New Technology Can Diagnose Sinus Problems Faster - But Not in Michigan
Due to the Certificate of Need (CON) regulation in Michigan, Xoran Technologies, a Michigan based medical device, is unable to sell their revolutionary upright CT scanner.
Ann Arbor, Mich. (PRWEB) September 10, 2006
In this heated election year, politicians are eager to showcase big plans to bolster Michigan’s sagging business economy with incentives for businesses to develop and market high-tech products and create new jobs.
Xoran Technologies® of Ann Arbor is one of the recipients of such incentives, having been honored by the state of Michigan with the prestigious "Innovator's Award," named one of the "50 Companies to Watch in Michigan," and having received a Single Business Tax credit valued at more than $7.1 million. In an ironic twist, however, Xoran cannot sell its products in Michigan.
Xoran makes small, specialized computed tomography (CT) scanners for physicians to use at their patients’ point of care. Xoran’s MiniCAT™ scanner is an upright, patient-friendly sinus and ear CT scanner that gives doctors instant access to high quality images in order to diagnose and treat patients faster. MiniCAT™ also emits ten times less of a radiation dose than a sinus or ear scan taken by a full-sized CT scanner.
However, Michigan residents who want fast access to a high quality CT scan at a reasonable cost will have go to Ohio, Indiana, or Illinois for their scan, because Michigan doctors cannot buy a MiniCAT™ in Michigan.
Michigan’s certificate of need (CON) regulation prevents healthcare facilities from purchasing medical equipment such as CT scanners, unless they can prove they will use the equipment enough to meet minimum thresholds set by the state. A new high-tech product such as MiniCAT™, cannot meet these high thresholds because it is designed for limited imaging tasks, unlike full-sized CT scanners designed to scan the entire body and used almost exclusively in hospitals and imaging centers for around-the-clock care.
“The CON regulation is intended to ensure that Michigan residents have access to quality healthcare at an affordable cost,” said Jacqueline Vestevich, vice president and chief operating officer at Xoran, “and it is clear that Xoran’s MiniCAT™ scanner does just that. This is a case of Michigan laws failing to keep pace with the creation of high-tech, beneficial products encouraged by State incentive programs.”
Founded in 2001 by two research scientists at the University of Michigan, Xoran Technologies is the innovator and market leader in compact, specialized medical CT scanners. Xoran is a customer - focused medical imaging company passionate about bringing fresh, common sense solutions to patient care. Xoran’s scanners generate immediate, digitally versatile images of exceptional quality, allowing physicians to accelerate patient diagnosis and treatment, while keeping scanning revenue in their practice. For more information on Xoran Technologies call (800) 70-XORAN or visit http://www. xorantech. com (http://www. xorantech. com).
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