S. distributor.

“Eclipse Medical is a significant distributor in the aesthetics market, particularly in the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. This relationship will serve to augment our direct sales force with minimal investment and we believe that through our combined efforts we will significantly expand our presence in the Southwest,” Fanning said.

Thermage’s technology provides a non-invasive procedure designed to tighten and contour skin, significantly expanding the non-invasive aesthetic applications physicians can offer to the “anti-aging” market, the company said.

In other agreements:

• Premier Purchasing Partners (San Diego) reported that new agreements for arthroscopy supplies were awarded to ConMed (Largo, Florida), Smith & Nephew Endoscopy (S&N; Andover, Massachusetts) and Stryker (Kalamazoo, Michigan).

The agreements with ConMed and S&N were effective May 1. The agreement with Stryker was effective Aug. 1. The agreements offer negotiated pricing for arthroscopy supplies including arthroscopes, video equipment, instrumentation, powered equipment, suture anchors, cannulas, and disposable supplies to acute and continuum-of-care members of the Premier alliance.

Premier serves 1,700 hospitals and more than 47,000 other healthcare sites.

• Health Systems Solutions (Tampa) reported that HSS Consultancy, its consulting subsidiary, has entered into an information technology consultancy agreement with Royal Philips Electronics (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) for the services previously carried out by Service Innovations Group (SIG) within Philips’ Medical Systems division.

The initial term of the agreement will end Dec. 31, 2009, but will be automatically extended for one-year terms unless either company objects 120 days before the expiration date.

HSS expects to hire about 20 technology and consulting experts from SIG to support the contract requirements. The company will provide various services, including software services and information technology consultancy.

HSS develops licensed and web-based management information and business intelligence information technology systems and related services. Its products are designed to help home healthcare companies manage daily clinical, operational and financial aspects of their business and to compete in the Medicare, Medicaid, private pay and managed care environments.

Its software solutions include HSS Advantage, HSS Analyzer, HSS VividNet and HSS VividCare.