Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench is First Patient in the World to Receive ADM(TM) Mobile Bearing Acetabular System with X3 Advanced Bearing Technology

Stryker Corporation’s Orthopaedics Division announced the release of the ADM X3 Mobile Bearing Acetabular System, a next-generation technology for hip replacement surgery designed to minimize the risks associated with total hip replacement surgery.

While total hip replacement is one of the most successful surgical procedures performed today, dislocation remains one of the top reported complications(1). To address dislocation, conventional designs focus on the use of metal-on-metal large head technologies which based on recent studies suggest added risk due to metal ion release(2). Combining an evolution in design with the only anatomic dual mobility acetabular system and its patented X3 Advanced Bearing Technology(3), Stryker Orthopaedics Mobile Bearing Hip addresses dislocation without the risk of metal ion release.

“By developing an implant that addresses adverse outcomes associated with hip replacement surgery, we are not only helping surgeons to treat their patients more successfully, but we are also striving to reduce global healthcare costs by minimizing surgical complications,” said Bill Huffnagle, Vice President and General Manager of Hip Reconstruction at Stryker Orthopaedics.

This Mobile Bearing Hip system is made possible due to Stryker Orthopaedics’ patented X3 Advanced Bearing Technology(3) which is designed to increase the longevity of the implant. Laboratory tests have shown a 97% reduction in volumetric wear compared to conventional polyethylene(4). ADM’s anatomic design also has the potential to increase mobility and reduce groin pain(5),(6). Its dual points of articulation help accommodate multi-directional movement, which provide greater range of motion than fixed implant designs based on laboratory testing(5). In addition, the anatomic cup design has an iliopsoas tendon cut-out aimed at reducing iliopsoas tendon impingement(6), a key cause of post-operative groin pain.

The introduction of ADM with X3 signals Stryker Orthopaedics’ intention to lead the market in the mobile bearing hip category with a product that addresses the limitations of other hip products in the market today. The launch also highlights the deep commitment and significant investments Stryker is making in its hip business — ADM X3 is the third major hip product launch by Stryker in the past year.

“We are committed to offering advanced technologies that benefit both surgeons and patients while adding value in ways that have the potential to reduce costs to the healthcare system,” said Huffnagle.


A recently published study in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy demonstrates Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology to be safe when used by physicians in pediatric patients. Known as the INTACT study, this is a prospective, non-randomized, multicenter study and was sponsored by Acclarent, Inc.

Thirty-two pediatric patients, between the ages of 2 and 11, underwent minimally invasive sinus surgery with the Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology after previously failing medical management for 3-6 months and showing CT evidence of chronic sinusitis. These patients were followed for one year and effectiveness was assessed using the validated SN-5 quality of life questionnaire.

At one year follow up, 87% of patients reported improvement in their sinus symptoms. Statistically significant improvements in patient quality of life were maintained through one year. No adverse events were observed at any time point throughout the study. The authors concluded that when patients are appropriately selected, preliminary results indicate that sinus ostial dilation using balloon catheters in children has an excellent safety profile and may be an effective minimally invasive treatment option to relieve sinus ostial obstruction.

Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology is used to restore normal sinus drainage by widening constricted sinus passages with specially designed catheters and balloons. The technology has been used to treat over 100,000 patients since receiving FDA clearance in 2005 and can be used alone or with standard surgical instrumentation. Since 2005, more than 5,600 sinus surgeons have been trained on the use of Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology.

The Center for Disease Control data reports sinusitis is among the most common illnesses in the U.S., affecting an estimated 37 million Americans and leading to 500,000 surgeries a year. Pediatric patients make up 22% of all office visits for chronic sinusitis(1). Symptoms include repeated infections, headaches, facial pain, persistent congestion, cough and fatigue.

“The INTACT study affirms the safety of minimally invasive sinus surgery with Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology in children. The use of Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology at the time of adenoidectomy or after failed adenoidectomy is an option that should be considered prior to traditional sinus surgery,” said Hassan Ramadan, M.D., MSc, FACS of West Virginia University, and lead author of the INTACT study.

All medical procedures contain risks. Although rare, the risks associated with Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology include tissue and mucosal trauma, infection, or possible optic injury. Consult your physician for a full discussion of risks and benefits to determine whether this procedure is right for you or your child.

(1) Benninger, M., Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2003; 129S: S1-S32

Source: Acclarent, Inc.


Is the person exposing you to radiation qualified?

Every day in the United States, tens of thousands of patients are exposed to ionizing radiation through radiation therapy, CT scans, x rays, mammograms, and other medical imaging and therapeutic procedures. Patients need to have confidence that the technologists caring for them have the credentials and qualifications to safely administer radiation, and that the equipment they are using is properly calibrated and maintained to deliver radiation safely and within the proper dose parameters.

These imaging procedures are key to making correct diagnoses of injuries and disease processes. Radiation therapy procedures are an important weapon in treating cancer. But, along with its life-saving capacity, ionizing radiation can cause harm to patients when used improperly. Too much radiation and the patient may suffer debilitating injury or death, as today’s testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health has documented.

Responsibility for assuring balance between the amount of radiation used and the costs and benefits of its use lies with the physicians, the radiation oncologists, the equipment manufacturers, the radiation physicists, and the technologists who interact directly with the patients and who operate the equipment that delivers the radiation. Being fully qualified to perform their role in this team of professionals requires that the individuals have been appropriately educated in the fundamental concepts of radiation — including its biological effects — and how to achieve positive benefits and avoid or mitigate negative effects.

“For technologists, that means a formal educational program that covers both the underlying concepts of radiation physics and its application for medical uses,” according to Michael DelVecchio, B.S., R.T.(R)(ARRT), president of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. “This includes both classroom work and hands-on education in clinical settings.”

Completion of the educational program is followed by application for certification by a national organization specializing in medical imaging and/or radiation therapy, according to DelVecchio. Certification organizations evaluate the applicant’s education (including successful completion of specified clinical competencies), compliance with ethics standards related to patient care, and passing a comprehensive examination that covers both principles of radiation and application to imaging or therapy.

“Initial certification alone, however, is not sufficient for assuring ongoing qualifications,” DelVecchio notes. Although the concepts of radiation learned in the educational program may remain relevant for decades, the technology of how it is used changes rapidly. “This means that technologists must continue to update their qualifications on an ongoing basis,” he adds. Continuing education relevant to their practice is an essential requirement for technologists and is a requirement for maintaining the registration of certification.

“While no medical error is acceptable,” DelVecchio asserts, “they do occur. They can result from lack of knowledge and education in some cases. But errors may also result from behavior that lacks the appropriate ethical grounding, which is also essential to assuring ongoing qualifications. Measured by an appropriate standard of ethics, individuals can demonstrate that they have internalized a set of guidelines that reflect the best interests of the patient.”

Answering the question – Is the person exposing you to radiation qualified? — is a matter of both initial and ongoing evaluation and monitoring of qualifications. Certification programs such as those administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists are important elements in providing the quality of care that all patients and their loved ones should expect.

Source: American Registry of Radiologic Technologists


An article that recently appeared in El Tejano Magazine highlighted the fact that many Americans are living longer, healthier and more productive lives because of medical innovation and research.

America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are leading the charge. The Congressional Budget Office specifically identified America’s biopharmaceutical sector as “one of the most research-intensive industries” in America.

“A strong, innovative and creative pharmaceutical research and biotechnology sector based in the United States is a real boon to American patients,” said Billy Tauzin, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). “American patients often get access to new and better medicines well ahead of patients around the world, and this homegrown innovation not only saves lives, it helps the American economy by employing millions of Americans and pumping billions of dollars into our local and national economies,” Tauzin added.

According to a study recently published in Health Affairs, cancer patients live three years longer on average than in 1980; 83 percent of that gain is the result of new treatments. In addition, there was a nearly 50 percent decline in heart failure- and heart attack-related deaths between 1999 and 2005. The rate of AIDS deaths has fallen by more than 70 percent since highly active anti-retroviral therapies were developed, and blood pressure medicines prevented 86,000 premature deaths from cardiovascular disease and avoided 833,000 hospitalizations for heart attack and stroke in just one year, according to a 2007 study.

These and many other medical advances were driven by U.S.-based medical innovation, according to a recent study by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development. In fact, the study showed that 75 percent of new drugs in recent years were first introduced in the U.S.

“It’s important to keep in mind,” said Tauzin, “that developing new therapies can be risky, expensive and time consuming. Creating a new medicine, on average, takes between 10 and 15 years and can cost $1.3 billion. But it’s an investment biopharmaceutical research companies make because nothing is as important as the search for new cures and treatments that help patients live longer, healthier lives.”

Source: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America


DTU-2231 and DTU-1631 Provide Direct Pen-on-screen Workflow for Increased Efficiency and Productivity; DTU-2231 Serves as First HD Interactive Pen Display Aimed at Medical Industry

Providing streamlined and intuitive digital workflows within the medical industry, Wacom® has amplified the opportunity to increase production rates and comfort with the introduction of the DTU-2231 and DTU-1631 interactive pen displays. Offering the ultimate in control, the new DTU models’ direct pen-on-screen input is designed to optimize efficiency and productivity by allowing healthcare professionals to draw diagrams, write notes or annotate directly on digital images.

“Our goal is to positively impact, and elevate, the way people interact with their digital data,” said Senior Wacom Product Manager, Stan Ueno. “With excellent resolution and widescreen formatting, the DTU-2231 and DTU-1631 raise the bar for medical professionals seeking higher levels of detail, accuracy and efficiency. This, combined with the vast array of other high-performance interactive pen display models offered by Wacom, provides medical professionals unlimited options to improve image editing, recordkeeping, education and more.”

DTU-2231: First HD Interactive Pen Display for Radiology, EMR and Other Applications

Featuring a 21.5″ widescreen LCD with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, the DTU-2231 allows radiologists, physicians and other medical professionals to contour directly on CT slices, take measurements of complex objects, highlight points of interest and make handwritten comments on a given image. The DTU-2231 increases control, accuracy and productivity in addition to providing users the ability to collaborate and share treatment plans electronically. This opens the door to improved communication between staff within the medical community. At a growing rate, healthcare professionals are combining Wacom’s interactive pen technology with software applications such as Eclipse, Pinnacle and RealArt to experience up to a 60 percent decrease in time requirements for image contouring and radiation volume targeting. Moreover, Wacom interactive pen displays can be found at Oregon Health & Science University, Seattle’s Swedish Medical Center and numerous other leading medical institutions.

The flexibility and ease-of-use inherent in the DTU-2231 also make it an ideal tool for Electronic Medical Records (EMR) management. From reviewing and signing legally binding patient admission, insurance and consent forms to using the pen display as an educational tool during medical school, the DTU-2231 is an elite multi-tasking device for healthcare professionals.

DTU-1631: Fueling Efficiency for Medical Administrative Professionals

Created to accommodate professionals requiring advanced widescreen interactive pen display capabilities in a more compact form factor, the DTU-1631 makes the capture of EMR simple and fast for both healthcare professionals and patients. The more compact DTU-1631, a 15.6″ LCD with a 1366 x 768 resolution, is a comfortable size for populating patient data such as signature capture for patient admission and consent.

“The natural and intuitive ‘pen-on-paper’ feel of the DTU-1631 paves the way for a paperless organization, allowing administrative professionals a cost-effective and streamlined way to work,” continues Ueno.

Tier one healthcare organizations such as San Diego’s Sharp HealthCare and Lennox Hill of New York employ Wacom interactive pen displays for hospital-patient administrative tasks and report measurable savings.

DTU-2231 and DTU-1631 Features Include:
Cordless, Battery-free Pen: With 512 levels of pressure sensitivity, the pen provides a tip switch, two customizable side switches, an eraser switch and tether hole
Built-in USB Hub: With two user-accessible USB ports
Video Pass-Thru: DVI-I (digital or analog) input, DVI-I output and video scaler
Completely Flat Work Surface: 16:9 aspect ratio and adjustable stand; the DTU-2231 additionally offers anti-reflective treatment

Competitively priced, the Wacom DTU-2231 (USD $1,899 MSRP) and DTU-1631 (USD $1,249 MSRP) will be available for purchase in spring 2010.


Use of MRI and CT Scans Increasing Rapidly

The use of medical technology in the United States increased dramatically between 1996 and 2006, according to “Health, United States, 2009,” the federal government’s 33rd annual report to the President and Congress on the health of all Americans.

The report was prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics from data gathered by state and federal health agencies and through ongoing national surveys.

This year’s edition features a special section on medical technology, and finds that the rate of magnetic resonance imaging, known as MRI, and computed and positron emission tomography or CT/PET scans, ordered or provided, tripled between 1996 and 2007.

Highlights of the special section include:
- The rate of adults aged 45 and over discharged from the hospital after receiving at least one knee replacement procedure increased 70 percent from 1996 to 2006 (26.5 per 10,000 population in 1996 to 45.2 per 10,000 in 2006).
– From 1988-1994 to 2003-2006, use of antidiabetic drugs among adults aged 45 years and over increased about 50 percent, and the use of statin drugs to lower cholesterol among this age group increased almost tenfold.
– The number of new organ transplantations per 1 million people increased 31 percent for kidney transplants (43.7 per 1 million in 1997 vs. 57.2 in 2006) and 42 percent for liver transplants between 1997 and 2006 (15.6 per 1 million in 1997 vs. 22.2 in 2006).

The full report contains 150 data tables in addition to the special feature on medical technology. The tables cover the spectrum of health topics, serving as a comprehensive snapshot of the nation’s health.

– Life expectancy at birth increased more for the black than for the white population between 1990 and 2007, thereby narrowing the gap in life expectancy between these two racial groups. Overall U.S. life expectancy in 2007 was 77.9 years.
– In 2007, 20 percent of U.S. adults were current cigarette smokers, a slight decrease from 21 percent in the previous three years. Men were more likely to be current cigarette smokers than women (22 percent vs. 17 percent).
– In 2005-2006, 30 percent of adults often or almost always had trouble sleeping in the past month.
– In 2007, 20 percent of adults 18 years and over had at least one emergency department visit in the past year, and 7 percent had two or more visits.
– The percentage of the population taking at least one prescription drugduring the previous month increased from 38 percent in 1988-1994 to 47 percent in 2003-2006, and the percentage taking three or more prescription drugs increased from 11 percent to 21 percent.

The full report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm.


Dr Ananthram Shetty, orthopaedic surgeon based in England, has recently performed a world’s first to save a climbers leg using a ground-breaking technique combining collagen gel and stem cells to fuse bone together.

Mr Shetty recently used the new technique on Andrew Kent from Gillingham, Kent, after he badly broke his leg and traditional surgery failed. For the first time ever doctors used stem cells to heal bones in a technique that could revolutionise orthopaedic operations.

Initially Mr Kent had been warned he faced amputation when a large boulder fell on his right leg, breaking it in five places in April 2009. His tibia had broken through the skin above his ankle. He was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, where he underwent three operations to pin his bones back together. But his wound became seriously infected and he was transferred to the Spire Alexandra Hospital, Kent. Surgeons warned that he was likely to lose his leg unless they tried the new procedure.

“Receiving that news is devastating,” Mr Kent said. “But I’m now delighted. I can wiggle my toes and the prognosis is encouraging.”

Mr Shetty removed stem cells from Mr Kent’s hip bone-marrow. These were mixed with the collagen gel called Surgifill to make a paste, which was smeared into the fractures. They finally fixed his leg in a metal cage to gently squeeze the bones together. The cage was removed in December, six months after the Surgifill procedure.

Mr Shetty explains “This is an amazing technique with remarkable results. I was able to put my whole body weight on his leg and the bones remained solid.”

Surgifill and Cartifill, a gel procedure used to repair knee cartilage, were developed by orthopaedic surgeon Professor Seok-jung Kim, Director of RMS (Regenerative Medical System) a South Korean bio-medical company, in partnership with the UK’s Spire Healthcare, where Mr Shetty predominately operates.

Dr Kim, a recognised pioneer in the biotech field, says “This is a very exciting advancement in surgery as early results indicate Cartifill may be extremely beneficial, particularly for knee surgery as Cartifill is extremely beneficial to patients with cartilage damage to the knee, especially patella (knee cap).”

Mr Shetty, Senior Lecturer at King’s College, London is the only surgeon worldwide trained to carry out the Surgifill and Cartifill procedures. “I see huge potential for these techniques and I hope to be able to perform this operation in India on a regular basis. The gel holds the stem cells against the bone to form new cartilage. Ten patients have been treated so far in Britain with an 80% success rate. The technique costs far less than alternative techniques making it far more accessible for people in India,” Mr Shetty said.

The minimally-invasive cartilage technique is a one stage day case procedure, with a recovery time of up to six weeks, compared to alternative treatments which generally need two stage surgery three days in hospital and minimum twelve to fourteen week recovery.

The Shetty-Kim technique has been hailed as one of the surgical advances of the decade and already Mr Shetty has received enquiries from around the world. This technique will be available in Mangalore and Bangalore soon.

Source: Spire Healthcare


This Time With a Transplanted Heart Replacing Mechanical Device

Heart-assist device helped ready 16-year-old for successful surgery

The wait is over for 16-year-old Francesco “Frank” De Santiago. On January 29, De Santiago received a donor heart in a successful nine-hour transplant operation at Texas Children’s Heart Center. De Santiago made medical history last October for being the first child ever discharged from a pediatric hospital with an implanted mechanical heart pump, or intracorporeal ventricular assist device (VAD). Until then, pediatric patients with mechanical heart devices remained in the hospital, often in intensive care, while awaiting a donor heart.

“Frank’s surgery went extremely well; he was a much better candidate for a heart transplant now than eight months ago when his heart was failing,” said Dr. David L.D. Morales, pediatric cardiovascular surgeon at Texas Children’s Heart Center who implanted Frank’s device last May and performed his recent heart transplant. “The device improved his physical health and allowed him to be discharged so he could enjoy some normal teen activity during the wait for a donor heart. Texas Children’s is leading the way in using five different types of VAD technology to help pediatric patients enhance their quality of life and outlook so they are better prepared for their transplant surgery.”

De Santiago will continue to reside in Houston and undergo rehabilitation and follow-up check-ups for three months before returning to his home in south Texas. He calls his heart “a gift” and is learning how to care for himself and his new organ.

Morales said about 450 pediatric heart transplants occur annually in the United State; yet the number of pediatric heart failure cases diagnosed annually continues to rise. He believes that the future of pediatric heart care resides in VAD technology and Texas Children’s Heart Center uses the most of any pediatric hospital in the country.

“Heart failure in children is now being diagnosed at an increased rate,” said Dr. Jeffrey Dreyer, medical director of cardiac transplantation at Texas Children’s Hospital. “Advances in VAD technology provide new opportunities for treatment and recovery. Prior to VADs, a significant number of pediatric heart failure patients did not survive long enough to receive a heart transplant. We are fortunate to have this technology and expertise at Texas Children’s.”

Frank De Santiago was transferred to Texas Children’s Hospital from south Texas after experiencing a temporary stroke. He was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which his heart was enlarged to more than twice a normal size and could not pump blood efficiently. The Texas Children’s Heart Center physician team placed him on the heart transplant list and concluded he was an excellent candidate for the HeartMate II VAD that could keep him alive until a suitable donor heart became available.

Texas Children’s Hospital is the first pediatric hospital in the world to use the HeartMate II in pediatric patients with a body surface area of at least 1.3 square meters. The device, about the size of two “D” cell batteries laid end-to-end, received U. S. Food and Drug Administration approval on April 26, 2008. Since then, Morales, also director of the Pediatric Mechanical Circulatory Support Program, has implanted the HeartMate II in five teen or pre-teen patients. All patients experienced improved heart health on the device, which allowed them to live until donor hearts became available.


Avatar-like 3-D images bring life to cosmetic surgery

Simulating surgical outcome puts patient’s mind at ease

Dr. Brett Kotlus, a cosmetic surgeon at Allure Medical Spa in Shelby Township, raves about the 3-D system he uses to simulate surgery on prospective clients. The Vectra 3-D from Canfield Imaging Systems takes an image of the face or body with 12 different digital cameras at once, with a resolution of 36 megapixels. “This 3-D system has a clever interface that constructs a realistic, modifiable image that can be sculpted in the same way that cosmetic surgery would sculpt a nose or a breast. Within minutes, we can see possible surgical results. In this scenario, a picture is truly worth a thousand words,” explains Dr. Kotlus. On a computer screen, the patient sees side-by-side pictures, an untouched version and a surgery simulation.

3-D imaging has emerged as a modern method that helps cosmetic surgeons and patients visualize outcomes. There is a high demand for a tool that allows people to see what they might look like after cosmetic surgery. The old days of red and blue tinted glasses are gone, and the newest version of 3-D uses sophisticated computers to create lifelike images. Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks have brought three-dimensional animated features to movie theatres, with blockbuster reviews. Patients are often surprised to find the same technology used in films like James Cameron’s Avatar in their cosmetic surgeon’s office.

Most commonly, 3-D simulations are used to imagine breast augmentation, nose reshaping, and chin sculpting. Dr. Charles Mok at Allure Medical Spa has been using this tool for the past year and it has changed the way he does consultations with patients. “The 3-D simulator helps me to communicate in a specific way and set the patient’s expectations. When they are realistic about what can be achieved with surgery, they are much happier after having a procedure,” says Dr. Mok. Michelle, mother of four, knew she wanted breast augmentation but was apprehensive about the size; using 3-D imaging we were able to show her what she could expect to look like. “After seeing what my outcome would look like and comparing three different sizes I was completely comfortable picking an implant size; I went into surgery with my mind completely at ease.”

Dr. Kotlus envisions more three-dimensional surgery applications in the future. “This is only the tip of the iceberg. Cosmetic surgery is continually incorporating technological advances into amazing procedures. Cosmetic surgeons already think in three dimensions, so now we have tools to convey these ideas more clearly.” A consultation including 3-D imaging and 3-D surgery simulation takes about 30 minutes, including a face-to-face discussion with the doctor.

Source: Allure Medical Spa


A new walk in walk out ultrasonic sculpting procedure has increased demand for male breast reduction. According to figures released by Dr Ravi Jain, Medical Director of award winning Riverbanks Clinic, 90% of men who chose to undergo treatment at his clinic in 2009, opted to have their “moobs” reduced and sculpted using the life changing Vaser Ultra Sculpt treatment that allows 86% patients to go back to work within three days.

Gynecomastia, the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males is a common condition that affects up to 60% of men. Unlike traditional surgical male chest reduction, Dr Jain uses ultrasonic energy that removes unwanted fat through minimal incisions (2-3mm diameter) and enhances the visibility of the underlying musculature. Dr Jain also removes the underlying breast gland to create a flat and defined chest creating results that can usually only be achieved by undergoing major surgery that requires general anesthetic and weeks of painful recovery.

But how can the dramatic trajectory for male breast reduction be explained? Dr Jain suggests that men have been suffering in silence for many years and the decision to opt for surgery has little to do with vanity. “The average age of the men I treat is 40. They have been distressed about their condition since their teens or early 20’s. Vaser Ultra Sculpt provides an effective alternative to surgery with minimal recovery time that enables them to get back to work quickly. This is the most rewarding treatment we offer because it is life changing and restores confidence that has been destroyed through years of suffering.”

A Riverbanks patient who recently had the ultrasound “moob” sculpting treatment said “After researching male breast reduction surgery on the internet, I decided to opt for ultra sonic sculpting due to minimal downtime and recovery period. Also a big factor was that I was awake and able to talk to the surgeon whilst the procedure was being carried out. Since my op I have made very good progress and the results have been life changing.”

Source: Dr Ravi Jain


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