Saturday, February 20, 2010

News from France: Radiation Incident at CK Center

from the IV MB, by yyy60:

>>News from France: Radiation Incident at CK Center

http://www.asn.fr/index.php/S-informer/Actualites/2010/Centre-de-lutte-contre-le-cancer-Oscar-Lambret-Lille


** translated from French **

ASN (Nuclear Safety Authority)

Incident Radiation at the Center of the fight against cancer Lambret Oscar de Lille (North)

Backgrounder General
Paris, January 18, 2010


On November 9, 2009, ASN was informed by the Center for the fight against cancer Lambret Oscar de Lille, an error has impacted the treatment of 13 patients supported on the CyberKnife ® [1]. Of these 13 patients, this error affected the dose delivered to total 9 patients and for the other 4, the error rate could be compensated during further processing.

This incident report follows an error setting the software calculation of dose on one of the two consoles treatment planning associated with the CyberKnife ®.

This issue is related to human error (incomplete data entry), technical (lack of centralization of data on both consoles) and organizational (not verify the proper data entry on both consoles). Center Oscar Lambret immediately put in place measures to prevent the recurrence of such errors, including checking the operation of two identical consoles treatment planning and systematic double counting of new treatment plans.

The ASN has conducted an inspection December 14, 2009 to examine more precisely the circumstances of the event and the first corrective measures taken by the center. She requested a declaration under materiovigilance be done with the AFSSAPS.

The ASN has ensured that the same error had been committed by the other two centers users CyberKnife ® [2].

She requested a risk analysis is conducted at each change of material, for example when adding a second console.

This incident has resulted, for 9 patients, underdosing or overdosing of the region irradiated by type of treatment carried out, without, however, the dose of critical organ tolerance has been exceeded. Patients have been informed and are under medical supervision especially from the medical team of the Center Oscar Lambret.

Of the 9 cases, 4 are likely to moderate impairment of an organ or function.

Accordingly, the ASN class provisionally incident at Level 2 of the DSC-scale SFRO [3] events in radiation therapy which has 8 (0 to 7).

- Consult the DSC-scale SFRO

Legal Intern: Immersion Corporation


Legal Intern: Immersion Corporation

Friday, February 19, 2010

NI Technology Updates Outlooks for SanDisk, Qualcomm, Immersion and Compellent Technologies

PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ --

Next Inning Technology Research (http://www.nextinning.com), an online investment newsletter focused on semiconductor and technology stocks, announced it has updated outlooks for SanDisk, Qualcomm, Immersion and Compellent Technologies.

...

McWilliams covers these topics and more in his recent reports:

-- Has the switch to a pure-play licensing model created an investment opportunity in Immersion? What has to happen for a licensing model to be a success?

Internap gets back to basics with promo plan for CDN

from Tier 1 Research daily newsletter:

Internap Network Services has started offering a short-term promotional plan for its CDN service in an effort to bring on recalcitrant customers who are leery of long-term CDN contracts. Customers sign a 12-month contract, but have 60 days to cancel the contract with no early termination fees. There's no rocket science .....

Thursday, February 18, 2010

CyberKnife Society Scientific Meeting to Highlight Clinical Results and Technical Innovations

Meeting Promotes Scholarly Info Exchange and Offers CME/CE Credits

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The CyberKnife Society (CKS), a non-profit organization of medical professionals dedicated to advancing the science and clinical practice of robotic radiosurgery, announced today that its 2010 CyberKnife Society Scientific Meeting will be held March 26-27, 2010 at The Fairmont Dallas in downtown Dallas, Texas.

The CyberKnife Society Scientific Meeting brings together surgeons, radiation oncologists, therapists, medical physicists and other associated professionals to share the latest scientific data and exchange information about the use of the CyberKnife System. Robotic radiosurgery uses high-dose radiation delivered with pinpoint accuracy to non-invasively treat tumors and lesions anywhere in the body.

This year's meeting, which has been condensed to one and a half days, will feature clinical and technical presentations on a broad array of CyberKnife capabilities and applications, including but not limited to breast, prostate, lung and liver. A focused Physics Session will run concurrent to the General Session allowing for the maximum number of technical presentations. New this year is the integration of treatment protocol presentations into the General Session. The second half-day will focus entirely on performance improvement case studies presented by CyberKnife Users from around the world.

"The CyberKnife Scientific Meeting is designed to disseminate new scientific findings and technical innovations and expand basic knowledge relevant to clinical practice and to the improvement of patient outcomes," said John R. Adler, M.D., CKS Chairman.

"Embracing the multidisciplinary approach to cancer care is essential to quality care. Research presented from medical professionals will enhance the interdisciplinary nature of the program," added Clinton Medbery, M.D., President of CKS.

Participants will be eligible for continuing education credits* which include 13 CMEs for M.D.s and nurses, 7 for Radiation Therapists and 9.5 for Dosimetrists. CAMPEP for CE awards for Physicists are pending notification.

The meeting, which is not restricted to CyberKnife Users, is open to all medical and allied health professionals interested in learning more about the CyberKnife System and its capabilities. Registration is required to attend.

Those interested in reviewing the detailed agendas and attending this year's CyberKnife Society Scientific Meeting should visit http://www.cksociety.org.

About The CyberKnife Society

The CyberKnife Society (CKS) is a multi-disciplinary non-profit organization of surgeons, radiation oncologists, physicists, and allied professionals, who are dedicated to advancing the science and clinical practice of radiosurgery. Originally formed in 2002 and becoming a non-profit (501c6) in 2008, the CyberKnife Society today represents over 700 members who perform stereotactic radiosurgery in hospitals and freestanding centers throughout the world. www.cksociety.org

The Institute for Medical Education(SM) is accredited by the Institute for Medical Quality/California Medical Association (IMQ/CMA) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Institute for Medical Education takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific integrity of this CME activity. www.ime-cme.com

3PAR names Stephen M Smith to board

3PAR has announced the appointment of Stephen M. Smith, President and CEO of Equinix, Inc.—a provider of global data centre services—to 3PAR's Board of Directors. Smith has joined 3PAR as an independent outside board member and will also serve on the board's Compensation Committee.

"3PAR has continued to grow and increase market share by introducing industry-changing storage virtualisation technologies and backing these technologies with a strong commitment to customer service," said Smith. "This proven execution track record, driven by the company's strong leadership and clear vision of the virtual datacentre, are what poise a company like 3PAR for success. I am excited to join the Board in helping steer 3PAR through the next phase of the company's worldwide growth and technology innovation."

Turkey's 5th CK begins service on Feb 18, 2010

from the IV MB, by yyy60:

Turkey's 5th CK begins service on Feb 18, 2010

** Turkish Ministry of Health purchased two CK last June for installation in Istanbul and Ankara. The CK at U of Istanbul becomes operational this month. This is the 5th CK in Turkey **

http://www.ajansbir.com/haber-36289---Istanbul_Universitesi_Onkoloji_Enstitusu_aciliyor.html

** translated from Turkish **
AjansBIR (News Portal in Turkey)
17.02.2010

Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Oncology treatment planning new devices will enter into service on February 18, 2010


In the institute opened a new chapter with robotic equipment Cyberknife radiotherapy equipment, motion-sensitive device RapidArc radiotherapy, and optimal use of the devices to ensure that the movement-sensitive (4D, temporal axis of the four-dimensional) computer tomography and planning system, a new simulator, superficial irradiation device and brachytherapy unit will enter the application. This device and the computerized inventory system and planning with professional staff in the area of Istanbul University Institute of Oncology with the world's most advanced radiotherapy equipment is becoming central.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

"high definition haptics"

from BskyB:

>>One such firm is Immersion, who specialise in what the industry calls haptics, or the vibration some phones make when you press buttons on a touch screen.

Otherwise known as tactile feedback, US-based Immersion have made recent breakthroughs with what they call "piezo" - a very thin, precise way to create a range of instant vibrations. The firm's interim CEO, Victor Viegas, told me that the technology brings "high definition haptics" to smartphones, and means the vibrations can be customised to be more like ringtones, and respond to user interaction in record time.

'Best and Brightest'

MDB Capital Group Announces 'Best and Brightest' List of Qualifying Companies for 1st Annual Bright Lights Conference in San Francisco

Bright Lights Conference Will Showcase 50 of the Most Innovative U.S. Small Cap Companies with Disruptive Intellectual Property in San Francisco on May 10 - 12, 2010

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- MDB Capital Group LLC announces its "Best and Brightest" list of 160 innovation leaders for the 1st Annual Bright Lights Conference to be held on May 10 - 12, 2010 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Institutional investors from several countries, as well as IP thought leaders, will be in attendance for the first public company conference to focus exclusively on companies with disruptive and market changing IP.

The Bright Lights Conference will showcase the untold IP stories of 50 public companies ranking in the 90th percentile for technology leadership from over 1,600 small cap companies with U.S. patents granted, as rated by PatentVest, MDB's proprietary IP business intelligence database. In addition to company presentations and one-on-one investor meetings, MDB will provide insightful IP analysis and objective data regarding the "Best and Brightest" companies presenting during this exclusive, invitation-only event.

HD Haptics


new links:

TouchSense® System – 5000 Series


TouchSense® System – 4000 Series

Monday, February 15, 2010

Great PRs

A post by cellodude on the IV MB:

>>Great PRs

I think that these are possibly the best PRs from IMMR I've seen.

Regarding the 100 million sold, I like IMMR thumping its chest and name dropping the top three phone makers. While those of us here know the royalty rate was not ideal, it is still an achievement to go from zero to making haptics an international buzzword.

The other killer PR delivers delightful news of not one but two new versions of TouchSense. VibeTonz is dead, long live TouchSense.

Investors and licensees need no longer be confused between what was a jumble of haptic solutions. Now clearly defined into two camps, series 4000 (moving mass) and series 5000 (piezo), each improve by quantum leaps what has previously been available. One must also assume the days of a dime per phone are quickly coming to an end. I assume series 4000 will be the new "base model" and 5000 the deluxe, with corresponding royalties.

Silent haptics? Screen isolation? Zero latency? We've seen hints of these disparate technologies in the patent domain, but for these to all come together into two all-new product lines is simply fantastic.

I'm sure Ramius is partially responsible for TouchSense reorganization into two pricing schemes.

Kudos to IMMR. With these PRs it feels to me they have finally found traction in their "go-forward" licensing model.

Germany's 2nd CK installed in Soest

from the IV MB, by yyy60:

>>Germany's 2nd CK installed in Soest

** The 3rd and 4th CK in Germany will be in Güstrow and Cologne (Koln) **

http://www.come-on.de/suedwestfalenfeed/00_20100215095710_Cyberknife_kommt_heute_ins_Klinikum_Stadt_Soes.html

** translated from German **

CyberKnife now comes into the hospital Soest


15/02/2010 · SOEST - The CyberKnife is delivered today morning at City Hospital in Soest. This is a prelude to a new era in an urban hospital. The four million euro spectrometer for tumor treatment is able to fight even outbreaks that have hitherto been extremely difficult or even were inoperable.

The device is housed in a strahlungssicheren bunker. Over the next few weeks will test whether all requirements are satisfied, the radiation protection.

Probably in the course of April, the unit will go into operation.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

London Cyberknife Treatment Experts combine to describe the future of cancer care

Following the treatment of the 100th patient Drs Nick Plowman, Andrew Gaya and Chris Nutting describe in this illustrative, plain English video clip how Cyberknife works. Chris Nutting talks about a lung cancer patient who would not respond to chemotherapy, but is now in remission thanks to Cyberknife. The point is that the therapeutic benefits of radiation have been known since the days of Marie Curie, but thanks to computer software, MRI and CT, therapeutic radiation can now be delivered precisely to where it counts.

US Radiosurgery Supports Radiology Research

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 6, 2010) – With a donation of $10,000, US Radiosurgery is leading the way in support of research and education in radiology. US Radiosurgery’s contribution to the Radiological Society of North America’s (RSNA) Research and Education Foundation will be used to fund research into the early detection and diagnosis of disease.

RSNA’s Exhibitors Circle donor program provides companies a vehicle for supporting radiology research. US Radiosurgery is one of the first radiation oncology focused corporations to participate in the R&E Foundation’s Exhibitors Circle Program.

“As a leading developer and operator of stereotactic radiosurgery centers, US Radiosurgery is committed to supporting scientific research in the best interest of quality patient care,” said Greg Spurlock, Chief Operating Officer of US Radiosurgery. “We believe in the work of the RSNA Research & Education Foundation and its impact on the continued growth and development in the field of radiology.”

“US Radiosurgery’s generosity will support research for new products, new technologies, new tools and new treatments that are waiting to be discovered. There is nothing more critical to the future of radiology than support for additional scientific inquiry now that ultimately results in improved patient care,” said Jack E. Price, Chair, RSNA R&E Foundation Board of Trustees.

Since its inception in 1984, the RSNA Research and Education Foundation has awarded nearly $30 million in grant support to over 750 investigators. Each dollar donated to the Research and Education Foundation typically results in an additional thirty dollars’ worth of grant awards from other research organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

US Radiosurgery is a market leader in developing and operating full-body radiosurgical centers of excellence in partnership with local healthcare providers. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, US Radiosurgery is made up of facilities across the country, including Rocky Mountain CyberKnife, Boulder Cancer Care, Philadelphia Cyberknife, Salt Lake Cyberknife, San Diego Radiosurgery, Oklahoma CyberKnife, Reno Cyberknife, and Cyberknife Center of Chicago. With a singular focus on radiosurgery, US Radiosurgery has developed a leading marketing and clinical operations program with a proven track record of securing significant local stereotactic radiosurgery market penetration while ensuring the delivery of exceptional patient care developed through medical collaboration and research driven protocols.

For more information visit www.usradiosurgery.com or contact:
Florence S. Chassaignac
US Radiosurgery
Director of Marketing
615-263-7852
florence@usradiosurgery.com

RSNA is an association of more than 44,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists committed to excellence in patient care through education and research. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. (RSNA.org)

The RSNA Research and Education Foundation provides the research and development that keeps radiology in the forefront of medicine. (RSNA.org/Foundation)

CyberKnife Centers of Miami and Palm Beach Announce Key Presentations at CyberKnife Society Meeting

James G. Schwade, M.D., executive director of the CyberKnife Centers of Miami and Palm Beach, (www.morsecyberknife.com), announces key presentations to be made at the annual CyberKnife Society meeting to be held in Dallas in March. This meeting brings together users of the Cyberknife image guided radiosurgery system to present new scientific data and exchange information about the use of this modality.

The CyberKnife radiosurgery treatment for cancer delivers radiation with pinpoint accuracy which ablates cancer cells in much less treatment time in a non invasive delivery method.

Walter Nikesch, PhD, Chief Medical Physicist for the CyberKnife Center of Palm Beach, (www.cyberknifepalmbeach.com) will present on the new, small-volume water Scanner to collect CyberKnife Radiosurgery Beam Data. He will also discuss technical considerations that went into the design and compare beam data measurements with the small volume scanner for CyberKnife with large volume scanners.

James Hevezi, PhD, Chief Medical Physicist for the CyberKnife Center of Miami, (www.cyberknifemiami.com) will present at the "Tips & Tricks" regarding the CyberKnife patient pad he designed. The patient pad advantages are detailed in the published article by Dr. Hevezi, Dr. Nikesch, Dr. Schwade and others on the CyberKnife websites. (http://www.morsecyberknife.com/Media-Articles.htm)

The patient pad allows CyberKnife patients to lay comfortably on this thicker support pad with their arms laying below the trunk of their bodies. This allows us to use more posterior oblique beams for planning without transiting the patients' arms.

With two outpatient facilities in Miami and Palm Beach County, the Morse CyberKnife systems offer geographic flexibility with the world's most experienced clinical radiosurgery teams located in South Florida.

Please visit www.morsecyberknife.com or call 1-800-204-0455, for information on the procedure, contact information, and further details.

Source: CyberKnife Centers of Miami and Palm Beach

Accuray to expand its space rather than leave Sunnyvale

from Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal

...

But after touring dozens of buildings, Accuray decided to stay put in one 74,000-square-foot building and bring employees from another building several hundred yards closer by leasing a 40,000-square-foot building next door. A bridge will be built to connect the two second floors so employees can walk back and forth between the two facilities.

Financial terms for the five-year lease were not released, but during negotiations, the monthly asking rate dropped from $1.95 a square foot to $1.50, the broker said.


123Together.com Expands Its Suite of Hosted Business Services with the Addition of Desktop Data Back

mindSHIFT backed-up 372 terabytes of customer data in 2009 and restored more than 11,000,000 files which totaled 360 gigabytes of data. mindSHIFT's advanced systems and processes, along with its highly secure, off-site Equinix data center, ensures the highest level of physical and data security. All files are encrypted at the users' computer before data transfer begins using 128-bit encryption and remain encrypted during transfer to this International Business Exchange (IBX®) data center. Data remains encrypted while in storage and the network is monitored around the clock.

About 123Together.com

Headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, 123Together.com, a mindSHIFT company, is the leading provider of hosted email and collaboration services to small and mid-size companies who want to increase productivity and decrease cost. The Company's suite of hosted services includes Microsoft Exchange Server, Windows SharePoint Services, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, archiving, and spam filtering. Users of popular smartphones including BlackBerry, iPhone, Palm Pixi, and Google Nexus One stay connected with its hosted Exchange mobility service. All customers receive live, 24x7 U.S.-based technical support and up to a 100% uptime guarantee. Additional information can be found at www.123Together.com