For safe electrosurgery on patients weighing between 350g and 50 lbs. The Mega Soft family of patient return electrodes have been used in over 30 million procedures with zero pad site burns. No one else can make this claim. With MegaSoft, pad-site burns are a thing of the past (Oh...they say they can help the NHS save money, too).

Our collegues at Great Ormand Street Hospital seem to agree, they have chosen to purchase both pediatric and adult return electrode pads for electrosurgery applications.

Look out for this added dimension coming soon to CEN, our site has come to the attention of one of the largest suppliers of imaging equipment throughout the USA and Europe, discussions earlier laid the foundations for our networks to develop together.

X Ray Tubes MRI coils Probes

Equipment educational and training information regarding diagnostic imaging equipment is sometimes hard to come by, information on the best places to get HT cables, tubes and intensifiers is sometimes needed, parts for everything X Ray Tube inserts, from mammography compression plates to Ultrasound transducers to MRI coils, all exciting stuff and you can get information, here on CEN soon

Endo Med hospital grade products are formulated in the UK, specifically to meet our demands and exacting specifications encountered in the medical field across the EU

Non toxic and bio degradeable, Endo. Med. products are blended ispecifically for maximum efficacy with astonishing residual effectiveness

Now read the Historical and Scientific information

Following on from a meeting with Tim Beacon of Med-Aid International, see http://www.medaid.co.uk/ , we have decided to support this venture with all the might we can muster, we were so impressed by the dedication and committment shown by Tim and his team, certainly a cause we thought deserved of or total support. The WGO and GWF will benefit from Med-Aid and Clin-Eng.net initiatives, we are raising funds, donating equipment, even making equipment.

This will benefit our young engineers groups too, learning about the essential elements of reverse osmosis or the bacterial, virilogical and fungicidal efficacy surrounding infection control. imagine a school / college project involving making a water treatment plant in a wheeled suitcase - this is happening now - we are making it happen and we have the support of our and other industries.

Another way of looking at it, a dual approach, after discussions we reckon we can satisfy our clinical engineering eduction and training aims and do a power of good in the meantime, for surely the challenges faced by clinical engineers in the developing world require a degree of innovation and adaptation of theory and practice rarely encountered in modern EBME departments

Of course, in addtion to unwanted equipment, consumables, tools and not forgetting your money, We will try to bring to the table long term resources, manpower, experience, expertise, medical, engineering, technical and financial, we are on the look out for an ambassador really, a full time, fully supported post, nothing else will do, we should aim for no less.

A Global Network Partnership

We will keep you updated on this one

Cardiac Output Measurement

A Non Invaisive monitor featuring BIOREACTANCE technology, Cheetah Medical’s NICOM approach is based on the the discovery that when blood flows out of the heart, Phase Shifts are created in alternating radiofrequency electrical currents applied across the patients’ chest wall. Such phase shifts are conceptually similar to a Frequency Modulation, or FM, as used in FM radio transmissions. The phase shifts are measured continuously and it has been demonstrated that this almost perfectly relates linearly to blood flow in the aorta.

Sound, that is, a wonderful physical phenomena - either that we make or that we hear.

Kevin Byard from Qados www.qados.co.uk came to visit to demonstrate the the technical, functional and financial benefits of these intuitive contrast medium injectors from Ulrich Medical www.ulrichmedical.com

In radiological diagnostics, it can be difficult to tell the difference between certain organs or tissues. In many cases, a differentiation is only possible by the application of contrast agents. Contrast medium injectors for computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been successfully used in radiological surgeries and clinics for many years.

Basically, the design hasnt changed for years, most have looked like and been based on huge syringe drivers

The design used in Ulirich injectors is unique worldwide: it is based on a rotary peristaltic pump technology. It safely and accurately facilitates medium injection directly from the contrast agent container, thus reduces the costs of disposables dramatically and facilitates a fast patient changeover in case of high examination volume.

This is the kind of new technology we love to feature on the Clinical Engineering Network - Thanks Kevin

Regional Celebrial Oximetry

Stroke is well established as one of the most costly and devastating adverse events of cardiovascular surgery. Up to 8 percent of all open heart surgeries end in stroke and as high as 75 percent end in some degree of cognitive decline. EQUANOX rSO2 technology by Nonin offers real-time management of patients at risk of compromised brain or other major organ injury. Studies show that early, efficient management with regional oximetry can improve patient outcomes and positively impact the cost of care.

The Palm Bladder Scanner of PTS Linkton meets the needs of a multitude of clinical professionals in that it is a compact device but at the same time a fully operational bladder scanner. The technology is of a very high standard

By listening carefully to the requirements of clinicians in all disciplines, they have created an instrument which integrates and meets exacting requiremens. Simples ?, The Key here is simple, the shape and performance are state-of-the-art and yet the whole instrument is very easy to use.

The clear and intuitive nterface guides the user through the pre-scan and scanning procedure. Arrows on the screen show you in which direction to move in order to get a correct measurement.

The device incorporates Arrow Guided Scanniing, Is this unique feature operator proof ?

The scanner is small in size, easy to use, has a long battery life, an arrow direction function and a smart calibration function. This last feature is new and means that with every setting up of the device, a previous calibration will show so that the measured results will be validated.

The machine is delivered complete with battery and charger.

The scanner can be used in a number of ways:

• Mobile in a leather case or flight case.

• Mobile in a cradle on a trolley or

• Static / Mobile in a cradle on the wall

To be able to print the bladder volume results, you need to place the scanner in the cradle. The Palm Bladder Scanner can stay in the cradle during performance.

The Palm Bladder Scanner is a hand held device and the perfect answer for easy transportation between different wards or by car for continence nurses delivering home care service.

It appers PTS Linkton have raised the bar and produced a new standard of quality, at the same time adding value while minimizing costs.

More to Follow

The latest study day in Swindon featured Medical Ultrasound, the ultrasound discipline as a whole, the equipment, its applications, past and future trends were studied, some great educational information was supplied to attendies, this and the lauch of some excellent products made it a really good day out in fact, training on and equipment, service aspects and user familiiarisation was conducted on portable Sonoscape units. Have a look here http://www.sonoscape-distributor.co.uk/SonoscapeA6.htm

The floor was a bit wet at Key Health as John Walker paid for the sandwiches and refreshments again, we couldnt stop him crying, ever mind John, its all in a good cause. I must say, many thanks to you and David for supporting CEN over the years.

www.hydrochemgroup.co.uk

Solutions for solutions, Excuse the pun !, a big CEN welcome Hydrochem, we now have industrial chemists, doctors and microbiologists supporting our site, expect to see interesting articles on the finer points of chemistry, biologicals and virologicals, chemical engineering interests many of our members.

The news, in partnership with Endo Med Ltd, The Hydrochem Group have developed and are now manufacturing general and speciality chemical treatments, products and equipment for the healthcare industry sector. Bill Abbott, Managing Director of the Hydrochem Group and Linda Hannah who is the Group General and Business Development Manager recently met Key Health Solutions Ltd Service Director, Darren Magee at the site of Hydrochems licenced chemical blending facility in Hartlepool to cement the foundation for an ongoing "Partnership in Healthcare" that is set to provide revolutionary and bespoke infection control and decontamination services for use throughout the healthcare sector.

Take a bow Debbie van der Touw, CEO of Radiology OneSource, CEN welcomes www.radiologyonesource.com to the site - you may recall that announcements were made earlier this year regarding the Diagnostic Imaging Network , Radiology OneSource are set to play a major role, after all, they have been doing this for many years, streets ahead of the UK, our colleagues Stateside are delivering imaging innovations on a global basis, from equipment logistics , product distribution and support, all now available in the UK via Key Health Solutions Ltd www.keyhealthsolutions.co.uk we are pleased to have been instumental in developing this network resource set to save our NHS and healthcare industry sector considerable sums. from remote diagnostics and support for high end CT and MRI modalities plus product spares, Tubes, MRI coils etc - enough of me , Ill let Debbie explain.......Glassware Solutions ?

Dunlee X Ray Tubes

"Moreover and close to our hearts Radiology OneSource will be supporting our educational aims by contributing articles and information centred around the word of imaging from industry experts well versed in the maintenance of items from basic X-Ray and Ultrasound through to high end modalities mentioned above"

Recession is often instrumetal in forcing innovation, this spans industry, Medical and Clinical Engineering, ours is no different, we have launched for members a new service, CEN Business Development, using our networking philosophy to link up those who need each other, need information, assistance and advice, some of our members and supporters pay a lot for this, others can not afford it, we have secured the services free of charge under agreement of a number of industry experts to assist us, under normal circumstaces, they would charge out a daily rate cost prohibitive to most, you now have access to those who can write out a contract for you, knock you up a business plan, broker advice on HR, accounting, financial and legal issues.

We have some money to spend too, access to grants and financial assistance to help those in need of a hand, there are confidentially considerations designed to protect all parties and we are working on a appropriate structure to afford the required protection to all parties

Members are asked to contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with suggestions regarding this latest initiative, we need to understand demand to develop this service accordingly, so to that end please send any enquiries or register initial expressions of interest to this address

Stand alone products from Key Health Solutions

EBME Managers are being asked ......."Breath new life into your basic anaesthetic machines and ventilators, be ready for any eventuality......and if you can do it on a limited budget" !

Supplying products that can be used with most existing anaesthesia delivery and ventilation equipment irrespective of manufacturer, Key health Solutions are now working with NHS trusts to recommission or upgrade equipment for emergency and disaster planning roles

The Anevent Ventilator is a compact, robust anaesthetic ventilator that is used together with bellows systems, such as the Anmedic Bellows System S. Anevent is simplicity itself to use. The panel and setting dial are clear and easy to understand. The most important functions have illuminated displays, which is particularly important when it is dark in the operating theatre. Anevent is driven by air or oxygen

Positron emission tomography, also known as PET imaging or a PET scanning , is a type of Imaging associated with Nuclear Medicine.

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose or treat diseases, such as cancers, heart disease and other abnormalities within the body.

Nuclear medicine / radionuclide imaging is noninvasive and usually painless examination that aids diagnosis of medical conditions. These imaging scans use radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals or radiotracers.

Depending on the type of nuclear medicine examination, the radiotracer is either injected, swallowed or inhaled as a gas and eventually accumulates in the organ or area of your body being examined, where it gives off radioactive energy in the form of gamma rays, that is why PET scanners are often referred to as Gamma Cameras, these in simple terms often just a bank of photomultiplier detectors

This energy is detected by the camera, the output being fed to a computer in the form of raw data proportional to the amount of radiotracer absorbed by the subject, this results in particular and special images offering details on the structure and function of organs and tissues.

Nuclear medicine images can be combined with Computed Tomography X Ray (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to produce special superimposed views, a practice known as image fusion or co-registration. These views allow the information from two different studies to be correlated and interpreted on one image, leading to more precise information and accurate diagnostics

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography (SPECT/CT) and Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) units are able to perform both imaging studies at the same time.

A PET scan measures important body functions, live data, such as blood flow, oxygen use, and sugar (glucose) metabolism, to help doctors evaluate how well organs and tissues are functioning.

CT imaging uses special x-ray equipment, and in some cases a contrast material or medium, to produce live data multiple images or pictures of the inside of the anatomy.

It is common today that scans requiring such detail are carried out combined modality equipment PET / CT / MRI scanners. Combined scans provide images that pinpoint the location of abnormal functional and metabolic activity within the body. Combined scans have been shown to provide more accurate diagnoses than the two scans performed separately.

Often regarded as the unsung hero's of the NHS, Prosthetists and orthotists make artificial limbs, braces and splints, enabling people to live life to the fullest. Presently and in the past robotic prosthetics have been contolled by various input mechanisms, we have stood on the verge of these devices being controlled by our brains for some time now, how far have we come ?

CEN members previously have been involved in mechanical patient interfacing with electronic equipment such as computers gaming machines, very challenging, interesting and rewarding, we know we can now process EEG signals to create useable inputs to devices, limbs and Playstations !

Bring out your dead, bring out your dead, or why not bring out your IEC body models, scopes and Enraf Nonius therapy protocols instead and find out how we turned the monsters in the cornrer into regular tools of the trade for a group of Physiotherapists recently in Chesterfield

We are thrilled that because of the encouragement and support of CEN and through networking at study days etc, members will be involved in the transfer of technology from one industry to another, in this case medicine of course to others, Some of our members have been involved in this field previously and with the help of government development agencies, impressive and marked success has been realised from initial ideas and potential through to feasibility study and final product strategy

You might find this interesting if you are interested in anaesthesia delivery and ventillation products especially, www.historyofmie.co.uk it is still under construction but the first pages are set up and on line

This site will be expanding over the coming months as Bill Qick chronicles the history of one of the finest British medical equipment manufacturers of our times

Well, thats the front page forum gone, for now at least, we have turned it off, It has proved a nighmare to police and moderate it properly. Too many security issues as well, seemed to be the point of entry for those wishing to hack the site. We have had to rebuild the site 4 times now, enough to make you pull your hair out, if you dont believe me, look at our last editor ! Poor girl, we had to let her go in the end.

We were sick of the mess on the CEN office floor!

Still, it was a lot fun at times and we will find a way for the more popular elements to be incorporated within CEN as we grow in a different direction, it is after all more about clinical engineeing and networking than a soapbox or commentary.

I will miss the forum but not the issues it brought at times, mending the thing was a constant and time consuming admin task, and the threat of being sued by upset folk was getting tiresome if not extremely funny on more than one occasion, you just cant stop people speaking thier minds and if A upsets B, theres often nothing you can do about it.

If we have more resources, we can bring it back

Darren