D0201.jpg (12986 bytes)Product Leader Recognized
Respironics Inc, Murrysville, Pa, is the recipient of this year’s Frost & Sullivan 2005 Customer-Ranked Leader in Sleep Diagnostic Equipment Quality and Customer Service Award. The award recognizes Respironics as the leading sleep diagnostic-equipment manufacturer in both product quality and customer service for its production and support of the Alice® family of polysomnographic sleep systems. “The team involved in the creation, development, and continued support of Alice has worked hard to make this product line stand out in the marketplace for its quality and reliability. For this effort to be recognized by our customers is truly an honor,” says Ron Fligge, product manager, sleep diagnostics, and homecare division.

Acquisition Announced
VIASYS Healthcare Inc, Conshohocken, Pa, and Pulmonetic Systems Inc, Minneapolis, have signed an agreement for VIASYS to acquire, by merger, all of the outstanding stock of Pulmonetic Systems. Under the terms of the agreement, VIASYS will acquire Pulmonetic Systems through one of its subsidiaries for an estimated cash consideration of $98 million. “This is a strategic acquisition for VIASYS, enabling us to enter into a new market segment,” said Ed Pulwer, group president, VIASYS Respiratory Care. “Home care mechanical ventilation is one of the fastest-growing market segments in the global ventilation market.” Jim Hickey, president and CEO, Pulmonetic Systems, said, “This is a great fit for Pulmonetic Systems, and we believe the combined organization will become the hallmark for leadership in the mechanical ventilation industry.”

VIASYS has also signed an agreement to acquire Micro Medical Ltd, Chatham, UK, for a purchase price of approximately $39 million. As part of the transaction, VIASYS is assuming approximately $1.2 million in net debt and has agreed, in certain circumstances, to make a contingent payment related to the sales of a new product and a contingent payment related to performance targets. “This is a very exciting acquisition for VIASYS and brings us an outstanding company in one of the fastest growth segments of respiratory diagnostics,” said Pulwer.

Data Supports Inhaled Iloprost Therapy
CoTherix Inc, South San Francisco, Calif, recently presented data on Ventavis (inhaled iloprost), a noninvasive inhaled treatment option for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This was the first medical meeting at which Ventavis data have been presented since the product received US Food & Drug Administration approval in December 2004. PAH affects an estimated 50,000 patients in the United States, with only about 15,000 diagnosed and under treatment. Ventavis works by opening up the blood vessels in the lungs to lower blood pressure within the pulmonary arteries. Since it is inhaled directly into the lungs through a nebulizer, it eliminates the need for pumps or catheters.

Clinical Web Site Introduced
Hamilton Medical Inc, Reno, Nev, introduces IntelligentVentilation.org, a Web site designed to provide clinical information and innovative solutions for all medical practitioners treating patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The Web site focuses on scientific research and explores techniques in safe and effective ventilatory support. White papers, abstracts, and links to peer-reviewed research are available and can be searched by clinical or technical categories.

Contract Awarded
The Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN 12), Great Lakes Health Care System, has awarded a blanket purchase agreement to Radiometer America Inc, Westlake, Ohio. Under the 5-year agreement, VISN 12 hospitals will standardize their blood gas, whole blood oximetry, and STAT electrolyte testing utilizing a comprehensive Radiometer solution that includes analyzers, services, and related products. “We are looking forward to offering Radiometer’s total blood-gas testing solution to the hospitals of VISN 12,” says Russell Christian, president, Radiometer America. “As their standardization partner, Radiometer will offer VISN 12 a comprehensive line of critical care testing products for both centralized and near-patient testing.”

New President Welcomed
MAQUET, Bridgewater, NJ, has appointed David DeSantis as president of MAQUET Inc, the company’s US subsidiary of the Medical Systems Division. DeSantis is responsible for leading MAQUET’s efforts in the United States and will focus on building the company’s commercial presence. “David’s knowledge will strengthen the ongoing evolution of our growing organization,” says Michael Rieder, managing director of MAQUET.

D02b.jpg (12833 bytes)Vice President Appointed
Sleepmate Technologies, Midlothian, Va, has appointed Joseph Anderson, RPSGT, RPFT, CRT-NPS, BS, as vice president of sales and marketing. He has been in the position of director of sales and marketing since January 2004 and product manager with Sleepmate since 2001. Anderson brings over 20 years of clinical practice as well as 10 years of marketing and product-management experience to his expanded role as marketing and product manager. Since 2001, he has been instrumental in such Sleepmate product launches as the Web-based Sleepmate Professional Training Series; the new Sleepmate Web site, Pulse Oximetry Sensors; and Sleepmate’s new product line of second-generation sensors, released this year.