Articles
MIT Student Inventor Awarded For Innovative Medical Devices
May 13, 2013 9:22 am | by Melissa Barnes, Associate Editor, Product Design & Development | CommentsEach year, MIT’s Lemelson program awards an outstanding student inventor for his or her contribution to innovative technology. This year, Nikolai Begg was awarded the $30,000 prize for his portfolio of cutting-edge medical devices. The main inspiration behind his work was a quest to create less invasive surgical tools, and by all means, he is succeeding.
Augmented Reality May Change The Way Surgeons Learn Robot-Assisted Surgery
May 10, 2013 9:37 am | CommentsA new study validating a first of its kind prototype using augmented reality in surgical training was recently presented. Augmented reality combines three-dimensional (3D) computer-generated objects and text superimposed onto real images and 3D surgical video footage, all in real time.
Hospital Billing Varies Wildly, Government Data Shows
May 8, 2013 9:31 am | by Barry Meier, Jo Craven McGinty, and Julie Creswell | CommentsData being released for the first time by the government on Wednesday shows that hospitals charge Medicare wildly differing amounts — sometimes 10 to 20 times what Medicare typically reimburses — for the same procedure, raising questions about how hospitals determine prices and why they differ so widely.
Lung Transplant: Jump To Top Of List May Carry Risk
May 7, 2013 9:02 am | by Salynn Boyles | CommentsAn acute increase in lung allocation score (LAS) of more than five units in the month before lung transplant is a strong and independent predictor of post-transplant death according to a new study. The lung allocation score has been used in the U.S. since 2005 to determine which patients in need of lung transplants will get them.
Pacemaker Pioneer Now Lives With Device
May 6, 2013 9:23 am | by Elizabeth Landau and Evelio Contreras | CommentsDr. Vincent L. Gott was part of an innovative group of doctors who trained with Dr. C. Walton Lillehei, considered to be the father of open-heart surgery. These days, Gott, 86, is retired and writing a children's book about the history of cardiac surgery. He discusses his career in this interview.
Face Transplant Patients: Where Are They Now?
May 3, 2013 9:41 am | by Elizabeth Landau | CommentsSince 2008, the United States has seen several landmark surgeries in face transplantation, giving people with severely deformed faces new lives through partially or totally different faces from donors. Receiving a new face is anything but easy. The surgery requires long hours with many medical specialists collaborating to make it happen. The patient then has to adjust to the new face, biologically and psychologically.
Diamond Blade Knife Care: Safe Reprocessing Without Breaking
May 2, 2013 2:12 pm | CommentsWhile diamond blade surgical knives are still preferred by top ophthalmologists over steel knives for precise cuts that dissect tissue instead of tearing it, particularly for cataract surgery, the downside is that they are very fragile and expensive. Breakage can occur during cleaning before sterilization even without human error. Improper cleaning of the blades can also lead to a clear material build-up.
The Future Of Robotic Surgery
May 1, 2013 2:51 pm | CommentsThere’s no doubt that robotic surgery is increasing in popularity and prominence as hospitals and medical facilities are trying to leverage technological advancement to achieve better outcomes, improve safety, and reduce costs. However, there are still some questions as to how robotic surgery will develop and evolve in the coming years.
A 'Clean' Break From Tradition
May 1, 2013 2:37 pm | CommentsSurgical Products recently spoke with Chuck Dunn, president of Lumalier, about some non-traditional and next-generation methods of infection control being practiced in hospitals today. Lumalier makes Tru-D SmartUVC, a portable UV disinfection system.
Tools Of The Trade
May 1, 2013 2:21 pm | by Jill Rittorno, RN, Manager, Customer Advocacy-Clinical, QRA Management, CareFusion | CommentsHealthcare facilities need to build in all of the safeguards they can and work with device manufacturers to ensure that validated reprocessing IFU are clarified and well understood. The best way to stay on track is to select instruments that are easy and intuitive to use and assemble from a partner who will provide all of the service you require in working effectively with the latest advances in instrument design and functionality.
Growing Pains
May 1, 2013 2:06 pm | by Mike Schmidt, Editor, Surgical Products | CommentsThere is a growing sense in emerging and developing markets around the globe that minimally-invasive surgical techniques will become more prominent as time goes on, and that prominence is being driven by certain factors. Surgeons in markets such as China, Indonesia, and Brazil are recognizing this trend and acting accordingly.
Arm Yourself With Knowledge
May 1, 2013 1:55 pm | by David Jagrosse | CommentsWe need to adapt and educate ourselves on how to combat, interrupt, and destroy healthcare-associated infections. HAIs are running rampant within the healthcare system. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are over 1.2 million infections a year with 100,000 deaths occurring.
Let There Be Light
May 1, 2013 1:46 pm | by Mike Schmidt, Editor, Surgical Products | CommentsWhat constitutes good or sufficient surgical lighting in today’s operating room is not the same as it was just a few short years ago. Advancements in technology and product development have sparked an ongoing evolution of lighting products. As a result, the needs, wants, and expectations of hospitals and medical facilities have grown and evolved as well.
Healthcare Law Is ‘Working Fine,’ Obama Says
May 1, 2013 9:24 am | by Robert Pear | CommentsPresident Obama said Tuesday that his healthcare law was “working fine,” and he played down concerns that the law could disrupt coverage or lead to higher premiums for people who already had health insurance. At the same time, federal officials released simplified application forms to be used by people seeking health insurance, tax credits and other government subsidies under the law, which Obama signed three years ago.
Hospitals Seeing More Superbug-Fighting Robots
April 30, 2013 9:22 am | CommentsThe rise of these superbugs, along with increased pressure from the government and insurers, is driving hospitals to try all sorts of new approaches to stop their spread: "Star Wars" machines that emit ultraviolet light or hydrogen peroxide vapors, and germ-resistant copper bed rails, call buttons and IV poles. While these products can help get a room clean, their true impact is still debatable.
