Originally Published MDDI March 2003

NEWSTRENDS

Gregg Nighswonger

Canon Communications llc has announced the 23 winning products in its sixth annual Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition. The MDEA program recognizes products that offer major advances in device design and that contribute to the healthcare field. 

MDEA entries are evaluated on a number of factors. Among these are product innovation, design and engineering excellence, end-user benefit, and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing and healthcare delivery. 

Products submitted in nine categories were reviewed by an impartial, multidisciplinary panel of third-party jurors with expertise in biomedical engineering, human factors, industrial design, clinical practice, and in vitro diagnostics. 
Listed alphabetically by category, the MDEA winners for 2003 include the following.

Critical Care and Emergency Products: Angel portable ECG monitor, HeartStart home defibrillator, and Rugged Stair-Pro lightweight emergency transportation device. 

Finished Packaging: Easytab hearing aid battery. 

General Hospital Devices and Therapeutic Products: Introcan safety IV catheter, Joey disposable umbilical cord clamp and cutter, and SmartSite Plus needle-free valve with positive displacement. 

Implant and Tissue-Replacement Products: Ascension metacarpalphalangeal (MCP) joint implant, and ContourMed Advantage external breast prosthesis. 

In Vitro Diagnostics: Accu-Chek Inform blood glucose meter, and OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 antibody test. 

Over-the-Counter and Self-Care Products: PiKo-1 handheld lung-function monitor, and Symphony breast pump.

Radiological and Electromechanical Devices: Deltec Cozmo insulin pump and My Treatment Assistant PC communications, iLook personal imaging tool, MammoSite radiation therapy system, and Sonos 7500 Live 3-D ultrasound system. 

Rehabilitation and Assistive-Technology Products: Taylor spatial frame external orthopedic fixator, and UroCycler bladder management system.

Surgical Equipment, Instruments, and Supplies: A-2000 bispectral index (BIS) consciousness monitor, CORx integrated oxygenation system, Intralase FS ophthalmological laser, and Zeus robotic endoscopic surgical workstation.

Winning products will receive gold or silver recognition at a ceremony to be held June 3, 2003, during the Medical Design & Manufacturing East 2003 Conference and Exposition at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The MDEA program is presented by Canon Communications llc and sponsored by Avail, Battelle, Dupont Medical Packaging, The Medtech Group, Inc., and MD&DI. 

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