In search of the sentinel
Adlershof’s IT solutions for medical technology that modern diagnostics cannot do without
Conworx Technology GmbH has been working on quality assurance in medicine since its founding in 1999. About 20 employees are working to optimise data management for clinics and laboratories at their headquarters in Adlershof – the company employs a total of 60 people across branches in France, England, and the United States. Its focus is on networking devices that record medical data for diagnostics. Instead of waiting for results from a central laboratory, so-called point-of-care testing (POCT) can be done directly in the hospital or doctor’s office. Results from, for example, blood sugar testing or gas distribution, are immediately available after the sample was drawn.
These results must be absolutely reliable. Alexandra Stolz, head of marketing, explains: “We connect point-of-care devices with existing software.” By doing this, the data can be validated in accordance with legal regulations. More-over, the specialists at Conworx develop interfaces for their devices that facilitate secure data transfer. The company also offers a range of services and training. The fact that point-of-care diagnostics are on the rise all over the world has created a strong demand for the Adlershof-based company’s services.
The Adlershof-based company Crystal Photonics specialises in innovative measurement systems for nuclear medicine. In order to effectively treat cancer, for example, it is crucial to know the exact size and location of a tumor, and whether it has already started to metastasise. Some types of tumors, including breast and cervical cancer, require an examination of the the sentinel lymph node where the tumor cells first expand. This particular lymph node, however, has to be located first. Crystal Photonics provides a tool to do precisely that in a very precise way – the so-called gamma probe. These are capable of locating the sentinel lymph node, previously marked with radionuclide, which can then be removed for analysis. If they are cancer-free, the other lymph nodes can remain in the body. “About 75 percent of female patients benefit from this method,” says Klaus Schwenkenbecher, the company’s managing director. It was founded in 2005 and currently employs 12 people.
The recently developed hand-held camera “Crystal Cam” is able to visualise radioactively injected tissue in real time. Contrary to conventional gamma cameras, this light and ergonomically designed device can also be used during operations. Schwenkenbacher knows that, apart from its state-of-the-art medical and technological properties, the easy handling of the device is also important to surgical staff. The physicist can also report that other new measurement systems in nuclear medicine are already being developed.
By Paul Janositz for Adlershof Special