CDs can be a headache for PACS administrators. The ubiquitous disks can be associated with organizational challenges, burning problems, privacy complications and DICOM glitches. However, a combination of thoughtful policies, software and hardware can help ease the pain.

Laboratory manufacturer Mystaire of Creedmoor, N.C., has purchased a non-medical division of Farmingdale, N.Y.-based Misonix, whose core business is ultrasonic surgical devices. Mystaire paid $1.5 million to obtain the latter's line of laboratory fume hoods and forensic products.

Premier Purchasing Partners, the group purchasing division of the Premier Healthcare Alliance, has awarded Agfa HealthCare a contract to make Impax Data Center and Impax RIS/PACS/reporting systems available to its members.

W. L. Gore & Associates has purchased the assets and intellectual property of NMT Medical, including data related to CLOSURE I, for an undisclosed sum, while NMT was being auctioned off.

Intelerad Medical Systems has launched InteleSuite, a customizable set of RIS/PACS systems.

Theres a little more than one month until the 97th Scientific Assembly & Annual Meeting, Nov. 27 to Dec.2, at McCormick Place in Chicago. As we, on Health Imaging editorial staff, organize our schedules and prepares for radiologys annual gala meeting, my mind wanders to the familiar terrain of imaging informatics.

Will the FDAs Unique Device Identification initiative force hospitals clinical engineering departments to give up their existing inventory-tagging systems? That was one of several questions taken up by an FDA official and an industry expert at an Oct. 18 webinar sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

The U.S. market earned revenues of $973.2 million in 2009 and total market revenues are expected to peak at $6.5 billion in 2012, primarily due to new licensing and upgrades as hospitals scramble to get certified EHR systems in place, according to a report from market researcher Frost & Sullivan.