A Medical Device Daily

Synergetics USA (O'Fallon, Missouri) reported that it has signed a new three-year distribution agreement with Quantel Medical (Clermont-Ferrand, France). Synergetics will gain distribution rights in the U.S. and Canada for Vitra, Quantel's newest ophthalmic laser. Synergetics will have exclusive distribution rights for the operating room and non-exclusive distribution rights for the ophthalmic office, estimating the U.S. and Canadian markets for these lasers to exceed $28 million annually. The company said Vitra is the smallest, portable ophthalmic laser.

Synergetics said its prior distribution relationship with Quantel, a pioneer in diode-based medical lasers, led to this new agreement.

“Our previous venture into the laser market resulted in modest results. With this agreement, we will be able to offer our customers a truly competitive product through our existing sales organization,” said Gregg Scheller, president and CEO of Synergetics.

Synergetics USA resulted from the September 2005 combination of Valley Forge Scientific and Synergetics (Medical Device Daily, June 6, 2006). Synergetics USA manufactures medical devices for use primarily in ophthalmic surgery and neurosurgery and for other healthcare applications.

McKesson Specialty (Scottsdale, Arizona), a division of McKesson, reported its exclusive agreement with Altos Solutions (Los Altos, California) to market and distribute OncoEMR, an oncology-specific, web-based electronic medical records (EMR) application.

This alliance follows McKesson's recent acquisition of National Oncology Alliance, and further solidifies McKesson Specialty's growing role in the oncology market, the company said.

“OncoEMR is the only web-based EMR on the market designed with input from oncologists specifically for oncology practices. Its web-based design makes it easier and less costly to implement compared to other EMRs available today,” said Pat Blake, president of McKesson Specialty. “OncoEMR is an ideal addition to the suite of products available through McKesson Specialty's Oncology Services.”

OncoEMR can be seamlessly integrated into existing practice management and lab systems. Altos Solutions, which makes web-based EMR systems, also provides ongoing training and support to all OncoEMR customers.