BIO 2008: Optiscan rolls out endoscope
Tuesday, 17 June, 2008
Melbourne device manufacturer Optiscan will install its microendoscope in three Australian hospitals as well as the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital in the US.
The deals were announced by Australian Minister for Innovation, Senator Kim Carr, at the BIO conference in San Diego. Carr is leading the Australian delegation at the conference.
The Optiscan endomicroscope, which the company says offers magnifications of 1000 times compared to the 30 to 40 times achievable with traditional endoscopy, will be used at Melbourne's Western Hospital, Box Hill Hospital and the Monash Medical Centre.
Up to 30 other hospitals throughout the world will also use the device.
It is primarily for the detection and diagnosis of cancers - particularly oesophageal cancer, and gastrointestinal diseases such as colitis, gastritis and coeliac's disease.
"This is also a breakthrough in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease in children, because it can provide diagnosis and treatment in the one visit in some cases - rather than the child having to endure separate surgical procedures for a biopsy and treatment," Carr said.
"Gastroenterologists will be able to detect ulcerative lesions, cancerous cells, or even spot the spiral cells of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori that cause stomach ulcers."
Optiscan has also announced it has raised $3 million to launch two new products to the market.
Award-winning system automates vial filling for cell therapy
Celleo's Larkem V40 — created to address one of the bottlenecks holding back cell...
Air pollutant exposure linked to glaucoma, cataracts and suicide
People who are exposed to high levels of air pollution are more likely to develop glaucoma and...
Could this 'nanobone' material allow children to regrow bone?
Australian scientists believe they have found an alternative to invasive bone graft procedures in...
