Originally Published MX May/June 2005
BUSINESS PLANNING & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
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For medical device manufacturers whose primary products involve an installed instrument base, uptime is everything. Fortunately, the adoption of advanced information technologies is making it possible for many medical device manufacturers to improve reliability while also keeping maintenance costs within reach.
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| The Trilogy system by Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, CA) is the first image-guided radiation therapy system optimized for both conventional and stereotactic approaches to treating cancer. The system incorporates Axeda's DRM software to permit remote monitoring of instrument performance. (click to enlarge) |
To cope with the difficulties of managing an installed instrument base, a variety of medical device manufacturers have fortified their products with DRM 3 diagnostic software by Axeda Corp. (Mansfield, MA). The software enables both the user and the manufacturer to monitor the instrument for potential failures and to diagnose problems remotely. Any troubles can be communicated directly to the manufacturer or the healthcare institution's service department, which may also be able to directly transmit software-related repairs.
Incorporating such remote diagnostics software reduces the healthcare provider's need to spend time diagnosing the problem and summoning a technician—and improves the reliability of the manufacturer's products. Axeda's clients include such companies as Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, CA), a manufacturer and distributor of cancer therapy systems.
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| The Immulite 2000 automated immunoassay system by Diagnostic Products Corp. (DPC; Los Angeles) incorporates remote diagnostics software by Questra Corp. (Redwood City, CA). Automated reporting of system performance to DPC enables the company to anticipate system problems and help laboratories keep their instruments running. (click to enlarge) |
Questra Corp. (Redwood City, CA) is another firm that has established a strong presence in the field of remote diagnostics software for medical devices. Questra's software is embedded in several product lines of Diagnostic Products Corp. (DPC; Los Angeles). Among them are hospital laboratory products that conduct testing for fertility, cancer, and infectious disease.
"Our clients benefit in many ways," says Linda Tucci, vice president of service at DPC. "Through daily service dumps of data from our products, our technical people spot issues before the customer does."
"We can also spot potential operator issues, such as customers' technicians not using reagents appropriately," adds Tucci. "This helps improve their productivity."
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