A Diagnostics & Imaging Week
Metagenics (San Clemente, California) and BioMeridian (Salt Lake City) reported forming a partnership to provide health practitioners with a new software tool named BioRep. When used in conjunction with BioMeridian's Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIM) equipment, BioRep assists in assessing patient health and recommends "an optimal supplementation protocol," in less than 20 minutes, the companies said.
BIM equipment, including its Epic Stylus, takes non-invasive, real-time, bioelectrical measurements at points on the skin that licensed health professionals associate with acupoints. The companies said that "reproducible" clinical trials have shown BioMeridian's BIM equipment could reproduce safe, accurate and repeatable results when tested in humans.
The partners launched a joint marketing program in September 2006. Metagenics will introduce the BioMeridian equipment and BioRep software at its seminars, workshops and national events.
Jeff Katke, Metagenics chairman/CEO, and Jake Carter, BioMeridian's president/CEO, said in a joint statement that the partnership "will provide health practitioners with a unique tool to assist them in quickly and accurately identifying the appropriate supplementation options for their patients. We are excited about the benefits this partnership brings to our practitioner partners."
Metagenics manufactures what it calls "science-based nutraceuticals" and medical foods sold to healthcare practitioners. The company has been granted certification for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) from the NNFA, NSF International and TGA.
BioMeridian manufactures BIM equipment that has received FDA 510(k) (Class II) and CE mark approvals, reporting more than 3,000 BIM devices sold to licensed practitioners and clinics.
In other agreements:
• AMCI Corporation (Gyrus ACMI; Southborough, Massachusetts), the Urology & Gynecology division and subsidiary of Gyrus Group (Cardiff, UK) and a manufacturer of diagnostic and therapeutic minimally invasive surgical devices used in urology and gynecology, has entered into a partnership agreement with Conceptus (San Carlos, California), manufacturer of the Essure Permanent Birth Control system. Conceptus said that its representatives will use Gyrus ACMI SlimLine Hysteroscopes to provide visualization and access during physician evaluations of the Essure product in their offices.
The SlimLine Hysteroscope provides visualization of the uterus and fallopian tubes throughout the procedure. Once in place, the Essure device is designed to elicit tissue growth in and around the micro-insert to form an occlusion or blockage in the fallopian tube.
"This is a perfect time for the partnership of Gyrus ACMI and Conceptus," said Andy Zappas, president/CEO, Urology & Gynecology division, Gyrus. "With insurance reimbursement trends moving positively in the direction of office-based procedures, we recognize the important role that new technologies can play in enabling the Gynecologist to easily move procedures from the hospital to the office while continuing to provide a high level of patient care and safety."
• Iris International (Chatsworth, California), a manufacturer of automated IVD urinalysis systems and devices used in hospitals and clinical reference laboratories, reported that its Iris Diagnostics Division has entered into a five-year agreement to supply and service automated urine microscopy technology for Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp; Burlington, North Carolina). In connection with this agreement, Iris also said that LabCorp has ordered 26 iQ200 Sprint Urine Microscopy Analyzers.
Under the agreement, Iris Diagnostics will provide training, installation, service and related reagents and consumables.
Cesar Garcia, president/CEO of Iris, said, "As stated in our second quarter earnings call, we had a number of multi-site, multi-unit deals in the pipeline and we are pleased to have completed our five-year agreement with LabCorp."
Dino Alfano, president of Iris Diagnostics, said, "After a comprehensive evaluation process, LabCorp chose our flagship iQ200 Sprint platform, with a throughput of 101 tests per hour and enhanced software that includes digital imaging and Auto-Particle Recognition, which classifies urine particles into 12 categories and quantitatively reports results. Its walk-away convenience in a bench-top system significantly reduces processing time and labor, adding significant value while increasing productivity."