Siemens Medical extends agreement on AcuNav catheters

Siemens Medical Solutions has announced that it has extended its contract with Johnson & Johnson company Biosense Webster, enabling that company to be the exclusive worldwide distributor of Acuson AcuNav ultrasound catheters to interventional cardiologists.

This follows an agreement earlier this year that granted Biosensse Webster similar rights for marketing the device to electrophysiologists.

AcuNave ultrasound catheters are used by physicians to provide Doppler blood flow information through the heart and high-quality diagnostic images.

Klaus Hambuechen, president of the ultrasound division at Siemens Medical Solutions, said: “Through our work with Biosense Webster, we are moving another step closer to providing the innovative technology needed to handle the growing cardiac patient population.”

He added that the Siemens’ previous partnership with the company had given it confidence that it could enhance patient care further through interventional cardiologists.

Also this week, Siemens Medical Solutions announced its planned expansion in the European healthcare IT market through its acquisition of German firm Gesellschaft fur Systemforschung und Dienstleistungen im Gesundheitswesen (GSD).

The company commented that it was making this move to take advantage of the “enormous expertise” possessed by GSD in health information systems development in launching bespoke products and quality service for its clients.

Siemens’ acquisition of the hospital IT solutions provider is subject for approval by the relevant antitrust authorities.