THIS ISSUE
Robo-surgery is safe and capable
Using a robotic assistant to remove a patient’s gallbladder by key hole surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) is as safe as working with a human assistant, a Cochrane Review has concluded. Comparisons between robot- and human-assisted surgery showed that there were no differences in terms of morbidity, the need to switch to open surgery, total operating time or length of stay in hospital. Researchers considered data from five randomised trials that employed Endoassist, Aesop, Passist or Zeus robots and included 453 patients. One of the aims behind using robots is that it could enable a surgeon to perform an emergency operation without having to wait for a human assistant to be available. In the US alone, more than 500 000 people have their gall bladder removed each year. www.thecochranelibrary.com
Facial reanimation technology
An artificial polymer muscle implanted beneath the skin could help people regain control of facial features such as eyelids affected by paralysis. Surgeons Craig Senders and Travis Tollefson of the University of California, Oakland, USA, have invented electroactive polymer actuators that power implants attached to tissues in patients. When the actuators are energised, the implants move the tissues appropriately to provide improved body functions to those experiencing paralysis or paresis. www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2009020648
Healthy projections for 2009
Medicoindustrien, the Danish trade association, has conducted an online survey among its member companies asking about their expectations for 2009 in relation to sales, number of staff, employment of new staff, research and development (R&D) and new product launches. Results show that the medical device industry believes in an increase in sales and employment in 2009 in Denmark and abroad. R&D expenditure and the number of new product launches will remain at the same level as 2008. However, there is a decline in growth expectations for 2009 compared with a similar survey conducted in February 2008. www.medicoindustrien.dk
A sound and growing ultrasound market
The global ultrasound equipment market will continue to experience strong growth despite the economic downturn; it is projected to exceed US$6 billion by 2012. This is fuelled by the trend towards miniaturisation; the flexibility, ease of use and relatively low cost of ultrasound equipment; and the quick adoption of hand carried systems. A study by InMedica highlighted a movement away from high-end systems as a result of the increasing functionality and picture quality in low-end systems. The greatest growth will be in the mid range segment and higher than usual growth is forecast for the low-end segment, particularly in 2009. www.in-medica.com
Aid to more effective product marking
ISO 28219:2009, Packaging, Labelling and Direct
Product Marking with Linear Bar Code and Two-
Dimensional Symbols has been released. The new
standard is designed to increase the efficiency
of machine-readable product marking along the
supply chain and across all industries. To aid in
this, it defines minimum requirements for identifying
items, provides guidelines for item marking
with machine-readable symbols, and guidance
on formatting data on labels presented in linear
bar code, two-dimensional symbol or human
readable form. www.iso.org
