A Medical Device Daily

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS; Chicago) and Internet2 (Ann Arbor, Michigan) reported that the two organizations have created a partnership to explore the development of a secure, reliable and advanced networking solution for the transmission of medical information, messages and images throughout the healthcare industry.

The two organizations are exploring a new network designed to offer the health sciences and healthcare sectors a private and secure medium for exchanging health information. A next-generation architecture built to meet federal regulatory requirements, this new network may also have value to offer in the work of the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN).

This collaboration is a “natural extension” for both not-for-profit organizations, they said. Through a membership of 20,000 individuals, 45 chapters and more than 300 corporations representing millions of employees, the HIMSS mission focuses on the betterment of healthcare through the most effective use of information technology and management systems.

Internet2, an advanced networking consortium led by 208 U.S. university members in partnership with more than 100 industry and government members, works to develop and deploy advanced networks, applications and resources.

NanoDetection Technology (Knoxville, Tennessee), an in vitro diagnostics company that has a patented system for detecting the presence of specific genes or pathogens within a biological or environmental sample, and its partners reported that they are collaborating to develop an avian influenza (avian flu or “bird flu”) test and mobile detection product.

Collaborators include theUniversity of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC; Memphis, Tennessee), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (also Memphis) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tennessee).

The combination of a specific test and a rapid, sensitive, handheld detector creates a solution for onsite detection of bird flu, an approach that the World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva, Switzerland)) says is the most effective method for preventing, or at least slowing, a global avian flu pandemic.

“Rapid, sensitive and accurate diagnostics are critically needed to improve preparedness and reduce catastrophic fatalities and economic losses that can be expected if a serious infectious disease spreads quickly,” said Malak Kotb, PhD, professor in the departments of surgery and microbiology/ immunology at the University of Tennessee, senior research career scientist at the VA Medical Center and director of the MidSouth Center for Biodefense and Security, who collaborates on this project.

“This need is particularly acute given the imminent threat of an avian flu pandemic and the possible emergence of new and dangerous infections,” added Kotb.

From Jan. 1, 2004, through June 20, 2006, WHO reported 232 confirmed human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1). Of these, 134 (or 58%) were fatal. In economic terms, a U.S. Congressional Budget Office study estimated that an outbreak of avian flu would lead to a 5% reduction in U.S. GDP or a $600 billion economic loss, but, according to the study, this does not account for the long-term economic value of lives lost.

At the heart of NanoDetection's detector is a patented biochip that detects light (i.e., photons) — produced as a result of a chemical reaction (DNA hybridization or protein conjugation) of a “positive” test —and simultaneously converts the photons into an electrical signal.

In other agreements:

• Acceletronics (Exton, Pennsylvania), a provider of oncology equipment service and distributor of new and pre-owned radiotherapy equipment, and Radiation Oncology Systems (ROS; San Diego), an oncology and diagnostic imaging equipment sales and consulting firm, said they have formed an alliance to market and support the TheraView Electronic Portal Imaging for IGRT (Image Guided Radiation Therapy) and IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) verification.

ROS and Acceletronics' relationship includes the co-marketing of an extensive line of pre-owned and refurbished IMRT and IGRT-equipped linear accelerators, CT and MRI Scanners and other diagnostic imaging equipment.

• UTEK (Plant City, Florida), a specialty finance company focused on technology transfer, and In Veritas Medical Diagnostics (Inverness, Scotland), a medical device company, reported that they have signed a strategic alliance agreement.

John Fuller, CEO of In Veritas Medical Diagnostics said, “[T]his alliance with UTEK . . . may accelerate the identification of promising new technology acquisition opportunities for us. We believe that our alliance with UTEK should enable us to enhance our intellectual property portfolio through the acquisition of new university discoveries.”

UTEK assists companies in enhancing their new product pipeline with the acquisition of proprietary intellectual capital from universities and laboratory research centers. In Veritas Medical Diagnostics uses its core technology to design, develop and test medical devices for near-patient testing and monitoring.