A Medical Device Daily

Invacare (Elyria, Ohio) reported the signing of a multi-year distribution agreement with AEIOMed (Minneapolis). Invacare now has exclusive distribution rights to AEIOMed's current and soon-to-be-released line of sleep-related medical devices.

AEIOMed is focused on development of medical devices for consumers with sleep disorders. The company has introduced several sleep products, including what it said is the first "truly compact, completely integrated CPAP System."

The system is recognized for its small size and portable battery module, which makes it perfect for sleep patients that require the flexibility and mobility associated with an active lifestyle, AEIOMed said.

The company also has developed a patient interface design which includes a nasal pillow which it says provides a stable, unobtrusive interface with nothing touching the patient's face except at the nares. Both products now will be privately labeled and distributed by Invacare.

"Invacare is rapidly adding to its sleep product line and is on its way to becoming the third major player in the sleep industry," said Ann MacGregor, vice president and category manager, Invacare Sleep Division. "We're doing this by building our sleep infrastructure through people with a strong history in the industry. Combining our current sleep lineup with AEIOMed's experienced sleep team, Invacare will offer the best in clinical technology and comfort through a full line of compliance driven sleep products that providers and sleep labs should not miss."

Invacare will begin to distribute AEIOMed products under private label by Sept. 1 These products will be on display Sept. 19-21 in Atlanta at Medtrade 2006, the home healthcare industry's largest annual trade show.

Illumina (San Diego) reported that it has expanded the scope of its multi-year, genotyping services agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK; London).

Illumina will begin to use Sentrix HumanHap550 BeadChips for a series of whole-genome association studies for GSK. The first such study involves genotyping a collection of 2,000 case and control DNA samples provided by GSK for a specific disease, detail for which was not provided.

Illumina's HumanHap BeadChips provide "broad genomic coverage" and the "highest per-marker information content of any whole-genome genotyping arrays," the company said. The efficient coverage is made possible by Illumina's Infinium assay, which enables "intelligent" selection and array-based interrogation of virtually any SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) in the human genome.

In other agreements:

• Medicomp (Melbourne, Florida), a subsidiary of United Therapeutics that specializes in providing cardiac telemedicine services throughout the U.S., reported that it has been awarded a contract to sell ambulatory Holter monitoring systems through Premier Purchasing Partners (San Diego).

Medicomp's Decipher Holter Monitor is designed with an on-board artificial intelligence algorithm, Diogenes, making it capable of detecting a variety of different arrhythmias while on the patient, the company said. As a testament to its quality, Decipher was the only Holter monitor to pass all the rigorous tests required to monitor the crew of the International Space Station as they live and work in outer space, the company said.

• Respironics (Murrysville, Pennsylvania) said that it will expand its relationship with Masimo (Irvine, California) and adopt Masimo's pulse oximetry solution for situations requiring read-through motion technology across all of its business units.

Until now Respironics has only used Masimo Signal Extraction Technology (SET) in certain of its sleep and respiratory products. Respironics now will gradually incorporate Rainbow SET in all of its products where improved capabilities will provide clear clinical improvements, it said. Respironics said it will phase out its Novametrix MARS oximetry product line over time but will continue to service customers until a comprehensive plan is in place.

This agreement between Respironics and Masimo also constitutes a release by Masimo of Respironics and its affiliates from certain patent infringement claims and provides Respironics with access to the Masimo Rainbow SET technology.