FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WARRENDALE, Pa., August 22, 2009 – MEDRAD, Inc. has signed a research agreement with the University of South Florida (USF) to study the impact of automated Fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) administration on the workflow for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging procedures. Clinicians at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida will utilize MEDRAD’s Intego™ PET Infusion System to measure and infuse patient-specific FDG doses while industrial engineers from USF gather and analyze workflow data.
The study is designed to compare manual infusion to automated infusion, and to quantify time, cost, and labor savings that is expected to result from the process improvements enabled by automated FDG infusion. The Intego System improves workflow by eliminating manual steps in the preparation and handling of patient doses through design that incorporates a multi-dose FDG vial and dose-on-demand technology. Intego also provides safety and accuracy benefits by reducing radiation exposure from dose preparation and infusion by at least 20% and infusing FDG within +/-2% of the measured dose.
“Intego improves workflow and saves time, compared to manual infusion,” says Doug Descalzi, Executive Director, MEDRAD Molecular Imaging. “Intego workflow and process advantages are unique and can be significant contributors in a growing PET clinic’s efforts to manage costs and drive utilization.”
The Intego System automatically extracts a patient dose from a multi-dose vial and infuses it directly into the patient, virtually eliminating manual dose preparation and handling and the corresponding radiation exposure to the technologist inherent in manual preparation. With the Intego System’s dose-on-demand capability, the prescribed dose can be delivered when the patient and clinician are ready. This enables the clinician to easily and efficiently respond to schedule changes, patient delays, and add-on patients. Innovative features, including real-time dose availability information, an integrated ionization chamber, and an optional weight-based dose calculation, allow the healthcare provider to customize each patient’s dose. Safety features include a tungsten multi-dose vial shield, a fully lead-lined mobile cart, and an automated saline flush to remove residual FDG from the line after each infusion.
“As a busy PET site, we are keenly interested in improving our workflow and processes, and measuring Intego’s potential impact in these areas,” says Edward Eikman, M.D., Moffitt Cancer Center. “Intego is novel and creates potential to provide top level care while managing the practical challenges of PET imaging.”
“We are enthusiastic about working with MEDRAD and Moffitt to quantify the benefits that automated FDG infusion can bring,” says Ali Yalcin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering, University of South Florida.
About H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
About University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded more than $360 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2007/2008. The university offers 224 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.
Note: References on file
MEDRAD, INC.
MEDRAD, INC. develops, markets and services medical devices used to diagnose and treat disease. Its product offerings include fluid injection systems for radiology and cardiology, endovascular devices for the safe treatment of cardiovascular disease, magnetic resonance-compatible accessories and equipment services. MEDRAD’s total 2008 revenues were over $600 million. The company’s world headquarters is near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. MEDRAD is a business of Bayer Medical Care.
Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The pharmaceuticals business operates under the name Bayer Schering Pharma. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements.
Certain statements in this press release that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause actual results and Bayer's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Bayer undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information or future events or circumstances or otherwise.
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