A Diagnostics & Imaging Week

Guardian Technologies (Herndon, Virginia), developer of intelligent imaging informatics solutions, for the homeland security and healthcare industries, said it has submitted a $3 million R&D proposal to the U.S. Government for funding to expand the current capabilities of Signature Mapping and to engage in a customization initiative of its Signature Mapping technology for battlefield applications. It said the funding would be used to improve detection of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the battlefield.

Most soldiers wounded in current battle action and subsequently evacuated are injured by explosions, the company said. Between 2003 and 2005, 28% of all battle injuries included TBI. The majority of those injuries were closed TBI — the injury was not surface detectable. Closed-head injury is often difficult to identify in the field, particularly when it is combined with other serious and more obvious and sometimes life-threatening injuries, Guardian said.

Guardian’s Signature Mapping initiative is designed to improve detection and quantification of TBI on the battlefield via image-processing. The software provides the underlying technology for computer-aided-detection (CAD) in medical image processing.

The Signature Mapping algorithms have evolved from Guardian’s patent-pending core threat detection technology, Intelligent Imaging Informatics (3i). The Signature Mapping initiative would apply this software technology for radiologists and non-radiology specialists to more accurately, rapidly, and consistently diagnose defects associated with TBI in the field.

Signature Mapping can be integrated into the current operating system platform of any manufacturer’s CT scanner or incorporated into a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) currently deployed in Army MASH units, according to the company. The technology acts as a post-acquisition analysis tool and does not interfere with the radiographic image acquisition process in any way, it said.

The work with the Department of Defense also has a crossover benefit in civilian medicine. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, on an annualized basis in the U.S. 1.5 million people will sustain a traumatic brain injury annually. 55,000 people will die as a result of their TBI’s annually and 80,000 people will experience onset of long-term disabilities following a TBI.

In other grant news, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company; Franklin Lakes, New Jersey), and FIND (Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics; Geneva) reported an expanded collaboration toward improving the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Building on a two-year relationship to improve access to diagnostics in the developing world, BD and FIND formed this collaboration in response to the emergence in many countries of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB).

BD said that “through cash and product donations,” it will support FIND’s TB program to help strengthen laboratory services in developing countries. BD’s commitment includes a cash donation of $100,000 and an in-kind product, training and service donation of about $200,000 market value.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva), one of every three people in the world is infected with dormant TB germs (i.e. TB bacteria). Only when the bacteria become active do people become ill with TB. Bacteria can become active as a result of anything that reduces the person’s immunity, such as HIV, advancing age, or specific medical conditions.

FIND promotes healthcare in developing countries by sponsoring the development and introduction of new but affordable diagnostic tools for poverty related diseases.

In contract news, Quest Diagnostics (Lyndhurst, New Jersey) reported that it has been awarded a five-year contract with the U.K.’s National Health Service West Middlesex University Hospital Trust and the Hounslow Primary Care Trust of London to provide end-to-end diagnostic testing and related services for about 215,000 people. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The pathology service will continue to be led by the West Middlesex University Hospital consultant pathologists, who will also have the ability to consult with Quest Diagnostics’ more than 500 MDs and PhDs in the U.S.

The agreement covers clinical and anatomic pathology, including biochemistry, hematology, microbiology and immunology services, as well as staffing and operation of the hospital’s on-site laboratory. It also covers the maintenance and calibration of all laboratory equipment, systems and point-of-care technology devices.