Maquet is sponsoring a a 2-day symposium in August 2006 in New York City for pulmonary experts to gather to discuss current paradigm shifts in mechanical ventilation.

From left: Erika Laskey, vice president, sales and marketing, CHAD Therapeutics; Greg Caressi, vice president, healthcare and life sciences, Frost & Sullivan; Earl Yager, CEO and president, CHAD Therapeutics; and Thomas Jones, chairman, CHAD Therapeutics (shown here at Medtrade Spring, Las Vegas).

CHAD Granted Frost & Sullivan Award
Receiving recognition at the Medtrade Spring Conference in Las Vegas, CHAD Therapeutics Inc, Chatsworth, Calif, was presented with the Frost & Sullivan Award for Oxygen Therapy Product Line Strategy Leadership. The award is presented each year to the company that has demonstrated the most insight into customer needs and product demands.

MediServe Recognized as Best in Class Winner
MediServe Information Systems Inc, Tempe, Ariz, received the Microsoft Healthcare Users Group (MS-HUG) Best in Class designation in the Acute Care—Clinical/Patient Information Systems category for its MediLinks® solution for rehabilitation and respiratory care. The MS-HUG awards recognize the breakthrough contributions being made by health care organizations and individuals to drive efficiencies across the health care system, ultimately containing costs and improving the quality of patient care, as well as independent software vendor solutions that demonstrate the best use of Microsoft technology to drive results in the health care industry. The Microsoft Healthcare Users Group is a membership community of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

Experts Explore Paradigm Shift in Mechanical Ventilation
Pulmonary experts will be gathering to discuss current paradigm shifts in mechanical ventilation at a 2-day symposium at the New York City Marriott Marquis, August 28 to 29, 2006. Sponsored by Maquet Critical Care, Bridgewater, NJ, the event will focus on the latest developments in mechanisms and therapy related to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and will discuss recent research on patient-ventilator synchrony.

Covering the theme from multiple perspectives, VILI topics will include the impact of alveolar geometry on lung injury distribution; quantitative endpoints for lung recruitment; the role of microvasculature; differences among open-lung protective ventilation with pressure control ventilation, high-frequency oscillation, and NIH protocol; and the use of positive end-expiratory pressure after a recruitment maneuver.

A special focus of the symposium will be the current research involving neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA), the emerging technologies that support the new paradigm, and how NAVA is expected to influence clinical practice in the future. Specific presentations will include a physiologic approach to patient-ventilator interaction and utilization of cerebral signaling for feedback in mechanical ventilation. “Maquet has long supported research and development of new technologies related to ventilation,” said Douglas Smith, vice president for Maquet Critical Care. “We are pleased to sponsor this seminar, which features some of the field’s preeminent experts and cutting-edge topics. Through events such as this, Maquet hopes to support the efforts of the dedicated clinicians who bring a high level of skill and commitment to respiratory care as well as to foster an educational dialog among these specialists.”

Newport Gains New Business Contracts and Government Purchases
Newport Medical Instruments Inc, Costa Mesa, Calif, has signed an agreement with Broadlane Inc, Dallas, to supply the Newport HT50 ventilator and the Newport e500 ventilator to Broadlane’s more than 19,000 contracted members in 915 hospitals and 16 independent delivery networks around the country, including Tenet and Kaiser health care facilities. “Offering Newport ventilators to Broadlane members is a win-win situation for everyone—patients, clinicians, Broadlane, and our company. We look forward to a long and mutually successful partnership,” said Jay Nash, executive vice president of Newport Medical Instruments. In other business, Newport reported that they have recently signed a contract with the government of Canada, Health Canada Office Of Emergency Response Services, for more than 135 of the Newport HT50 ventilators as part of an emergency preparedness program. The rugged, simple to use HT50 provides up to 10 hours of operation on an internal battery and complete ventilation capability for pediatric to adult patients.

Respironics Launches New Nasal Mask
Respironics Inc, Murrysville, Pa, recently released the ComfortLite™ 2 minimal-contact nasal mask, which, according to the company, is designed to help improve patient outcomes with its multiple cushion options and minimal contact with the patient’s face. “By offering patients multiple cushion options, reducing facial pressure points, and adding a host of more durable and comfortable improvements, the new ComfortLite 2 aims to help patients comply with therapy, which, in turn, may also lead to more successful clinical outcomes,” said Laurie Scott, US marketing manager, patient interface, Respironics. In addition to being equipped with multiple cushion options, the ComfortLite 2 has been upgraded from the original ComfortLite to include advanced headgear and improved durability and quality.