Health Robotics Announces i.v.STATION(R) ONCO, a Next Generation Robot for Intravenous Cancer Therapy

BOZEN, Sud-Tirol, Italy, March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Robotics today announced the completion of its initial research, development, and factory-testing activities for its next-generation Cancer Therapy Robot, i.v.STATION ONCO, and its unveiling at the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) in Vienna on 1 April 2011, including its new overpowering features: four times faster, five times smaller, and three times less expensive than some of the other Sterile Compounding Robotic devices in the market.

"I do believe that it is now the right time for Generale de Sante to move forward to Robotics Automation for our strategic Oncology Sterile Compounding workflow processes. I'm very proud to partner with Health Robotics in the hospital testing process of its new i.v.STATION ONCO" asserted Filippo Monteleone, Generale de Sante's Managing Director.

i.v.STATION ONCO is scheduled to be released to Beta-Test and Early Adopter Program status in approximately 6 months to Generale de Sante in Paris, Bolzano General Hospital in Italy [working side-by-side and in synergy with CytoCare], and Health Robotics South East Asia's own compounding center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Worldwide general availability for i.v.STATION ONCO is originally targeted for 1Q2012, including Class II medical device certification for the United States of America.

"It is indeed a key milestone for Health Robotics to enter the French healthcare market, and an honor to partner with Generale de Sante, France's top private hospital group. With i.v.STATION ONCO, we continue to unquestionably lead Global Oncology Automation by introducing our 3rd automated solution for Hazardous Sterile Compounding before any of our direct competitors bring their 1st proven solution to the market [some of which were announced over 20 years ago[1]. i.v.STATION ONCO symbolizes the next pillar in Health Robotics' strategy to build a cost-effective, redundant, and patient-safe network of devices that address the flexibility, throughput, high-availability, and protection required within Cancer Therapy" stated Gaspar DeViedma, Health Robotics' Executive Vice President.

i.v.STATION ONCO represents a complementary offering to other Health Robotics' solutions for sterile compounding of Intravenous Cancer Therapy: CytoCare and i.v.SOFT Assist. Engineered as an evolution and blending of some of the fully-tested and globally-embraced technologies embedded within i.v.STATION and CytoCare, i.v.STATION ONCO automatically compounds, caps, and labels commercially-available soft plastic bags and syringes from 8 different brands and 10 different sizes within an ISO-5 environment on negative pressure. i.v.STATION ONCO however does not support sterile compounding with ampoules, plastic or glass bottles, CSTDs, unusually small vials, and elastomeric infusors, which Health Robotics' customers will need to continue to compound with market-leading CytoCare and/or i.v.SOFT Assist solutions.

"We look forward to repeat the rigorous SafeChemo scientific validation we undertook with CytoCare in 2008, including world-leading and peer-reviewed sterility and cross-contamination tests with i.v.STATION ONCO, and to divide our Oncology Therapy workload with CytoCare, each robot being utilized for a particular purpose and need" stated Dr. Pietro Paluselli, Director of Pharmacy at Bolzano General Hospital.

About Generale de Sante:

Founded in 1987 and listed by Euronext since 2001, Generale de Sante is the leading group in the private hospital care sector in France with 21,500 employees, including 7,000 nurses and 4,100 assistant nurses in 110 hospitals and clinics. With 5,500 physicians, it represents the leading independent medical community in France. Generale de Sante provides a complete range of patient care services spanning: acute care, oncology, sub-acute care and rehabilitation, mental health and homecare. It has developed an original healthcare offering, combining medical excellence, organizational efficiency and a human touch; it provides an all-in-one service with an individually-adapted patient support package, before, during and after hospitalization, taking into consideration all of its patients' needs.

About Health Robotics:

Health Robotics is the undisputed global leading supplier of life-critical intravenous medication robots, providing over 175 hospital installations in 5 continents with robotics technology and software automation solutions deployed utilizing virtual high-availability technology. Its world-leading solutions CytoCare(R) and i.v.STATION(R) ONCO [hazardous IVs], i.v.STATION(R) [non-hazardous IVs], i.v.SOFT(R) [workflow engine for manual compounding], MEDarchiver(R) [life-critical clinical information system], and TPNstation(TM) [totally-automated parenteral nutrition] have and will greatly contribute to ease hospitals' growing pressures to improve patient safety, increase throughput and contain costs. Through the effective and efficient production of sterile, accurate, tamper-evident and ready-to-administer IVs, Health Robotics' solutions help hospitals eliminate life-threatening drug and diluent exchange errors, decrease other medical mistakes and sterility risks, work more efficiently, reduce waste and controlled substances' diversion, and diminish the gap between rising patient volume/acuity and scarce medical, nursing, and pharmacy staff. For more information, please visit: http://www.health-robotics.com

[1] Am J Hosp Pharm 46(11): 2286-93-1989

    
    For additional information, please contact:
    Claudia Flaim, Marketing Coordinator
    flaim@health-robotics.com
    Phone: +39-0471-200-372