Around the industry …

Health Industry Today, Dec, 1994

GE Medical System, Milwaukee, and Mediscience Technology Corp., Cherry Hill, N.J., have developed a research agreement to design, manufacture and market photonic-based diagnostic devices for medical and non-medical applications. The agreement initially will focus on optical mammography and tomography instrumentation designed to replace mammograms with a non-invasive, light-based alternative that will detect breast cancer earlier than other diagnostic processes. Mediscience Technology develops and designs non-invasive photonic technology used in medical diagnostic instruments that detect cancer based upon differentiations in the amount of light re-emitted from malignant and benign tissues.

Mansfield, Mass.-based Kendall International Inc. filed suit against Southern Medical Supplies Inc. in federal court in New Orleans alleging that the distributor fraudulently submitted invoices to Kendall to obtain rebates against a Kendall contract with the state of Louisiana. Kendall charges that Southern Medical submitted rebate claims to Kendall that were based on fictitious sales to Louisiana hospitals and prepared false invoices to serve as proof of such sales. The suit alleges that products shown on these false invoices were sold to other distributors. Kendall seeks return of all rebate amounts that were improperly credited to the account. Trial date is Dec. 12.

LINC Scientific Leasing and Anthem Financial Inc. formed a joint venture to provide equipment leasing and financing to the health care industry. The new company, LINC Anthem Corp., will conduct the future leasing operations of LINC Scientific Leasing, a subsidiary of The LINC Group. The LINC Group, Chicago, has placed more than $1.25 billion in medical equipment leasing and financing since it was rounded in 1975.

New York-based Advanced Medical Sciences Inc. reports promising results in its study of the use of Viralex [TM] to decontaminate whole blood prior to transfusion. In a study conducted at S.R.A. Technologies Inc., Rockville, Md., Viralex was used to inactivate HIV incorporated into lymphocytes without harming healthy lymphocytes. Corporate officials believe the product's vital inactivation ability represents a breakthrough in decontaminating blood components.

In another study conducted at Frederick Research Center, Frederick, Md., Viralex inactivated 10 logs of HIV in contaminated whole blood while maintaining normal levels of red cell parameters, including chemistry, hematology and cell membrane integrity.

* John Karcanes, president and chief operating officer of Bio-Vascular Inc., St. Paul, Minn., became chief executive officer. Karcanes succeeds James Lyons, who will continue as chairman of the board. Bio-Vascular is a manufacturer and marketer of proprietary consumable medical products for cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery. Karcanes was president and chief executive of Crosfield Lightspeed Inc., a graphics technology company serving the publishing industry, until mid-1992. He joined Bio-Vascular in May after two years as a consultant and interim executive, working primarily with early-stage technology companies. Before joining Crosfield, Karcanes was president of Palladian Software Inc. and held executive positions in international operations and sales and marketing with Cullinet Software Inc. and Computer Pictures Corp.