All articles by Amit Thadani
Amit Thadani
Canon Medical to buy Danish medical X-ray systems company NRT
Through the acquisition, Canon Medical aims to enhance its technology, development, and manufacturing of advanced digital imaging solutions in Europe
Lilly announces Institute for Genetic Medicine; invests $700m in Boston Seaport site
The advanced facility will harbour research efforts in Boston and New York to advance the development of RNA and DNA-based medicines
The future of laboratory automation
Quickly understanding a patient’s condition is crucial to keeping public health ticking over – but that can be tough without robust diagnostic tests. Nicolas Quoix, EU senior marketing manager at Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, explains what his company can offer.
Automation at Wisplinghoff Laboratories
Automation is transforming the way we do things, and that rings true for many of the everyday tasks that take place in laboratories. Wisplinghoff Laboratories in Cologne is well known for its automation approach to processing. Professor Dr Hilmar Wisplinghoff, its microbiology lead, talks about how the technology makes a difference, and what could be next on its innovation agenda.
Beckman Coulter’s new urinalysis solution improves laboratory workflow, reduces manual microscopy review to less than 3% and cuts sample processing time by up to 78%
The automated, high-throughput DxU Iris solution features load-and-go walkaway capability and Edit-Free Release (EFR) technology to minimise interruptions and operator intervention.
The fight against resistance
With antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on the rise, knowing the correct antibiotics to use on patients with bacterial infections is as important as ever. By conducting an antimicrobial susceptibility test, a physician can identify the most effective antibiotics to give patients, which ultimately results in better clinical outcomes. Abi Millar looks at advances and challenges in this diagnostic approach, and its role in the fight against AMR.
Life-saving data
Sepsis is a serious condition that is thought to kill more than 11 million people worldwide each year. It can be difficult to diagnose due to its complex symptoms, yet early detection is critical. Lynette Eyb speaks with Penny Cooper, director of data science and governance at Augusta Health, about how her hospital has used artificial intelligence to harness clinical data and drastically cut mortality rates.
Put to the test
When it comes to accurate Covid-19 testing, PCR is the acronym on most people’s lips. It’s for a good reason – after all, the test earned the accolade of “gold standard” diagnostic by having the highest sensitivity and specificity in the marketplace. But the laboratories that process these tests weren’t prepared for the sort of volume the pandemic brought, and the reality for many has been at least a two-day wait to find out whether they’re Covid free. Peter Littlejohns looks at how diagnostic technology has developed in response to the pandemic and speaks to some of the innovators behind it to understand how we can be better prepared to control another wave.
Contactless care
The pandemic has been a challenge for health systems globally, including the dilemma of how to continue meeting the needs of patients with underlying conditions while ensuring safety. Chronic wounds require constant management and in-person treatment, raising the question: what has been the impact of Covid-19 on this essential service? Mae Losasso speaks to Dr Ammar Al Rubaiay, foot and ankle surgeon at North Shore Foot & Ankle Associates; Dr Alisha Oropallo, medical director of the Comprehensive Wound Healing Center and Hyperbarics at Northwell Health; and Kevin Keenahan, co-founder and CEO of Tissue Analytics, to find out about the telemedicine-based strategies that are changing the future of wound care.
Dressed for success
When choosing the most appropriate treatment for chronic wounds, healthcare professionals need to consider a range of different factors, including the nature and severity of the wound, ease of changing and removing the dressing, risk of infection and patient preference. Allie Anderson speaks to Alison Schofield, tissue viability team lead and clinical nurse specialist at North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, about how clinicians can ensure they make the right decision.