A Medical Device Daily

Zimmer Holdings (Warsaw, Indiana), which focuses on the orthopedics industry, reported that it has entered into a five-year agreement with Brasseler USA (Savannah, Georgia) that allows Zimmer to sell and distribute Brasseler-manufactured powered surgical instruments (large- and small-bone) and consumables in the U.S.

“Zimmer was the leader in the powered surgical market with the Linvatec/Hall Surgical line of products until our former parent divested the product line, and we are pleased to be re-entering the market,” said Ray Elliott, Zimmer chairman, president and CEO. “With Brasseler's systems, we are once again in a position to address our customers' needs with an excellent product line backed by exceptional Zimmer customer service. This is a natural extension of our leadership in joint replacement implants.”

Brasseler recently released a new large-bone surgical power equipment system – the Brasseler Orthopaedic Power System – that will be marketed by Zimmer under the Brasseler brand. The system utilizes a power module to drive all the handpieces. The power module, which incorporates a battery, drive motor and system electronics, is not sterile processed, but rather is aseptically transferred to the handpieces.

Eliminating the intense autoclaving cycles increases battery life and overall reliability of the power tool system, Zimmer said.

A premium line of disposable blades fitting Zimmer implant systems will be marketed under the Zimmer brand. A broader range of blades not specific to Zimmer implant systems (large-bone and small-bone) will be sold under the Brasseler brand.

In other agreements news:

• PerkinElmer (Boston), which focuses on health sciences and photonics, reported a multiyear license and research collaboration agreement with the University of Leicester in the UK.

Together, the two organizations will begin to lay the groundwork for the clinical investigation and discovery of biomarkers that predict preterm birth (PTB). This collaboration, which will be financed by PerkinElmer, reinforces the company's long-term commitment to the area of maternal health, it said.

It is estimated that preterm labor complicates 6% to 10% of all pregnancies and is the most common cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Worldwide statistics reflect that there may be as many as 13 million preterm births annually, and this figure is predicted to increase. In the U.S., an estimated $820 million is spent on preterm hospitalization subsequently shown to have been unnecessary.

Such hospitalizations tax both the mother's health and healthcare resources, PerkinElmer said, adding that currently there are no rapid or accurate tests that positively predict preterm labor. The collaboration between PerkinElmer and the university is designed to effectively address this need and eventually design and supply an effective preterm labor test predictor.

PerkinElmer will support the expansion of the University of Leicester's maternal health research capabilities, and empower its key researchers with advanced tools, technology and expertise.

• The Premier (Charlotte, North Carolina) alliance of nearly 1,500 hospitals and health systems has reported a special group buy for Philips Medical Systems (Andover, Massachusetts), as well as associated contrast media injectors from Mallinckrodt (St. Louis) and Medrad (Indianola, Pennsylvania).

The event, which runs through Sept. 29, is designed to offer “significant savings opportunities” to members who are planning to add to or enhance medical imaging capabilities. All Premier members are eligible to participate in the group buy and orders can be placed through Sep. 29 for delivery any time before Sept. 29, 2007.

“This group buy allows Premier to provide our members exceptional value in medical imaging,” said Mike Alkire, president of Premier Purchasing Partners. “By aggregating the volume of many members when purchasing these very expensive, but vital diagnostic tools, our participating members can achieve substantial savings on the latest available technology.”

• Emageon (Birmingham, Alabama), a provider of enterprise visual medical systems to hospitals and healthcare networks, reported that it has executed an agreement with Christus Health (Dallas), a health system with facilities in seven states and Mexico.

Emageon and Christus reported the agreement to implement HeartSuite, Emageon's cardiology image management and visualization system across the network of 14 Christus facilities providing cardiovascular services.

Emageon's HeartSuite information system provides single-point access to cardiovascular patient data.

Sanuwave launches web site for ESWT awareness

Sanuwave (Marietta, Georgia), a provider and developer of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Technology (ESWT) for orthopedic and other emerging conditions, reported the launch of an updated web site as part of a campaign to provide increased customer service, create a medium for ESWT awareness, and create a centralized location of organized educational resources for the healthcare and investment communities.

This first phase of the web site launch will focus on core existing technologies and FDA-approved indications for the U.S. market and Sanuwave's veterinary business.

It will provide patients contact information for more than 1,100 U.S.-based physicians trained to use the OssaTron for chronic plantar fasciitis and chronic lateral epicondylitis. Physician and reimbursement resources will be another highlight of the new web site, and it will also offer a comprehensive educational overview of shock wave technology.

“Sanuwave has been in the process of developing branding consistent with a global healthcare vision, and the launch of the new web site marks the first public appearance of the new branding,” said Chris Cashman, president and CEO.