seca

Arab Health 2019 –

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 08:27:39 +0000

"Digitalization is changing the healthcare market and bringing with it major changes in requirements for our products and system solutions," says Robert Vogel, seca managing director for Sales and Marketing. "As an innovation driver, we have invested more than 10 percent of our revenue in research and development over the past several years. The result is system solutions that not only measure height and weight but also body composition and vital signs and transmit all data into the EMR. We can use non-invasive methods to look ever deeper into the patient and thereby advance the possibilities in diagnostics and treatment."

Arab Health 2019 Highlights:

Interface Module seca 452

Scales and height-measuring devices can be integrated completely
WiFi makes use possible anywhere; no extra hardware needed
Identification of personnel and patients via the EMR system, bi-directional with bar code scanner

➔ Quick and secure centralization of relevant patient data in EMR

Baby Scale seca 333i/ seca 336i

From anywhere at all, WiFi and the integrated digital measuring rod transfer height and weight directly into the EMR system
User and patient identification captured via bar code scanner

➔ Optimized workflow and increased patient safety

seca mBCA 514/ seca mBCA 515

Measures body composition in 17 seconds
Precise and valid data for best assessment of health and nutritional status
The only BIA whose validation against gold standard methods (full-body MRI scans, NaBr dilution and 4C) has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals

➔ Holistic and personalized diagnosis and treatment options

seca mVSA 535

World's first combined BIA and vital signs measuring system
Registers blood pressure, SpO2, pulse, temperature, body composition
Combination of BIA and vital parameters permit a deeper look into patients than the BIA or vital signs alone can

➔ Differentiated ad hoc determination of patient's state of health and nutritional status

Convince yourself of the potential for efficiency improvements when you visit us at Arab Health in Hall 2 Stand H2C19. More information about seca, seca products and seca service is available at www.seca.com.

ⁱ Bosy-Westphal A, Jensen B, Braun W, Pourhassan M, Gallagher D, Müller MJ. Quantification of whole-body and segmental skeletal muscle mass using phase-sensitive 8-electrode medical bioelectrical impedance devices. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2017 Mar 22. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2017.27.

Bosy-Westphal A, Schautz B, Later W. Kehayias JJ, Gallagher D, Müller MJ. What makes a BIA equation unique? Validity of eight-electrode multifrequency BIA to estimate body Composition in a healthy adult population. Eur J Clin Nutr 2013; 67: 14-21; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2012.160

ⁱⁱ FDA approval for seca mVSA pending

Press Contactseca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto; Communications Manager
E-Mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca – precision for healthSince 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 16 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

Global medical societies define reduced muscle mass as an independent criterion for diagnosis of malnutrition

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 08:30:28 +0000

Previous attempts at optimizing the diagnosis of malnutrition were based primarily on the criteria "non-volitional weight loss" and "low BMI ≤ 20". These criteria, however, have proven to be inadequate in practice, says Michael Johannes Maisch, M.D. and Chief Medical Advisor at seca: "When only weight loss and BMI are taken into account, no consideration is given to edema, which is also a frequent symptom of malnutrition. Water retention distorts the weight and can even effect a weight gain and a higher BMI although malnutrition is present. Consequently, many malnourished patients fall through the cracks."

seca software has included Fat Mass Index analysis since 2017In the consensus report the GLIM defined five criteria for the diagnosis and severity of malnutrition. After a patient has been identified at risk of malnutrition, at least one phenotypic criterion (non-volitional weight loss, low BMI, reduced muscle mass) and one of the etiologic criteria (reduced food intake/assimilation and inflammation/disease burden) must be fulfilled for a diagnosis of malnutrition.

A leading manufacturer of medical body composition analysis devices, seca deals with the subjects of weight and body composition every day and knows how important muscle mass is for the diagnosis of malnutrition. At the beginning of 2017 seca incorporated the Fat-Free Mass Index (FFMI) in the analytical software of the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) and implemented the cut-offs from the first ESPEN consensus paper . These parameters make it even easier for the user to detect malnutrition by means of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). "We welcome the revaluation of the FFMI as an independent criterion," says Dr. Maisch.

ESPEN General Secretary confirms BIA as a valid method of capturing FFMIProf. Dr. Matthias Pirlich, ESPEN General Secretary, sees the consideration of body composition as a positive development. "The new GLIM criteria for the diagnosis of malnutrition also include the detection of a prognostically significant change in body composition," says Pirlich. "The GLIM consensus takes into account several studies from the past 10 years which have shown that the loss of muscle mass concurrent with a chronic or severe disease is an independent risk factor for a poor clinical course. The Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis is an economical and valid method of measuring the loss of muscle mass or fat-free mass in everyday clinical work."

Type of validation methods of BIA devices determine the qualityThe GLIM consensus names the methods CT, MRI, DXA and BIA as the methods to be used to measure muscle mass. Their practical application, however, is critical. Given the complexity, costs or radiation exposure (CT), MRI and CT are unsuitable for clinical routine use. "DXA too should be looked at critically when it comes to measuring muscle mass," says Dr. Maisch. "DXA significantly overestimates Skeletal Muscle Mass. In a diagnosis of malnutrition with reduced muscle mass, this is naturally counterproductive." Even BIA is not simply BIA. The devices whose measurements of muscle mass have been validated against DXA share the bias of the reference device. You can expect to capture reduced muscle mass accurately only if the BIA device has been validated with whole-body MRI. Users benefit from the simple, fast and radiation-free methods of the BIA when the device's accuracy is assured.“

¹ FFMI <17 (male) <15 kg/m2 (female); Cederholm et al., Diagnostic criteria for malnutrition – An ESPEN Consensus Statement. Clinical Nutrition, 34(3), pp.335-340.

² Bosy-Westphal et al., Quantification of whole-body and segmental skeletal muscle mass using phase-sensitive 8-electrode medical bioelectrical impedance devices. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2017) 71, 1061–1067

More information about seca at www.seca.com and the seca science center.

Press Contactseca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto; Communications Manager
E-Mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

16th international branch: seca opens Benelux office

Mon, 26 Nov 2018 13:17:52 +0000

Thanks to its long-term distributor partnerships, seca has been successful in the region of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg for more than 100 years. As digitalization has taken hold, however, the complexity of requirements and products has made briefings and technical explanations necessary. "As a premium provider, we always offer our products and services in the best quality," says Theresa Schuhback, Area Sales Manager for seca | benelux. "We want to be even closer to the market so that we can keep pace with the growing complexity and continue to give our customers optimum support."

From Hamburg to the rest of the worldIn addition to its German (Hamburg) headquarters, seca maintains a worldwide presence with 16 branches and exports products to 110 countries. The market leader earns 96 percent of its revenue abroad, with Europe as one of the most important sales regions. "The Benelux countries are very progressive in the healthcare sector and, as a rule, hospitals and other medical facilities have highly modern equipment. The healthcare system in the Netherlands is considered one of the most efficient and advanced in the world," says Andreas Schneider, Head of Sales International at seca. "We see high potential in these innovation-driven markets, particularly for our EMR-ready measuring solutions."

For some time the market leader has offered more than medical scales and height-measuring systems. Its portfolio also contains EMR-ready system solutions which record not only height and weight, but also body composition or vital signs and automatically transmit the data to EMR systems. Schneider adds, "With these products and the opening of seca | benelux, we want to work with our partners and customers to promote the optimization and digitalization of their processes on site where they work."

First major project is successfully initiated in the NetherlandsThe initial projects which seca and its business partners are now implementing show that the approach pays off and that Benelux is a growth market for innovative solutions. In the Netherlands seca has equipped an entire pediatrics unit with ultrasonic measuring stations that automatically capture weight and height without any involvement of medical staff and will be able to transmit data into EMR systems in future. "The capacity to automatically integrate height, weight, vital signs and body composition in digital patient files is indispensable in digital medicine," says Schuback. "Recording the data by hand, which ties up resources and opens up the chance of transcription errors, is not appropriate for the future. That's why we are pleased when hospitals have the foresight today to choose solutions which can be upgraded and integrated at any time. With the opening of seca | benelux, we have established the ideal conditions for implementing projects like those in Maastricht or Leuven in other parts of the region."

More information about seca at www.seca.com.

Distributor and Partner Contact BeneluxTheresa Schuback
Area Sales Manager
Tel.: + 31 85 2738426 | E-Mail: theresa.schuback@seca.com

seca | benelux.Gooimeer 5
1411 Naarden
The Netherlands

Press Contactseca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto; Communications Manager
E-Mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca opens development site in Lithuania

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 12:11:06 +0000

seca – between tradition and innovationFounded in 1840 as a scale manufacturer, seca is today the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. With headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, and 15 branches around the world, seca is a global player with activities in more than 110 countries. For some time seca has been offering more than medical measuring systems and scales. The company's portfolio now includes innovative measuring stations that communicate with each other; networked vital data monitors; the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA), which is revolutionizing diagnostics and treatment with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis; and service and software systems that make everyday medical work easier. Moreover, seca makes substantial investments in EMR-ready measuring solutions which, in the course of Medicine 4.0, will optimize the ad-hoc assessment of a patient's state of health. Every year more than 10 percent of revenue is invested in research and development.

Fast growth with Lithuanian talentDigitalization is altering the healthcare market and with it the requirements for products and system solutions. Acknowledged as an innovation driver, seca always wants to remain one step ahead of the market. The company develops ground-breaking technologies and collaborates with forward-looking people to shape the transition. "To serve the growing need for digital solutions, we want to expand further in the field of software. We are now looking for many highly-trained talented people with a digital mindset to supplement our team of experts in Hamburg. And we are finding them in Lithuania," says Frederik Vogel, managing director in the technology area. The country has the highest number of graduates in math, science and technical courses in Europe and more than half of the population speaks at least two foreign languages. "Furthermore, hardly any other country has such an advanced digital infrastructure or such pronounced digital socialization as Lithuania. We are certain that with our new software development site in Lithuania, we will develop even more efficient solutions and will be able to exploit the potential for growth in the digital healthcare market."

Modern software solutions for diagnostic supportForty employees make up the Hamburg team of IT specialists, an integral part of Research & Development, which concentrates on the development of firmware, embedded software and integration solutions for connectivity to hospital information systems. The expert team in Vilnius will work independently on a Web-based software solution for analysis of medical measurement data. With this diagnostic support for the future, the idea is not only to measure and automatically document results, but to interpret the data and point out connections with the help of seca's most modern software.

Payam Vassighi, the site manager of seca Vilnius, says, "Being part of the international seca group means working in agile project teams to help shape the transformation from a scale manufacturer to a software and system provider. We are developing software solutions of the future that will make everyday medical work even more reliable. To reach our goals, we will expand the team in Vilnius to 25 employees within the next three years. We are now searching for engaged software and quality engineers, DevOps and full-stack developers."

“It is a global trend to merge different industries and competencies in creating market-ready products, and Lithuania’s focus should settle on the sectors of IT, life sciences and medicine,” says Virginijus Sinkevičius, Lithuania’s Minister of Economy. “An analysis for the new life sciences strategy shows that the country’s investment environment is already attractive for such innovative big players as seca and continuing to improve this environment will result in more foreign investors coming to create such innovative products in Lithuania.”

More information about seca and the job vacancies in Vilnius at www.seca.com.

Press Contactseca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto
Communications Manager
e-mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca – precision for healthSince 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

World Obesity Day 2018 –

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 09:51:16 +0000

"The results are typical for overweight people," says Dr. Heike Niemeier, a nutritionist who holds a doctorate in ecotrophology. "The media and society suggest that it is possible with enough discipline and crash diets to lose a lot of weight quickly and then keep it off long term. Such unrealistic expectations often lead to frustration accompanied by low self-esteem and self-efficacy."

Survey subjects overrate the number on the scale; quantifying the fat mass is crucialOverweight persons are demotivated most when the scale shows hardly any change despite their efforts (61%). The absolute weight, however, says little about general health status or how to make a successful change of diet. After all, the one-dimensional view of stone weight does not consider the body composition of muscle, water and fat. "It is important to quantify the fat mass in patients affected by obesity in order to set a goal and increase the patient's motivation with measurements and visualization of body composition over the course of treatment," says Prof. Dr. med. Yurdagül Zopf, Doctor of nutritional medicine of the University Hospital Erlangen. His colleague and sports doctor Dr. Dejan Reljic added, "The improvement in body composition is more important for long-term prognosis and a decrease of subsequent diseases than overall weight reduction."

Knowledge and visible success are top motivatorStefanie Wirtz from the Selbsthilfeverband AdipositasHilfe Deutschland e.V. and Coordinator of the Adipositaszentrum Lüneburg emphasized how important body composition information is for obesity therapy and motivation. She says, "When patients know how their bodies are composed of water, muscle and fat, they are more apt to understand how to succeed at weight loss. On top of that, success becomes visible in body composition measurements even before the patient can see the changes in the mirror or on the bathroom scale. That increases motivation and treatment compliance enormously!" One affected person, Stefanie Bohn, confirms that: "It was an incredible relief for me to know that I am not just made of fat as I often thought. That was good for my self-esteem and for my motivation too. Because now that I know about my body composition, I can take a more targeted approach to managing my weight!"

According to Mrs. Wirtz, such knowledge and motivation are decisive factors in keeping patients on the ball, particularly in difficult phases. Survey results confirm that the visibility of success on the scale, in the mirror or in trend diagrams is the greatest motivating force for continuing pursuit of weight loss goals. The survey reported that 67% of respondents remain committed when their efforts pay off on the scale; almost every second (47%) is motivated when muscle increases and fat decreases; and 21% are pleased when progress is visible in graphs and small successes are confirmed.

Body composition measurement at gold standard levelWith Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) from seca measures a patient's body composition within 17 seconds. Diagrams and curves give doctors, nutritionists and patients valuable information about patients' nutritional condition and health status. Based on this information, customized treatment plans are made, development is documented and success is visualized. The key to the usability of BIA parameters is their validity, for which seca acquired scientific validation. seca is the leader in gold standard-validated BIA systems and the only manufacturer that has published the validation against gold standard methods (complete body MRI, NaBr dilution and 4C model) in peer-reviewed journals.

You'll find the full statements by experts regarding the added value of BIA in obesity treatment and other information about seca and the mBCA in the attached PDF and at www.seca.com.

¹ The data used are from an online survey conducted by YouGov Deutschland GmbH in which 2039 persons took part from 5 to 7 September 2018. The results were weighted and are representative of the German population from the age of 18 years. Persons involved had a BMI = 30 and higher.

Press Contactseca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto
Communications Manager
e-mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca – precision for healthSince 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

seca earns certification according to ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP)

Tue, 03 Jul 2018 12:50:59 +0000

International law makers and government agencies joined up in MDSAP in order to reduce the number of QM system audits in the different target markets. "MDSAP certification allows us to minimize the redundant efforts involved with fulfilling country-specific quality requirements as the participating national registration agencies accept the MDSAP audit report in place of their individual inspections. In future we will be able to accelerate the process of gaining market approvals," said Mark Sonnenkalb, Head of Quality Services at seca. "Meeting the toughest quality standards is part of the seca DNA. The certificates are now the official proof that our products fulfill the requirements of the MDD in Europe and of the five countries participating in MDSAP. Beyond that, the certification secures market access in those countries now and in future."

The seca portfolio includes classic medical measuring systems and scales along with innovative solutions such as networked vital signs monitors, measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify everyday medical work and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA), which has the potential to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment with the use of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. seca medical products in Classes I, Im and IIa must fulfill strict quality requirements. The recently conducted audit has confirmed that they do.

¹Medical Devices Directive

You'll find more information about seca at www.seca.com.

Press Contactseca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto; Communications Manager
e-mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca – precision for healthSince 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

OECD Forum 2018

Tue, 03 Jul 2018 12:11:18 +0000

seca spoke with high-ranking visitors to draw their attention to the background and consequences of the international obesity epidemic and to present potential solutions. The overriding goal should be the implementation of an integrated national obesity strategy that ensures nationwide access to preventative and curative measures and holistic care of affected persons in varied stages of the disease.

In the year 2000 the World Health Organization recognized obesity as a chronic disease. It is not only a chronic, progressive metabolic disorder with complex pathophysiology, but also the trigger for more than 60 concomitant diseases with enormous consequences for patients and healthcare systems. With 1.9 billion overweight and 650 million obese persons in the world, the World Obesity Federation predicts that global costs associated with the disease will rise to 1.2 billion US dollars by 2025. Nevertheless, obesity is still considered a lifestyle problem in several countries. In many cases state health insurance companies cannot meet the demand for services, so affected persons receive inadequate care and sometimes even incorrect treatment.

Basic problem – Definition and diagnosis based on outdated BMI assumptionsA medical starting point for the required national strategies is in the definition and diagnosis of obesity. The approach advocated by seca at the OECD Forum is based on the medical knowledge that pathological overweight and obesity cannot be defined by Body Mass Index (BMI) alone. For BMI disregards the general state of health and critical body composition parameters. Once this information is taken into consideration, meaningful statements can be made regarding the severity of the disease and its suitability for treatment. The experts pointed out that a high BMI also can be caused by a positively high proportion of muscle mass and not only by a dangerously high share of visceral fat or extracellular water.

BIA measuring station from seca makes optimized diagnostics realTo demonstrate the added value of body composition analysis for the definition of obesity and treatment monitoring, seca measured OECD Forum participants on its medical Body Composition Analyser (mBCA). The scientifically validated BIA compensates for the weaknesses of the BMI. In addition to providing the BMI, the seca mBCA equipped with BIA technology also delivers precise measurements of body water, muscle and fat mass. All this information makes it possible to classify the patient's particular situation and assess treatment progress.

OECD General Secretary Gurría has his body composition measured and confirms the need for actionOECD General Secretary Angel Gurría had his body composition measured by the seca mBCA and convinced himself of the added value of the measurement for obesity prevention and therapy. In a conversation with seca, he confirmed the worldwide problem with obesity and said action was required. Among other things, the General Secretary mentioned the increasing overweight in his homeland of Mexico. According to a United Nations report on nutrition around the world, Mexico has a high rate of overweight persons. Seventy percent of the population is overweight, which is accompanied by disastrous consequences for the state of health of the Mexican people.

Politicians have to establish national obesity strategies to fight the problemRobert Vogel, seca managing director: "Obesity prevention fails with the very first step in numerous countries. Despite the world's growing obesity problem, basic healthcare in many places does not include regular weighing at the doctor's office. The chance of detecting weight changes early and intervening is missed. In this case politicians and state health insurers have to take action. The reason this step is not taken is because this service is not covered. On top of that, not every country provides care that's appropriate to each specific stage of the disease. To gain the upper hand in the battle against obesity around the world, we need a bundling of targeted and coordinated measures for prevention, diagnosis and holistic treatment. National obesity strategies to combat the disease could start with political declarations of intent and provide the basis for this urgently needed work."

You'll find more information about potential approaches to fighting obesity, a practical best case scenario for diagnostics and treatment monitoring in the doctor's office, and about seca in the paper "Obesity is a time bomb" at www.seca.com and www.secashop.com

¹http://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
²Prediction by WOF World Obesity Federation https://www.worldobesity.org

Press Contactseca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto
Communications Manager
e-mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca – precision for healthSince 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

seca system solution for greater patient safety and increased efficiency in the neonatal care unit

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:10:26 +0000

Optimized workflows prevent transcription errors
The scale is equipped with WLAN connectivity and a digital measuring rod which allow weight and length to be transmitted quickly and directly into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. No additional hardware such as PC or tablet is required near the scale. Nursing staff and patients are identified in the hospital information system via a barcode scanner that can be attached to the device, where it is always available for use. Manual documentation or transcription errors are effectively ruled out.

Ready for the future, thanks to integration in existing or planned EMR systems
The baby scale seca 336 i/333 i also can be used without a connection to an EMR system. Hospitals which are not ready for EMR integration can work with the scale and benefit from its intuitive operation and accuracy. "When EMR integration is launched in the hospital, the perfect prerequisites for the connectivity are already fulfilled by the wifi enabled baby scale," says Andreas Otto, the seca product manager responsible for the scale. "The extent of digitalization in hospitals varies widely around the world and even from one region to another within the same country. The trend is nevertheless clear. Alone in Germany – which is not exactly a leader in digitalization in health care – the proportion of hospitals with digital projects increased from 46 percent in 2015 to 56 percent in 2016 . Our integration solutions are a logical response to the existing and upcoming market demands and a good option for hospitals that want to ensure their competitiveness in the future.

Benefits at a glance

User and patient identification: Barcode scanner can be connected to the USB port on the scale to allow optional user and patient identification.
Digital measuring rod: The measurements are easy to read on the integrated illuminated LCD display. With the quick press of a key, weight and length are transmitted to the EMR system.
Adjustment knob: The ergonomically shaped adjustment knob simplifies length measurement and prevents the rod from tilting.

The availability of the integration services can vary depending on the country and the project. Please contact us to plan your integration project: +49 40 20 00 00 0.

More information available at smileback.seca.com and www.seca.com.

Press Contact
seca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto, PR Manager
e-Mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca – precision for health
Since 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

Arab Health 2018 – seca advances digital transformation

Tue, 23 Jan 2018 11:29:49 +0000

seca highlights at Arab Health 2018
Interface module seca 452
Today seca offers many integration-ready products, including the medical Body Composition Analyzer, diverse measuring stations, column scales and the Spot Check Monitor mVSA. With the Interface Module seca 452, seca scales and measuring stations can be refitted economically for full integration via seca software. Because this integration also is made via WiFi from anywhere, no additional hardware such as a PC or tablet is required near the scale or measuring system. Identification of caregivers and patients takes place bi-directionally via the EMR system with the use of the barcode scanner, which is attached to the device where it is always at hand. The module, fastened to the product in an easily assembled holder, is configured centrally via the server. LEDs show when the device is ready for use, give the user feedback on the scanned patient barcode and confirm that the measurements have been transmitted into the EMR system. This process will be presented at the stand with the measuring station seca 284 as an example.

Baby scale seca 333 i
Precision is demanded in the measuring and weighing of babies. Equipped with WiFi and an integrated digital measuring rod, the seca 333 i transmits baby’s length and weight directly into the EMR system from any location. For the optional user and patient ID function, a barcode scanner can be connected to the USB port on the scale. Workflows become more efficient and patient safety improves as the user can concentrate completely on the little ones.

Networked systems bring competitive edge
seca has been working on the digitalization of routine hospital processes for many years. The objective today is not limited to providing the user with precise information about height and weight. Measuring systems and scales from seca record height and weight, vital data and body composition and transmit all data directly to the EMR. “Centralization provides immediate and interdisciplinary access to all relevant patient data. Users can get a complete picture of the patient and hospitals can raise the quality of diagnostics and treatment to a new level. That’s not just a big win for patients but also a good way to strengthen the position of hospitals in the market,” says Robert Vogel, managing director for Sales & Marketing at seca.

Medical assessment: documentation of routine measurements is indispensable
The capture and documentation of vital signs, height and weight are routine tasks which contribute to quality of care and patient safety. “Detailed knowledge of these parameters is very important in routine hospital work,“ says Michael Johannes Maisch, doctor and Chief Medical Advisor at seca. “The accuracy of the data is critical in finding the right medication dosages, particularly of cytostatic drugs and anesthetics. Mixing up patients or juxtaposing numbers in handwritten measurements can have serious consequences for infants or old and weak patients.” Even though it is easy to obtain such data, the process takes time and ties up qualified personnel. The one-time documentation of vital data alone takes 1.5 minutes per patient.

Please visit us at Arab Health in Hall 2, Stand C19 and see for yourself how efficiency improvements can be made. More information about seca can be found at www.seca.com.

Press Contact
seca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto, PR Manager
e-Mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca – precision for health
Since 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

"Global markets and digitalization demand diversification"

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 14:43:14 +0000

"The market has changed drastically over the past few decades as globalization and digitalization have progressed. We are now active in more than 110 countries, all of which have highly varied basic requirements and different levels of technical development. Consequently, our target groups and their requirements for our products differ greatly. Diversification is our key to providing everyone with the right solution," said Robert Vogel, seca Managing Director for Sales & Marketing. The strategy was reflected in the exhibits at Stand A63 in Hall 12 at MEDICA. "We no longer sell only medical measuring systems and scales. Over the years we have expanded the portfolio to include software and system solutions that can optimize networked processes in everyday medical care. We continue to pursue such expansion because we can see how digitalization is making inroads in all areas of care and there's no end in sight. All our solutions are aimed at simplifying daily processes while improving diagnostic and therapeutic performance." Many international visitors to the seca stand could see for themselves how seca delivers on its promise.

Highlights at the trade fair included amongst others the integration-ready baby scale
seca 333i and the seca mVSA 535.

Press contact
seca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto, PR-Manager
E-Mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca – precision for health
Since 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

Highest precision in the capture of health data –

Thu, 23 Nov 2017 14:10:59 +0000

Conventional pulse oximetry assumes that arterial blood is the only blood moving (pulsating) in the measurement site. During patient motion, the venous blood also moves, which causes conventional pulse oximetry to under-read because it cannot distinguish between arterial and venous blood. Masimo SET signal processing identifies the venous blood signal, isolates it and, by using adaptive filters, cancels the noise and extracts the arterial signal. It then reports the true arterial oxygen saturation and pulse rate. Masimo SET is a breakthrough technology that represents a new and fundamentally distinct method of acquiring, processing and reporting arterial oxygen saturation and pulse rate. Masimo SET greatly enhances the accuracy of SpO2 monitoring, particularly in the most difficult patient conditions such as motion and low peripheral perfusion. Furthermore, clinical studies have demonstrated that the use of Masimo SET, in conjunction with Masimo’s sensors, significantly reduces the cost of care.

Robert Vogel, Managing Director for Sales & Marketing at seca: "All our products and system solutions are developed to simplify work processes and ensure outstanding precision in the interest of patient safety. We work with only the best players in the market and welcome the chance to work with Masimo, a world market leader that shares our quality standards and also delivers the best measurement results even under difficult conditions.

"Jon Coleman, Masimo’s President of World Wide Sales and OEM Business said, “seca is a recognized global leader in medical measuring systems and scales. Combining best-in-class measurement technologies that provide superior performance, accuracy and affordability, supports our organizations' mutual vision of offering solutions that help clinicians improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of healthcare delivery. We are very pleased to partner with seca to bring Masimo’s superior Measure-through-Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry performance to seca’s vast base of caregivers and their patients.”

More information at www.seca.com and www.masimo.com.

Press contact
seca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto, PR-Manager
E-Mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca – precision for health
Since 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

About Masimo
Masimo is a global medical technology company that develops and manufactures innovative noninvasive patient monitoring technologies, including medical devices and a wide array of sensors. A key medical technology innovator, Masimo is responsible for the invention of award-winning noninvasive technologies that are revolutionizing patient monitoring, including Masimo SET® pulse oximetry, Masimo rainbow® noninvasive and continuous total hemoglobin (SpHb®), acoustic respiration rate (RRa ®), Masimo Patient SafetyNet™, SedLine® (EEG-based) Brain Function Monitors, and capnography monitors.

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¹ FDA approval pending

MEDICA 2017

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 14:15:25 +0000

Digitalization of routine tasks increases efficiency and safety in hospitalsAt MEDICA seca is presenting system solutions that optimize routine processes such as measuring height, weight or vital signs and analyzing body composition by means of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). With integration-ready solutions such as height measuring systems, scales, the medical Vital Signs Analyzer seca mVSA¹ and the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA, data are no longer manually ascertained and written in patient files, but are captured and immediately transmitted to the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system. Efficiency gains are realized and documentation errors are prevented. Clinicians report savings of 90 minutes per shift made possible by automated processes for the capture, documentation and archiving of height and vital data.

Networked systems bring competitive edgeseca has been working on the digitalization of routine hospital processes for many years. The objective today is not limited to providing the user with precise information about height and weight. Measuring systems and scales from seca record height and weight, vital data and body composition and transmit all data directly to the EMR. “Centralization provides immediate and interdisciplinary access to all relevant patient data. Users can get a complete picture of the patient and hospitals can raise the quality of diagnostics and treatment to a new level. That’s not just a big win for patients but also a good way to strengthen the position of hospitals in the market,” says Robert Vogel, managing director for Sales & Marketing at seca.

MEDICA 2017 highlightsBaby scale seca 333 i: Precision is demanded in the measuring and weighing of babies. Equipped with WiFi and an integrated digital measuring rod, the seca 333 i transmits baby’s length and weight directly into the EMR system from any location. For the optional user and patient ID function, a barcode scanner can be connected to the USB port on the scale. Workflows become more efficient and patient safety improves as the user can concentrate completely on the little ones.

Interface Module seca 452: Today seca offers many integration-ready products, including the medical Body Composition Analyzer, diverse measuring stations, column scales and the Spot Check Monitor mVSA². With the Interface Module seca 452, seca scales and measuring stations can be refitted economically for full integration via seca software. Because this integration also is made via WiFi from anywhere, no additional hardware such as a PC or tablet is required near the scale or measuring system. Identification of caregivers and patients takes place bi-directionally via the EMR system with the use of the barcode scanner, which is attached to the device where it is always at hand. The module, fastened to the product in an easily assembled holder, is configured centrally via the server. LEDs show when the device is ready for use, give the user feedback on the scanned patient barcode and confirm that the measurements have been transmitted into the EMR system.

Networked system solutions with seca 286 and seca mVSA 535³: At the MEDICA stand the fully networked measuring unit demonstrates how efficiently the solutions from seca work. Visitors can capture weight, height, vital signs and body composition, have the results analyzed and transmit the data directly into the patient files in the EMR system. The options for combining the extensive data allow much faster capture and nuanced assessment of the patient’s state of health and nutritional status than is possible with vital signs and weight alone. After a very brief examination, the doctor immediately has all the information needed to make well-informed decisions. No matter what the indication, both patients and users benefit from the simple use of the devices and the options for combining the captured measurement data.

Medical assessment: documentation of routine measurements is indispensableThe capture and documentation of vital signs, height and weight are routine tasks which contribute to quality of care and patient safety. “Detailed knowledge of these parameters is very important in routine hospital work,“ says Michael Johannes Maisch, doctor and Chief Medical Advisor at seca. “The accuracy of the data is critical in finding the right medication dosages, particularly of cytostatic drugs and anesthetics. Mixing up patients or juxtaposing numbers in handwritten measurements can have serious consequences for infants or old and weak patients.” Even though it is easy to obtain such data, the process takes time and ties up qualified personnel. The one-time documentation of vital data alone takes 1.5 minutes per patient.

Please visit us at MEDICA in Hall 12, Stand A63 and see for yourself how efficiency improvements can be made. More information about seca, seca products and seca service can be found at www.seca.com and www.secashop.com.

^1-3 seca mVSA 535: FDA approval pending

Press contactseca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto, PR-Manager
E-Mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

Prof. Dr. Matthias Pirlich becomes member of mBCA science center Advisory Board

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:40:06 +0000

Pirlich earned his medical degree at the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and his qualifications as a university lecturer in malnutrition and the significance of body composition at The Charité in Berlin. For more than seven years he was chief physician in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Evangelical Elisabeth Klinik before moving to the outpatient sector in 2017. A clinician and researcher, Pirlich has published more than 100 scientific papers and guidelines. Particularly in the clinical nutrition field, his work has appeared in national and international journals and in more than 25 book chapters. Since 2016 he has been the General Secretary of ESPEN. As a specialist in nutrition medicine, he understands the role of body composition in the course of disease and treatment. “Especially in oncology and in cases of chronic organ insufficiency, body composition is an important topic as malnutrition is one of the most frequent complications. In advanced stages of disease, up to 90 percent of all patients are affected,” said Pirlich. “Nevertheless, nutrition therapy is often initiated late because the standard of care does not always include screening or monitoring patients’ nutritional status.” A central reason, said Pirlich, is that medical practitioners are not aware of the high prevalence of malnutrition and the significance of good body composition over the course of disease. “The mBCA science center offers an outstanding opportunity to fill these knowledge gaps. With the platform’s international orientation, we can tell colleagues around the world more about body composition and discuss the subject with them.”

The first article by Pirlich – “Phase angle predicts mortality in liver cirrhosis“ – deals with the significance of the phase angle as an indicator of mortality risk in cases of malnutrition caused by liver cirrhosis. The phase angle is a parameter which can be measured with the help of the mBCA.

The mBCA science center: international information exchange on body composition
The mBCA science center is intended for researchers, clinicians, practicing physicians and medical personnel from many specialties who are interested in the latest scientific findings and expert opinions on body composition. Despite the medical relevance of the subject, the medical community has had no standard textbooks and no platform where researchers and clinicians could obtain and share information. The objective is to close the gap and develop into the leading international platform on body composition by promoting discussion within the medical community. For this reason the language used in the mBCA science center is English. Every week the experts on the Advisory Board and highly respected guest authors from around the world will post comments and assess current studies and articles. Interested persons can pose questions to the Advisory Board, exchange information in the Comments section and gather information on research results under the heading "Studies & White Papers".

More information is available at: www.medicalbodycomposition.com

Press contact
seca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto, PR-Manager
E-Mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

Prof. Dr. Dr. Anja Bosy-Westphal and Dr. Stephen Wootton launch international science center for medical Body Composition Analysis (mBCA)

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 13:45:43 +0000

The mBCA science center is intended for researchers, clinicians, practicing doctors and medical personnel from many specialties who are interested in the latest scientific findings and expert opinions on the subject of body composition. The goal is to become the leading international platform for this subject and to encourage the medical community to share information in a way previously unheard of. For this reason the language used in the mBCA science center is English. Every week the experts on the Advisory Board and highly respected guest authors from around the world will post comments and assess current studies and articles. Interested persons can pose questions to the Advisory Board, exchange information in the Comments section and gather information on research results under the heading "Studies & White Papers".

Highly qualified Advisory Board guarantees top-level standards from research and hospitals
Dr. Bosy-Westphal, Director of the Institute for Applied Nutritional Science and Dietetics at the University of Hohenheim, is an internationally renowned scientist and expert in nutrition and body composition. Dr. Wootton, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton, is a specialist in clinical nutrition, who, with his scientific team, is very involved in everyday hospital work and patient care. With such a close connection between research and hospital, the use of body composition analysis has already become standard practice in Southampton.

Dr. Bosy-Westphal stated: "The scientists who have dedicated themselves to research in body composition are strewn around the world, so it is very important to have a central information platform to simplify a regular exchange among them. With the mBCA science center we provide a unique means of increasing international recognition of the significance of body composition for the hospital."

Dr. Stephen Wootton said, "Many cancer patients experience loss of lean tissue, a condition which affects their survival and quality of life. Today we still lack proper assessment, detection and treatment of malnutrition in oncology. This has to change in order to improve outcomes, especially in curative cancers. For scientists, clinicians and other medical staff, the mBCA science center is the perfect platform for sharing information about the huge potential behind body composition for diagnostics and treatment.”

seca closes the gap in scientific explanations of mBCA
The medical significance of body composition in general and the technology of bioelectrical impedance analysis specifically offer substantial added value to diagnostic support and treatment. Many different medical specialties such as oncology, nephrology, cardiology, nutrition and sports medicine profit from the precise measurement of body composition. Nevertheless, up until now the medical community has had no standard textbooks and no platform where researchers and clinicians could obtain and share information on these subjects. "As an expert in medically validated body composition analysis, seca wanted to change the situation by helping to spread knowledge of this field and heighten awareness of this fascinating material," said Dr. Michael Johannes Maisch, Chief Medical Advisor at seca. "We are pleased that we could engage the renowned experts Dr. Bosy-Westphal and Dr. Wootton, who will make the mBCA science center the number one address for everyone who wants to learn more about this subject."

Examples of Topics:

You'll find more information at: www.medicalbodycomposition.com

Press Contact
seca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto
PR Manager
e-mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca opens Asia Pacific branch in Kuala Lumpur

Wed, 22 Mar 2017 10:55:48 +0000

"For years we have observed widespread optimism in this region," says Andreas Schneider, Head of Sales International at seca. Investment in the healthcare markets is rising, the import of medical products is increasing and medical tourism is booming. The demand for equipment in medical facilities and users' qualifications are fast approaching Western standards. Consequently, the requirements for medical products and services also are growing. "Via trade partners seca has had a presence in Asia for more than forty years. We opened branches in Japan and China in 2004 and 2005, respectively. The dynamics in the Asia Pacific markets, however, requires proximity to our partners that will allow us to give them more individualized service in this eventful growth phase. The opening of the Kuala Lumpur branch is a logical move and a promise of loyalty to our local partners and customers."

Customized solutions for the medical measuring and weighing sectorDespite the upturn, the state of development in medical care in Asia Pacific varies greatly. While Singapore is already equipped with high-level medical technology, countries like the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam are still in the starting blocks. The broad product portfolio from seca and the company's 175 years of experience make possible individual solutions for every application area and stage of development. In addition to classic scales and height-measuring instruments, seca has long produced measuring stations that communicate with each other and send measurement data directly into electronic patient records and service systems equipped with sophisticated software that ease the workload in everyday medical care. Special innovations include the gold standard-validated medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) and medical vital Signs Analyzer (mVSA) which use Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Furthermore, seca offers its trade partners extensive services and works closely with users to devise customized solutions.

The Kuala Lumpur opening promotes seca's role as international innovation driverThe new branch has its own showroom, where it will present products in future, and rooms where customers and dealers will be trained. "Precision, reliability and quality have been the cornerstones of our work for generations," says Robert Vogel, one of three managing directors at seca and the responsible party for International Sales and Marketing. "The closeness to our partners is a major factor in securing our success and standards. That's why we have always invested in the expansion of our international branches."

seca realizes 96% of revenue in foreign countries. Outside Germany, the company is represented by 14 subsidiaries around the world and exports its products to 140 countries. The highest-earning subsidiaries are in the Middle East, the USA and South America, where seca is represented in Mexico, Brazil and, since 2016, in Bogota.

Contact in Kuala LumpurLennart von Wülfing
General Manager
+60 1 737 119 73 | lennart.wuelfing@seca.com
Q Sentral, Floor 25, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur Sentral
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Press Contactseca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto, PR Manager
e-mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca – Precision for HealthSince 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which analyzes body composition by means of Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA), and the seca 360° wireless system which supports doctors with diagnoses. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

Decisive step for outpatient nutrition therapy in oncology –

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 09:08:00 +0000

B. Braun TravaCare is a wholly-owned subsidiary of B. Braun Melsungen AG, one of the world's leading manufacturers of medical technology and pharmaceuticals and a provider of medical services. B. Braun TravaCare specializes in outpatient nutrition therapy, caring for patients throughout Germany who need special nutrition treatment after a hospital stay. The focus is on home-based aftercare of cancer patients for whom customized treatment is particularly important.

Quality standards for homecare rise in compliance with social legislation principles
The significance of home-based patient care and services provided by B.Braun TravaCare has grown since the enactment of social legislation that places outpatient before in-patient care. Every day B. Braun TravaCare meets the challenge of providing high-quality care with economic efficiency.

"Outpatient nutrition therapy at the patient's home is extremely labor-intensive work. Our objective is to offer top quality care by using highly-qualified experts and ultra-modern equipment," says Dr. Peter Adamczyk, one of the managing directors of B. Braun TravaCare. Among other things, the precision of the parameters and the simple, mobile application were instrumental in making the decision in favor of the seca mBCA 525. "With the use of mobile BIA measuring stations, we want to optimize treatment, improve monitoring and quality of life for patients and thus raise the level of our service."

Robert Vogel, one of three managing directors at seca, says, "For years we have been observing the developments in nutrition medicine and have worked closely with users to find out about their needs. The fact that B. Braun TravaCare now works throughout Germany with our BIA measuring station confirms to us that we have fulfilled the requirements for reliability, precision and integration and can offer genuine added value in everyday medical care."

Supine BIA measurement simplifies precise measurement of immobilized patients
The seca mBCA 525 is perfectly suited for use in oncology and for the prevention of malnutrition as it can determine the patient's health condition and nutritional status with great precision. A multi-center study involving different ethnic groups validated the precision of the BIA parameters against the gold standards for body composition measurement.

The seca mBCA 525 provides a complete body composition analysis for use in diagnostics and treatment. The measuring mat captures all required parameters of a supine patient such as fat mass, skeletal muscle mass and body water in just 30 seconds and transmits the measurements via Wi-Fi to the touchscreen monitor and digital patient files. Mobility is guaranteed by the mat, powered by its own battery, which is charged wirelessly by an induction charger. As the monitor can store more than 100,000 measurements, a medical facility can keep years of centralized and reliable documentation for several patients and their courses of treatment. The clear presentation of all parameters on the monitor and the optionally available one-page printout of results assist the doctor with diagnostics and patient consultations.

Press Contact
seca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto, PR Manager
e-mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

seca – Precision for Health
Since 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 13 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which analyzes body composition by means of Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA), and the seca 360° wireless system which supports doctors with diagnoses. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

B. Braun Melsungen AG
B. Braun is one of the world's leading manufacturers of medical technology and pharmaceutical products and health care service provider. With more than 58,000 employees in 64 countries, B. Braun develops high-quality product systems and services for users around the globe. In 2015 the group reported sales of about 6.13 billion EUR. The expertise of B. Braun employees and the company's understanding of the users' needs go into every service provided by B. Braun. In the development of its products, systems and services, B. Braun acts as a sparring partner, one who pushes development through constructive exchanges with clients and the motivation to improve things. With a continuously growing portfolio of effective healthcare solutions, B. Braun contributes greatly to protecting and improving people's health.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
Bosy-Westphal A, Schautz B, Later W. Kehayias JJ, Gallagher D. What makes a BIA equation unique? Validity of eight-electrode multi-frequency BIA to estimate body Composition in a healthy adult population. Eur J Clin Nutr 2013; 67: 14-21; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2012.160

The world's first integrated BIA and vital signs measurement from seca is pushing the decline of the Body Mass Index

Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:01:00 +0000

Bioimpedance and vital signs analysis – A dynamic duo for optimized diagnostics

The seca mVSA is the world's first Spot-Check Monitor which measures the four classic vital signs of blood pressure, S_pO₂, pulse and temperature plus body composition consisting of fat mass, muscle mass and body water by means of Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA). seca had the precision of these BIA parameters validated against respective gold standards in a multi-center study¹ involving different ethnic groups. The options of combining data from body composition and vital signs yield a much faster and more differentiated assessment of the patient's state of health and nutrition status than is possible with vital signs and BMI alone. At the end of the very brief examination, the doctor immediately has all the information required for decision-making.

Cross-indication gains for diagnostics and treatment
The seca mVSA has added value beyond the treatment of obesity, malnutrition and diabetes. Cross-indication patients and users benefit from the findings, simple operation and especially from the combination options of measured data as the following examples show:

Fluid Management – Timely restoration of hydration status
Controlled rehydration treatment for patients suffering from exsiccosis reduces the load on the

heart. With blood pressure and BIA measurements and regular monitoring of the BIVA chart (Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA), which provides graphic representation of the patient's fluid level and cellular mass), medical staff can see whether a healthy hydration level has been achieved. The simultaneous, non-invasive BIA and blood pressure measurement with the seca mVSA saves time and offers a reliable ad hoc assessment of the patient.

Heart Failure – Optimized management of diuretics with dual measurement

Edemas due to heart failure are easier to detect through the results of the seca mVSA. The regular measurement of body composition and blood pressure during diuretic therapy provides valuable information on the health status of the patient. The administration of diuretics can be better controlled through the dual measurement of blood pressure and extracellular water.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

In addition to the general check of oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry (S_pO₂), it is also sensible in this case to examine the general body composition (e.g. phase angle) to evaluate the entire situation. An improvement of the general health status and an associated rise of the phase angle can be achieved through movement (aerobic exercise). Physical training can improve body composition and the patient’s well-being. Monitoring the phase angle and regular S_pO₂ measurements using the seca mVSA should accompany these therapies.

Direct data integration in EMR increases efficiency and safety in hospital and medical office routines

The monitoring of vital signs is one of the most time-consuming activities in hospitals and medical practices. The seca mVSA was developed to support these routine checks and lighten the workload. All vital parameters and BIA data are captured quickly by one device and stored directly in the digital patient files. As a part of the seca 360° wireless product world, the seca mVSA provides automatic transmission of height and weight from compatible scales and measuring systems to the device. The benefits are clear: efficiency improvements, time-saving procedures and paperless and error-free transmission of measurements.

Visit us at MEDICA in Hall 12, Stand A63, where you can personally test the seca mVSA and other innovative products from seca. You'll find more information about seca, seca products and seca service at www.seca.com and www.secashop.com.

seca sets standards again this year in the medically precise measuring of patients

Thu, 17 Nov 2016 16:30:00 +0000

The summary of this year's MEDICA: The flow of visitors and constructive exchange of ideas with professional attendees from around the world showed once again that with its unusual portfolio, seca has secured a special position in medical measuring and weighing and non-invasive, ad hoc assessment of the patient's state of health, as confirmed by the medical validation studies for the mBCA.

Users are enthusiastic about the solutions seca has developed to satisfy their needs and ease everyday work. MEDICA attendees' favorites were this year's innovation, the seca mVSA with integrated measurement of vital signs and body composition; the medical Body Composition Analyzers seca mBCA 515 and seca mBCA 525; the ultrasound measuring station seca 287; and the connectivity of the products made possible by the newest software. "The interest and feedback from our professional visitors confirmed for us that it pays to remain in contact with users during product development," said Robert Vogel, one of three managing directors at seca. "Networked systems, intelligent software and products to measure body composition are the results of our information exchange. The next response to our users' needs is already in development and we look forward to presenting it at MEDICA 2017."

Connectivity – a unifying subject at the trade fair stand and in everyday medical practice

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 16:30:00 +0000

The products in the seca 360° world communicate wirelessly with each other and with any number of PCs, local area network printers, and nearly every type of PDMS. They receive, transmit, process and print digital data.

Trade fair attendees were able to experience live the benefits users have from products that communicate with each other. With the wireless ultrasound measuring station seca 287, for example, visitors could determine height and weight on their own. The device transmitted the data automatically to the medical practice's printer, which then generated the "directprint" containing measurement results, sound information and tips for the measured person. At the same time the seca 287 transmitted the data to the bioelectrical impedance analysis measuring station seca mBCA 515 to allow the visitor in the second step to determine body composition within 17 seconds. Thanks to the connectivity with minimum time and labor demands, the patient's height, weight, BMI, phase angle and single body composition parameters can be determined in just two steps. The software seca analytics 115 assists with diagnostics and seca emr flash 101 links the wireless products to Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems.

Meanwhile, visitors to the stand were connecting in other conversations too. They gathered information about the mBCAs, the baby measuring stations and scales, height measuring instruments and flat scales and compared notes on the challenges in their daily medical work and the solutions offered by seca.

A look at the innermost parts of the body with the medical Body Composition Analyzer brings into focus the medical challenges facing our modern society

Tue, 15 Nov 2016 16:32:00 +0000

Numerous visitors had themselves measured while standing on the seca mBCA 515 or lying under the seca mBCA 525 and expressed surprise at the precision and meaningful results. The slender distributor from France was astonished over the high portion of body fat revealed even though his BMI was low while the overweight purchasing agent from Belgium was pleased at her good share of muscle mass. It was clear to everyone that the BMI alone is not very helpful when you need an accurate measurement of the patient's state of health and nutrition status.

The seca stand was the setting for lively discussions about the medical challenges of our times, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and kidney disease, and about how a detailed look at nutritional status can improve the chances for more effective treatment. The professional audience gave high marks to the potential of the mBCA wherever diagnostics and treatment support are needed in daily medical work. A doctor from France, who has been working with the seca mBCA 515, summed it up clearly: "On the one hand, we save time and prevent errors with the automatic transmission of data into the patient files. On the other, I also get early indications of possible disorders affecting my patients and can monitor the course of therapy much better. With the data on body composition, I can make a differentiated assessment of the patient's state of health and nutritional status."

MEDICA 2016 – This year's seca innovation creates a stir among visitors and causes pulses to rise

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 15:50:00 +0000

seca once again lived up to its reputation as an innovation driver with its presentation of the latest from in-house Research & Development, the seca medical Vital Signs Analyzer (mVSA). It is the world's first spot-check monitor, which measures the classic vital signs of blood pressure, S_pO₂, pulse and temperature and uses Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to determine body composition made up fat mass, muscle mass and body water. At a rate of one per minute, interested visitors could have their measurements taken and see for themselves all the benefits of the innovative device. "The combination of vital signs and BIA parameters opens entirely new means of interpreting symptoms and making a diagnosis," said one visitor after going through the measuring process. "The simple use and automatic data transmission to the patient files would be of great help to our users in the hospital."

In addition to the seca mVSA, doctors, medical goods distributors, hospital managers, technical specialists and cost carriers learned about the other precision devices from seca. At the seca stand they engaged in discussions about the world of medical weighing right up to the end of the first trade fair day.

We are looking forward to the next few days!

MEDICA 2016 – seca brings new impetus to the battle for greater precision in medical measurements of patients

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 09:33:00 +0000

From a scale manufacturer to a software and systems provider seca has been a MEDICA exhibitor from the start. Back in 1968 seca presented the first digital scale. Robert Vogel, one of three managing directors along with Frederik Vogel and Thomas Wessels and the director responsible for Marketing and Sales, said, "When we compare today's portfolio with the one we had at the first MEDICA, we can see that we have continuously developed into a hardware and software provider. We no longer manufacture only scales, but measuring stations that communicate with each other, service systems that lighten the workload in medical routines, and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA), which can revolutionize diagnostics and treatment with BIA. We are proud of this work and, after the launch of the seca mVSA this year, we look forward to driving ahead the next innovation for 2017."

Summary of MEDICA Highlights

seca mVSA –
Combined Vital Signs Measurement and BIA for more Precision and Safety The seca mVSA is the world's first spot-check monitor, which measures the classic vital signs of blood pressure, SpO2, pulse and temperature, plus body composition consisting of fat, muscle mass and body water by means of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA).

Benefits for the doctor: The combination options for data from body composition and vital signs provides a much faster and differentiated assessment of the patient's state of health and nutritional status than vital signs and BMI alone. After a very brief examination, the doctor has the information needed to make decisions about treatment.

seca 287 dp –
Fully automatic measuring, weighing and consultation support in one device The ultrasound measuring station automatically transmits all weight and height parameters to the medical practice printer. Patients receive a personalized printout containing graphics with tips for more conscious decisions about nutrition, a healthy life style and information about the energy consumed during different types of physical activity.

Benefits for the doctor: The printout is the basis for a precise analysis of the patient's state of health and a non-threatening conversation opener for personalized advice to patients with weight problems. The analysis offers recommendations for additional examinations such as the BIA measurement with the seca mBCA to determine precise body composition and assistance with the planning of optimal treatment.

seca 515 and seca 525 –
mBCA provides precise measurement of body composition The medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) from seca measures body composition made up of muscle mass, body fat, body water and phase angle. The precise results were validated against gold standards in a multi-center study[1] involving several ethnic groups. The seca mBCA measurements always achieved correlation to the standards of more than 95%.

Benefits for the doctor: The user obtains precise, validated data for an ideal assessment of the patient's general health and nutritional status. With early detection of symptoms, the doctor can interpret the results for diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Consequently, therapy can be planned more effectively to reduce the amount of time spent in rehabilitation. Across a range of disciplines, experts such as diabetologists, nephrologists, oncologists, nutrition advisors, sports doctors and general practitioners can achieve medical and financial advantages compared to other medical care facilities.

seca 757 –
Precision when every gram counts Special damping and the HOLD function make sure that even a fidgety child can be weighed with great precision. The ergonomically shaped weighing tray with high, rounded sides accommodates larger infants. The new background lighting makes the numbers in the LCD display highly visible even in darkened rooms without harming the infant's sensitive eyes – a feature particularly important in the neonatal unit.

Benefits for the doctor: The exact weight indicates the infant's – and especially the premature baby's – state of health. The two-gram division and the HOLD function permit precise measurement and ideal nutrition monitoring.

seca 878 dr –
The reliable partner for everyday medical practice procedures The seca 878 dr is the doctor's scale intended for routine procedures in today's medical practice. Equipped with the dual LCD display and convenient foot-operated ON/OFF switch, this flat scale is an ideal partner in everyday medical care.

Benefits for the doctor: The seca 878 dr is light enough to carry from one examination room to another and yet so robust that it reliably delivers precise results despite constant site changes and heavy usage. The scale can be personalized by exchanging the standard label for one bearing the name of the medical practice or the doctor.

seca 360° wireless –
Network technology for increased simplicity and reliability in everyday medicine seca 360° wireless is in a network of products with a wide variety of applications. The software seca analytics 115, for example, supports diagnostics while seca emr flash 101 links wireless products to Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems. The flexible scales and height measuring systems which are part of the seca 360° wireless product world communicate wirelessly with any number of PCs, WLAN printers and every EMR system. Those devices receive digital data, which they then process, transmit and print.

Benefits for the doctor: Saving time and avoiding errors in measurements and documentation are the top benefits. In addition, users obtain early indications of many clinical pictures and the course of disease and can then make more informed assessments of their patients.

Visit us at MEDICA in Hall 12, Stand A63 and personally test the innovative products from seca. More information about seca, seca products and seca service can be found at www.seca.com and www.secashop.com.

For further information and image requests please contact Anika Otto (anika.otto@seca.com, +49 40 20 00 00 411).

[1] Bosy-Westphal A, Schautz B, Later W. Kehayias JJ, Gallagher D. What makes a BIA equation unique? Validity of eight-electrode multifrequency BIA to estimate body Composition in a healthy adult population. Eur J Clin Nutr 2013; 67: 14-21; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2012.160

HAMEK establishes itself as an industry event thanks to its one-of-a-kind format

Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:13:00 +0000

To mark the occasion of the new EU Medical Device Regulation the theme of the event was "Safe Medical Technology in Hospitals". The focus was on medical product law and medical technology management as well as security, risk, and quality management.

Participants experience the safety of medical technology in theory and practice

The goal of the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) is to guarantee the highest patient safety while providing rapid care with innovative medical products. The question of whether this goal can be achieved through the implementation of the MDR was discussed in numerous expert lectures and was also repeatedly a topic of discussion among the attendees at the accompanying exhibition. Attendees were able to experience what seca is doing to ensure quality and safety of its high-precision medical devices live during a tour through the development, production, and quality assurance areas of the company. The attendees as well as the organizers were in agreement: With its one-of-a-kind combination of insight into theory and practice, the HAMEK symposium is a win for the constructive exchange of information in the field of medical technology that raises its level again and again each year.

HAMEK and seca – a strong team for quality in medical technology

The HAMEK symposium was launched in 2013 by Euritim Bildung + Wissen GmbH, the Fachverband Biomedizintechnik (FBMT), and seca. 30 attendees from the field of medical technology took part in that event. Now in its third year, the symposium has established itself as one of the industry's most important events in 2016. "Precision, innovation, and patient safety have been part of the DNA of seca for over 175 years," explains Robert Vogel, seca's CEO Marketing & Sales. "In order to be able to achieve this we are in constant dialog with all of the industry's relevant players. Setting up the HAMEK symposium was therefore the next logical step." Vogel sees great potential in the format of the event. The HAMEK symposium on September 19, 2017, will take place in larger spaces at seca in order to meet the growing demand. Up to 300 attendees and 30 exhibitors will then have room for lively exchange and the discussion of exciting topics relating to medical technology.

Attachment: Overview of speakers, topics, and exhibitors

Press contact:

seca gmbh & co. kg
Anika Otto, PR-Manager
E-Mail: anika.otto@seca.com
Tel.: +49 40 20 00 00 411
www.seca.com

Speakers

Attorney Gerald Spyra, LL.M., Cologne: Die neuen EU-Verordnungen – Medizinprodukte, Sicherheit und der Schutz von Daten (The New EU Regulations – Medical Devices, Safety, and Data Protection)
Mark Sonnenkalb, Head of Quality Service at seca, Hamburg: Anforderungen an MP-Hersteller – Was bringt die neue EU-Verordnung? (What Requirements for Medical Device Manufacturers Will the New EU Regulation Bring?)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uvo Hölscher, Münster University of Applied Sciences: Patientensicherheit beim Einsatz von Medizinprodukten: Defizite bei Herstellern, Betreibern und in Gesetzen (Patient Safety with the Use of Medical Devices: Deficits of Manufacturers, of Operators, and in Laws)
Kai Erxleben, Technical Director, Elbe Kliniken Stade-Buxtehude GmbH: Instandhaltungsmanagement – Vom "Kostenverursacher" zum "Wertschöpfungscenter" (Maintenance Management – From "Cost Causer" to "Value Creation Center")
Dr. Stefan Kratzenberg, Philips Maintenance Management: Technologiepartnerschaften – Strategische Entscheidung (Technology Partnerships – Strategic Decision-Making)
Guido Balkhausen, Head of Medical Technology, pro homine gGmbH: Struktur und Anwendung eines CIRS-Systems zur Aufdeckung von Sicherheitsrisiken bei Medizinprodukten (Structure and Use of a CIRS System for Detecting Safety Hazards in Medical Devices)
Frederik Humpert-Vrieling, CETUS Consulting GmbH: Synergien zwischen CIRS und IT-Risikomanagement (Synergies Between CIRS and IT Risk Management)
Dirk Cordt, GMC-I Messtechnik GmbH: Mehr Sicherheit durch geänderte Anforderungen an Prüfgeräte in der Medizintechnik (More Safety through Changed Requirements for Testing Devices in Medical Technology)

Exhibitors

MCD Medical Computer Deutschland
En-Control Gesellschaft für Energie-Controlling
GMC-I Messtechnik GmbH
ESCAD Medical GmbH
Mides Handelsgesellschaft für Medizin & Ensorgungstechnik m.b.H.
S-L-E Germany GmbH
seca gmbh & co. kg

The seca mBCA 525 wins the renowned Good Design Award 2015

Mon, 02 May 2016 14:25:04 +0000

"With this revolutionary design we also wanted to honor the technical investments behind the development of the measuring unit," says Frederik Vogel, CEO Development & Manufacturing. The contracted design agency open fields Garthoff & Rhein GbR of Hamburg was responsible for designing its appearance. "Form follows function" was a guiding principle for the world innovation comprised of a monitor and measuring mat and this is expressed through innovative materials, smart cable management, and the sophisticated user guidance. Frederik Vogel: "Outstanding products always stand out due to a very original design so we wanted to conceive of a design vocabulary that will last for a long time."

The seca mBCA 525 is a mobile body composition analyzer with medically validated precision. Each bioelectrical impedance analysis shows the relationship between muscles, fat and body water. This gives doctors a well-founded insight into the body and is a good aid for diagnosis and therapy control.

The Good Design Award is the world's oldest design award and was initiated by the architects Eero Saarinen, Ray and Charles Eames, and Museum of Modern Art curator Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. The Good Design Award has been an international mark of innovative design for 60 years. High-quality products with impressive form, function, and aesthetics are honored with the award. Several thousand manufacturers and companies from over 47 countries submitted competition entries.

seca wins a Gold Award at Comprix

Mon, 02 May 2016 09:29:06 +0000

The eye-catching key visual is the laundry label that is known from the textile industry, except that in this case it is placed on bare skin to draw attention. It includes specific analysis results such as fat-free mass: 67.2%, fat mass: 32.8%, and water: 56.3%. What looks like fashionable eye-catchers at first glance are actually parts of the precise analysis results as they also appear on the patient printout. The campaign thereby draws attention while simultaneously illustrating the clearly organized presentation of the analysis results and making the otherwise complex measurement simple. The claim "Insights from inside out" that was developed for this effectively supports the visual communication. "The goal of this campaign was to convert the extremely complex bioimpedance analysis into images that are equally understood by doctors and patients. We are very pleased to be honored and it is a great motivation for the entire team," says Annika Ritchhart, Team Manager Marketing & Communications at seca.

The Comprix Award honors creative healthcare communication and is the most important award in the field of pharmaceuticals and healthcare. This year 168 works were able to impress the jurors in the categories of Rx, OTC, Non Rx, Non OTC, Guerrilla Marketing, and the Free Category. The Gold Awards in all categories were awarded at a festive gala in Cologne on April 29, 2016. Learn more about the award-winning campaign at www.mbca.seca.com and www.secashop.com.

seca again named "Hamburg's Best Employer" in 2016

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 11:22:00 +0000

"We are very pleased that our company was once again a winner the second time we took part," said Managing Director Thomas Wessels. "As we are heavily involved in research, we can use this designation to attract qualified employees. Work-life balance plays a major role here and a positive employee evaluation is a very good argument in the highly competitive labor market."

The company's chosen course has begun showing signs of success with the hiring of several new employees since the beginning of this year. The medium-size enterprise seca is represented in the field of innovative medical products regionally and internationally. With a second production site in China, seca has a market share of 70% in Europe and more than 50% around the world with customers in more than 110 countries. Hospitals and medical practices make up the demanding target groups for the specialized provider, whose portfolio ranges from baby scales to networked bioimpedance measuring devices. "We offer exacting customers a platform that will maintain seca's market leadership for a long time to come," says Managing Director Frederik Vogel.

Results from the employee survey are now being analyzed thoroughly at seca with the goal of incorporating the findings in long-term planning. The honest feedback is greatly appreciated by the fourth generation management team at the family-owned company, where a good working atmosphere is considered a valuable asset for the world's market leader. "From such surveys we can see that our strategies work, and just as importantly, that we always share every success with our employees," says Managing Director Robert Vogel (Sales & Marketing), who manages the business with his brother Frederik Vogel (Technology & Development) and Thomas Wessels (Finances & Services).

If you are interested, take a look at job offerings at www.seca.com/company/career.html.

seca wins the iF product design award 2016 in two disciplines

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 11:22:00 +0000

The medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA 525 won in the "product" category as it is one of a kind in terms of design, function and performance. The seca mBCA 525 has revolutionized mobile bioimpedance measurement through its efficient and precise measurement technology, convenient handling, and low weight. The innovative centerpiece is a measuring mat as a multifunctional tool – a true world innovation. In just 30 seconds, the mBCA 525 measures all of the necessary parameters such as fat mass, muscle mass, and body water. The values are then transmitted to the touchscreen monitor via WLAN. The mat is fed by its own rechargeable battery that is charged by induction, thereby guaranteeing high mobility. With the seca mBCA 525, seca is setting a new standard in terms of innovation, precision, and material quality.

The seca service concept "calibration service, calibration and repair of all types of scales of all manufactures" impressed the jury in the "service design" discipline due to its precisely thought-out service concept from a single source. The technical service department of seca gmbh & co. kg, Hamburg, thereby won out over top-notch competitors for the second time. In 2014 seca service won the Service Management Prize 2014 of the Kundendienst-Verband Deutschland e. V. (KVD) for its outstanding service innovation.

The number of competitors for the iF design award was high: The top-notch international jury of experts was responsible for going through more than 5,000 submissions from 53 countries to award the coveted seal of quality! The iF design award has been an internationally recognized symbol of outstanding design for over 60 years. The iF brand has established itself internationally as a symbol of outstanding design services. The iF design award is one of the world's most important design awards.

seca américa latina: seca opens 13th branch office

Wed, 06 Jan 2016 09:04:28 +0000

With the new branch the company advances its expansion in global growth markets. The founding of seca américa latina is an important step in ensuring long-term success in this region, where seca is already the market leader.

General Manager of seca américa latina Antonio Cordova is responsible for all countries in Latin America except Mexico and Brazil. Internally, the office in Bogotá is part of the Sales Partners department under the direction of Andreas Schneider. Antonio, who previously worked as Area Sales Manager in the region, has the required market know-how.

With personal local service and closer contact to users, seca anticipates an increase in customer satisfaction, greater development of the markets and continued growth in Latin America.

MEDICA 2015: seca product innovations impress doctors!

Thu, 19 Nov 2015 12:00:00 +0000

The conversations on the last day showed that seca is well-equipped for the upcoming developments in the assessment and interpretation of general health status.

With the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA 525 for recumbent BIA measurements and the seca mBCA 515/514 in its product portfolio, seca has two analytical units that offer medically validated data on body composition. Nutritionists predict that the BIA measurement with reliable values will point the way in future as it becomes increasingly more important in everyday medical practice. The Fat-Free Mass Index, for example, which the seca mBCA delivers as a validated value, is one of the parameters for a diagnosis of malnutrition, according to a consensus statement issued by ESPEN (European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism).

The new wireless seca 287/286 ultrasonic measuring station generated a great deal of interest among visitors from Asia. Measuring height with ultrasonic waves is a conventional method in everyday medical work in some countries, including China. When patients crowd into a practice, it is sometimes necessary to have them measure themselves without help from nursing staff. The ultrasonic method for measuring height, however, often did not deliver particularly precise results and made crackling noises that disturbed patients. These negative attendant problems do not occur with the seca 287/286, as trade fair visitors could see. The seca Team is sure that although the wireless seca 287/286 ultrasonic measuring station was developed with the Asian market in mind, it will certainly win over the rest of the world.

The other seca measuring and weighing solutions also convinced doctors with their sophisticated technology, precise measurements, practical details and durable materials.

seca mBCA test gives visitors a close look at processes in use

Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Two seca mBCA 515/514 are standing by at the seca stand, where interested parties can experience ideal body composition analysis up close.

The seca Team also shows how the seca mBCA can be integrated into the Electronic Records Management system. The personal data entered into the PC can be read via bar code into the seca mBCA. Once the BIA measurement is complete, the values obtained and their analysis are assigned to the correct "patient file" so that every MEDICA visitor can acquire his personal body composition analysis on a one-page print-out.

In this way fair attendees could experience for themselves the practical, user-friendly operation of the seca 360° wireless system, including seca directprint and seca keyboard module.

The wireless seca 287/286 ultrasonic measuring station impresses with its fully automated measuring process

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Thanks to the new wireless seca ultrasound technology, height measurements are made quickly and accurately. The integrated scale determines weight with no effort at all. From the two values the seca 286/287 calculates the BMI and forwards the results wirelessly to a seca printer.

Best of all – interested fair attendees could carry out measurements without the help of seca personnel at the stand because the seca 287/286 guides users through the application with voice prompts. As soon as the white LED on the measuring head signaled the device's readiness to measure, the next visitor could step onto the wireless seca 287/286 ultrasonic measuring station and the measuring process started completely automatically.

medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA 525 draws crowds!

Mon, 16 Nov 2015 12:00:00 +0000

There at Stand 12A63 the seca Team presented the new medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA 525 – a global innovation. With this system, mobile Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) conducted on a recumbent patient breaks into a whole new era where accuracy, medical validation and ease of use are concerned.

The demonstration of the seca mBCA 525 drew a great deal of attention. Many trade fair visitors remained rooted to the spot and listened carefully as team members explained the new variants of mobile BIA measuring and its unbeatable advantages.
Fair attendees who already work with BIA devices that measure patients lying on an examining table were particularly impressed by the cleverly designed measuring mat and the easy application of the electrodes. In contrast to other devices, the seca mBCA 525 is not plagued by "cable spaghetti".

Doctors appreciate above all the clear presentation of results, which assists with diagnoses and patient consultations. Visitors interested in getting a closer look at the analysis of the seca mBCA results were invited into the seca mBCA test area, where the seca mBCA 515/514 stood ready to take measurements. At test computers other interested persons could check out the user-friendliness of the seca analytics, the medical PC software for diagnostic support.

MEDICA 2015 – seca presents two worldwide innovations!

Wed, 11 Nov 2015 10:05:00 +0000

seca mBCA 525 revolutionizes mobile BIA measurement of recumbent patients

The medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA 515/514 demonstrates in everyday medical routine just how precise a medical Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) can be. With the seca mBCA 525, seca has made BIA measurement mobile. The compact analytical unit, which measures persons lying on an examining table, features a newly developed, unique measuring mat. Once again a genuine innovation for the world of medicine produced by seca.

The wireless seca 287/286 ultrasonic measuring station breaks through technological limits
When the number of patients in the practice is so high that patients have to weigh and measure themselves without assistance from nursing staff, the second global innovation that seca is presenting at MEDICA 2015 comes into play. It's the wireless seca 287/286 ultrasonic measuring station, which uses revolutionary seca ultrasonic technology to deliver accurate height measurements. A digital analytical algorithm developed in-house for the wireless seca 287/286 ultrasonic measuring station eliminates inaccuracies and yields highly reliable heights. With fully automated measuring – in a very short time and without any effort for personnel – the patient's weight is measured and BMI calculated. Then all measurements are transmitted wirelessly or via other output options. It could not be any simpler or more accurate!

seca 360° wireless system offers unique system solution
Of course other medical measuring systems and scales tailored to the needs of the user will be at the stand to convince visitors of the breadth and depth of seca know-how. The seca Team will present the entire seca 360° wireless product family and demonstrate the secure wireless data transmission direct to a printer for a print-out or to an Electronic Records Management system for immediate integration.

During MEDICA (16 to 19 November 2015), please stop by the seca stand 12A63 in Hall 12 and let us tell you about our world firsts and lots more!

Our Company's 175th Anniversary Celebration

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 09:53:00 +0000

A festive buffet started off the big and exciting evening event. Despite the congestion, everyone was able to enjoy the live cooking to gather their strength for the long party night. Shortly before this the old and new management took the opportunity to provide a summary of results and give a few outlooks in their very personal speeches. The charming mix of information and humor was well received by the guests and was the perfect rhetorical setting for a party night that lasted well into the night thanks to the excellent band and relaxed guests.

ESPEN 2015: BIA recognized as diagnostic tool in nutrition medicine

Mon, 02 Nov 2015 08:55:00 +0000

The largest nutrition medicine congress in Europe attracted about 3000 renowned research scientists and doctors who specialize in nutrition. The highly qualified forum participants discussed the latest findings in clinical nutrition. Effective support with diagnoses and therapy monitoring of nutritional disorders, agreed the experts on the ESPEN committee, are possible only with a precise body composition analysis like the one delivered by the seca mBCA.

The FFMI and phase angle in particular are becoming more important in nutrition medicine. During the opening presentation the speaker emphasized the importance of FFMI in the detection of malnutrition. Accordingly, it was added earlier this year to the ESPEN Guidelines "Diagnostic criteria for malnutrition - An ESPEN Consensus Statement". The use of the phase angle as an assessment factor in nutrition medicine was the subject of many sessions and posters.

Throughout the four-day congress the team demonstrated how user-friendly and precise Body Composition Analysis is with the seca mBCA.

The seca Team made the congress the site for an advance look at the seca mBCA 525, the new, compact analysis unit that raises the mobile body composition analysis to a new level.

You'll find more detailed information about ESPEN 2015 here.

FENS 2015: seca Expert Forum on Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis

Tue, 06 Oct 2015 08:59:33 +0000

"Beyond the BMI -- Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in the assessment of body composition" is the title of the forum to be held during the FENS 2015 conference at the Berlin Estrel Congress Center in Room 5 (2nd floor) at 4:30 p.m. on 21 October. The seca forum is a must for all doctors who want to incorporate the latest scientific knowledge on BIA in their daily work. The forum shows that the Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference do not suffice to make a valid assessment of a patient's state of health. Furthermore, the experts will explain how much more detailed information the doctor can obtain from body composition analysis made with BIA.

The speakers and their presentation topics are:

“Beyond the BMI - still a good index of obesity?”
Prof. Dr. Manfred Müller, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Human Nutrition Department
“Assessment of body composition in epidemiological research - experiences and expectations.”
Prof. Dr. Tobias Pischon, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz-Association, Molecular Epidemiology Research Group
“Beyond fat mass - future perspectives for the use of BIA in epidemiological studies.”
Prof. Dr. Anja Bosy-Westphal, Institute of Nutritional Medicine at the University of Hohenheim, Applied Nutrition Research Group/ Dietetics.

Prof. Dr. Manfred Müller will also be the forum moderator.

At Stand 24 in the industry trade show that accompanies the conference, the seca team will show how the seca mBCA provides precise and valid measurements in the user-friendly body composition analysis.

You'll find more information about FENS 2015 (20 to 23 October 2015 in Berlin) here.

seca mBCA: High-Level Sports Medicine in Honduras

Mon, 05 Oct 2015 09:56:32 +0000

The La Lima Medical Center in San Pedro Sula is one of the best hospitals in Honduras. The sports medicine department in particular is known far beyond the country's borders, mostly because the Honduran national soccer team and other top athletes are made fit there.

Now the medical center has optimized care of the athletes with the purchase of the seca medical Body Composition Analyzer (seca mBCA). National media reported extensively when the device was put into operation.

"With the seca mBCA, we have the most modern body composition analysis unit in the entire country," said Dr. Emilio Castro, managing director of La Lima Medical Center. The differentiated analysis of body composition provided by the seca mBCA offers doctors optimized training management, quality monitoring of nutrition and physical therapy and a better assessment of an athlete's fitness level.

Dr. Castro pointed out that the seca mBCA also is used by other departments in the hospital. A very important application area is the diagnosis and therapy monitoring of overweight diabetics.

Ebilio Medina and Roberto Amador, seca mBCA product specialists also gave several interviews. Mr. Medina told journalists that beyond sports medicine, the seca mBCA is used in many medical specialties such as nutrition medicine, oncology and cardiology. The device delivers a fast and detailed analysis of body composition, including information about fat, water and muscle. It's just one more way seca helps doctors to make decisions about therapy and to improve patient care.

seca at TecnoSalud 2015

Thu, 03 Sep 2015 09:02:46 +0000

Over 35,000 attendees will learn about the latest technology trends in the health sector from the more than 200 exhibitors. The decision-makers are very interested. After all, the Peruvian Ministry of Health wants to modernize or even newly build around 200 hospitals by 2016. The trade fair highlights will be the seca mBCA medical Body Composition Analyzer and the seca 284 measuring station with seca directprint because they offer additional information that simplifies everyday work for doctors.

seca mBCA offers insight into body composition

The seca mBCA will be particularly interesting to hospital doctors and decision-makers. Thanks to its extensive range of services it provides detailed answers to questions about nutritional medicine, among other things. After all, many of the illnesses occurring in oncology, nephrology, cardiology, or diabetology are accompanied by a change in body composition. With the seca mBCA the attending doctor receives medically validated basic data on fat and muscle mass as well as fluid status and can therefore already detect many illnesses or changes in the state of health at an early stage. The course of therapy can also be tracked more precisely and adjusted if necessary.

seca directprint supports the battle against obesity

According to official data, more than one third of the population of Peru is overweight. The Peruvian health authorities appealed to the conscience of the people and urgently advised them to change their daily eating habits. The seca 284 dp measuring station offers the solution for individual patient consultation on weight problems. It provides reliable data on size, weight, and BMI. If a patient is diagnosed to be overweight, underweight, or normal weight on the basis of the measurement then an individual printout is automatically created: the seca directprint.

With the aid of the seca directprint the patient will be made aware of the patient's own health situation in an easily understandable way by means of clear graphics, among other things, and will receive specific assistance for a healthy and active lifestyle. The seca directprint is thereby the perfect way for the doctor to enter into a discussion about weight-related issues.

In addition, the seca Team will also be holding daily raffles with attractive prizes relating to the seca mBCA at booth 54.

HOSPITALAR 2015: seca mBCA starts conquering the market in Latin America

Wed, 20 May 2015 08:52:19 +0000

HOSPITALAR is the largest medical technology and healthcare trade fair for Brazil and Latin America. It takes place in São Paulo, Brazil, from May 19 - 22, 2014 and draws more than 90,000 attendees per year. The trade fair thereby offers the seca brasil team the optimal forum for the further conquering of the market in Brazil.

At the "Rua E 91 Branco" stand the seca brasil team will be presenting how quickly and easily it is to obtain valid and precise data that can be used in the medical field with the aid of the seca mBCA. Any trade fair attendee can try out the analyzer and with then receive an easily understandable overview with all of the important measurement results on muscle mass, fat mass, and body water. This will enable all those who are interested to personally experience how practically relevant the design of the seca mBCA is.

All of the other trade fair solutions and scales presented at HOSPITALAR by seca brasil likewise have only one goal: to make daily work as easy as possible for the user. Whether it is the seca 704 column scale, the seca 757 baby scale, or the seca 211 and seca 218 measuring tapes, seca has just the right product in its range for every application. And the seca brasil team will be happy to help you choose.

seca is Granted Cerner EMR Integration Certification

Wed, 25 Mar 2015 12:22:00 +0000

seca, the world’s market leader in medical measuring and weighing, extends its premium EMR connectivity solutions for its line of 360° wireless measuring and weighing devices to support Cerner EMR connectivity solutions. seca’s range of 360° wireless devices include: baby scales, columns scales, measuring stations, stadiometers, multifunctional and wheelchair scales and printers. Only EMR-integrated products like the seca 360° wireless product system transmit data securely and are full of ways to eliminate manual entry error.

seca shares Cerner’s commitment to innovation and improving clinical outcomes. The wireless connectivity between seca devices and Cerner will assist in streamlining diagnostic workflow, eliminate a source of data transcription errors, and significantly improve patient safety and nursing efficiency.

The wireless product system seca 360° wireless is the first of its kind in the world. The devices transmit data via a special medical wireless protocol to a simple, fast and secure seca network. Within seconds the transmitted measurement data is assigned to the correct patient ID in any EMR system. The scales and measuring instruments can communicate with a seca 360° wireless printer, PC and any EMR system.

About seca Corporation

seca, the global leader in medical measuring and weighing offers healthcare providers advanced wireless technology and system solutions that go beyond height and weight. Based on 170 years of quality German engineering, seca medical devices set the standard for innovation, design and reliability. On every continent, doctors and nurses in medical practices, hospitals and nursing homes rely on the high quality of seca’s medical measurement systems and scales. seca products range from pediatric scales and measuring systems, measuring stations and column scales, flat scales, height measuring systems, multifunctional and wheelchair scales, chair scales and specialized scales.

Arab Health 2015:

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 16:09:00 +0000

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of overweight persons has tripled in the past 20 years. All the dieting tips available in the media have done little to affect the trend. As more and more people become seriously overweight, the need for professional help increases too.

At Arab Health 2015, seca will present product solutions that support the doctor with obesity consultation and therapy monitoring, such as seca directprint and seca mBCA.

seca directprint is the ideal tool for qualified and efficient weight consultation. It provides reliable data on height, weight and BMI and personalizes the information for each patient. The printout is the perfect basis for medical advice and additional treatment.

The medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA shows whether the prescribed therapy brings the desired results. The differentiated view of fat, muscle mass and water permits close monitoring of the course of treatment and also delivers early indications of many medical conditions.

seca at Arab Health 2015: Stand 2C19
Arab Health takes place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from 26 to 29 January 2015.

seca and Coach Tom Shaw Partner to

Tue, 16 Dec 2014 14:12:00 +0000

The seca mBCA will play a critical role in evaluating fat and muscle mass, providing segmental analysis of muscles to help define specific physiotherapy treatment, and monitor intracellular, extracelluar and total body water levels - all indicators to help determine if each athlete is properly hydrated.

Coach Tom Shaw’s team of trainers and medical staff can easily make any necessary adjustments in their fitness and nutrition programs based on the individual needs of each athlete. Rikki Keen, the sports dietitian for Coach Shaw’s Program, stated, “Beyond offering an easy and quick method of analyzing body fat and lean mass over time, the most important improvement the seca mBCA provides me with is valuable data to focus on hydration, both extracellular and intracellular, measuring fluid shifts and overall hydration status for my athletes. Hydration guidelines are very individual, so I can further customize and educate each athlete based on these numbers by adjusting fluid intake, electrolytes and/or nutrients that may affect fluid shifts.”

About seca
seca, the global leader in medical measuring and weighing, offers healthcare providers advanced wireless technology and system solutions that go beyond height and weight. Based on over 170 years of quality German engineering, seca medical devices set the standard for innovation, design and reliability. On every continent, doctors and nurses in medical practices, hospitals and nursing homes rely on the high quality of seca’s medical scales and measuring systems.

For more information on the seca mBCA 514, visit: www.mBCA.seca.com.

Press Contact:
seca North America
Adrienne Flores, Marketing Specialist
1-800-542-7322
Adrienne.Flores@seca.com

seca wins

Thu, 27 Nov 2014 13:24:00 +0000

The KVD is Europe's largest and most important industry association for managers in customer service and technical service in many different industries. The annual prize honors ideas for outstanding service innovations. In the finals, seca edged out two high-caliber competitors: the agricultural engineering firm CLAAS Service and Parts GmbH and the South Korean electronics concern Samsung Electronics GmbH.

Matthias Gerling, seca head of Technical Service & Service Sales, said, "We are delighted with this prize. It shows that our range of services impresses not only an increasing number of hospital operators, but recognized service experts and practitioners too. And the prize underscores the importance of German SMEs in services and showcases their innovative ideas and intelligent solutions."

seca Service – a more clever service
The competition finalists had to win a majority of votes from the 425 attendees at this year's KVD Service Congress (November 6-7 2014 in Munich). seca Service came out ahead with its innovative service concept and top user orientation.

KVD Chairman Ramón Somoza said at the prize presentation, "This year we had thirteen strong applicants with impressive solutions. All three finalists gave excellent presentations. With the entry from seca gmbh & co., clever analog service won the race. Ingeniously simple!"

seca Service – all-inclusive worry-free package for hospitals
Scales in medical use are precision instruments that are subject to many legal regulations. In addition to potential misinterpretation in the implementation of regulations for scales, medical technicians in hospitals have to spend more time on organizational issues for scale maintenance than for other medical devices. It is not unusual for a hospital to encounter problems and incur additional costs when, for example, the Office of Weights and Measures rejects a scale and declares it unfit for use until it can be re-calibrated. The scale falls out of service and the hospital has to pay new fees and re-calibration costs.

As a general service provider, seca Service officially verifies, calibrates and repairs seca scales throughout the country plus scales of all types from other manufacturers. It is all part of the seca Service all-inclusive worry-free package. The medical technician is relieved of operational concerns, medical staff members benefit from uninterrupted routines, the hospital saves money and the Office of Weights and Measures reduces its re-calibration work as a result of the effective service process.

For more information about seca Service, visit: www.seca.com.

For more information about KVD and the Service Management Prize, visit: www.kvd.de.

MEDICA 2014:

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:00:00 +0000

The combination of this innovative product, which delivers a fast initial diagnosis of weight, and the seca mBCA, which generates a detailed analysis of body composition, is perfect for our times. For the number of overweight people in the world population is climbing steadily. The Lancet, one of the oldest and most respected medical journals, published a study in August 2013 on the nutritional status and weight in the global populace. The results are shocking. Nearly one-third of all people are considered overweight or obese.

In 1980, 857 million of the world population of 4.45 billion, or about 19%, weighed too much. In 2013, some 2.1 billion were overweight, which corresponds to 29.6% of the 7.2 billion people in the world at the end of 2013/beginning of 2014. This is a dangerous trend, as an overweight person is more likely to develop diabetes, cancer or cardiopulmonary disease.

As the world's leader in medical measuring and weighing, seca has been paying attention to this development for several decades. The seca team makes it possible for doctors and medical staff to take precise height, weight and body composition measurements on devices equipped with user-oriented details. Then an accurate diagnosis can be made and the course of treatment can be monitored closely. MEDICA visitors' interest in the seca innovations is proof that the company is heading in the right direction.

seca at MEDICA 2014: hall 12 at stand A63.

MEDICA 2014 takes place at the Congress Center in Düsseldorf from 12th to 15th of November 2014.

MEDICA 2014:

Wed, 12 Nov 2014 23:00:00 +0000

A rapt audience at Medicine + Sports Conference lecture.

seca scored lots of points at the MEDICA Medicine + Sports Conference. The topnotch two-day event turned out to be the ideal venue for a meeting of international sports medicine experts. Presentations from different perspectives shed light on results from current research, trends and technologies. Besides the preventive effect that physical activity has on many diseases, the conference focused on targeted improvement to training results along with injury prevention.

The audience listened attentively to Philipp Lilburn, key expert in body composition on the seca Product Management team, who spoke on the subject of "Body Composition Assessment For Enhanced Performance Diagnostics". Since the introduction of body composition analysis, sports doctors have come to realize the effect body composition has on athletic performance. Many visitors seized the opportunity to convince themselves of the quality of the seca mBCA by having personal measurements made. Accurate values as delivered by the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA are in great demand.

seca at MEDICA 2014: hall 12 at stand A63.
MEDICA 2014 takes place at the Congress Center in Düsseldorf from 12th to 15th of November 2014.

MEDICA 2014:

Tue, 11 Nov 2014 23:00:00 +0000

Together seca directprint and seca mBCA generated lots of interest and stimulated in-depth discussions. After all, these products form the basis for better patient consultation and optimized therapy decisions. First the patient is made aware of his weight with the help of the easy to understand seca directprint. If the weight is outside the normal range and is a potential risk to good health, the patient is informed and given some tips on lifestyle changes. Then he may be motivated to initiate a discussion with the doctor. seca directprint thus offers the practicing physician a solution for a frequently occurring problem, i.e., the way to bring up the subject of weight during an office visit for which very little time is available.

In addition, seca directprint could be the starting point for a more detailed examination and treatment monitoring with seca mBCA.

Doctors who already use and appreciate the innovative device are especially interested in the new seca mBCA software. Among other things, it offers validated measurement of visceral fat and an optimized design with new elements for a clearer interpretation of result charts and measurements. Findings are now presented in a clearly organized, one page printout. The doctor has all the parameters at a glance and no longer has to flip back and forth through several pages.

Circumference measurements and weighing made easy for pediatricians!

Pediatricians are delighted with the new disposable measuring tapes seca 211 and seca 218 and the carts seca 402 and seca 403 for seca baby scales. The disposable measuring tapes seca 211 and seca 218 are made of high-quality paper. Thanks to the practical wall dispenser, the tapes are always at hand for hygienic one-time use. The dispenser, which holds up to 100 measuring tapes, can be installed anywhere and refilled with no trouble.

The perfect supplements to the seca baby scales are the carts seca 402 and seca 403. They offer safe and convenient transport of the seca baby scales for everyday use in hospital and medical practices. Each cart is equipped with customized indentations in the surface to accommodate the base of the scale. The scale is always protected from slipping and the baby can be weighed safely.

seca mBCA lecture at MEDICA Medicine + Sports Conference

Now the seca team is looking forward to Thursday and its special highlight. Philipp Lilburn, key expert in body composition on the seca Product Management team, will speak on the subject of "Body Composition Assessment For Enhanced Performance Diagnostics" during the session from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MEDICA Medicine + Sports Conference on 13th of November 2014. His lecture will certainly prove interesting to an audience beyond sports doctors.

seca at MEDICA 2014: hall 12 at stand A63.

MEDICA 2014 takes place at the Congress Center in Düsseldorf from 12th to 15th of November 2014.

MEDICA 2014: seca presents

Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:17:00 +0000

After this quick and effortless initial diagnosis, the seca mBCA can generate a detailed analysis of the patient's body composition. With information about fat, water and muscle the doctor can determine the right treatment and enhance the quality of patient care. With the goal of adapting the performance spectrum more closely to the users' needs, seca has updated the software in the seca mBCA. New analysis parameters and an improved design facilitate even better and faster interpretation of the measurements. Findings are now presented in a clearly organized, one page printout. The doctor has all the parameters at a glance and no longer has to leaf through several pages.

The seca team will also present new accessory products at the fair. The new carts, for example, make the use of seca baby scales safer and more convenient.

The new measuring tapes made of paper are simply and quickly available from the practical wall dispenser. The disposable tapes offer greater hygienic protection in sensitive fields such as neonatology and pediatrics.

seca at MEDICA 2014: hall 12 at stand A63.

MEDICA 2014 takes place at the Congress Center in Düsseldorf from 12th to 15th of November 2014.

seca mBCA expert speaks

Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:00:00 +0000

seca mBCA in performance diagnostics

This year, the MEDICA Medicine + Sports Conference focuses on new findings and options for monitoring performance data and vital signs and their integration in innovative approaches for prevention and regeneration. Of course, a contribution about the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA is a must. Philipp Lilburn, key expert in body composition on the seca Product Management team, will speak on the subject "Body Composition Assessment For Enhanced Performance Diagnostics" in a session from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 13th of November. He will explain the influence a differentiated analysis of body composition made with bioelectrical impedance analysis has on performance development and will suggest ways the data can be used in training management.

Mr. Lilburn, who was closely involved in the development of the seca mBCA, defined the scientific requirements that were subsequently used in the medical validation of the device.

The seca key expert in body composition will be sharing the stage with other renowned experts, including Prof. Dr. Tim Meyer, team physician for the German national soccer team, and Professor Jonathan B. Clark, Medical Director for the next Mars mission and the Red Bull Stratos projects.

MEDICA Medicine + Sports Conference

The MEDICA Medicine + Sports Conference encourages new approaches in prevention, therapy and regeneration. More than 30 internationally recognized experts and innovative companies join together at the conference to present and discuss future solutions and technologies for sports medicine.

Details about the MEDICA Medicine + Sports Conference you can find here.

seca mBCA at the Symposium

Mon, 02 Jun 2014 08:27:00 +0000

This event with top-class guests could not be missing the medical Body Composition Analyzers seca mBCA. Many symposium attendees are already working using the innovative device and value the user-friendly provision of the values listed above. The seca team expects many interesting discussions with users on their experiences in practice. Symposium attendees who are not yet familiar with the device can also find out how quickly the seca mBCA enables a medically precise evaluation of the individual body composition.

Here you will find more information on the Symposium on Body Composition Research (www.fmh.ulisboa.pt/isbc10/)

seca mBCA

Mon, 26 May 2014 10:04:00 +0000

The goal is to provide the best possible support to future medal hopefuls from a sports science perspective.

The focus of the sports center is a laboratory in which the physical development of the athletes is regularly monitored. The UNAH acquired several seca mBCA medical Body Composition Analyzers for the measurement of body composition. The members of the association football and track & field teams of the UNAH who participated in the Juegos Deportivos Universitarios 2014 (2014 Central American University Games) were measured using the device.
Now the sports scientists at the UNAH always have their eye on successes in training such as fat loss and muscle development. The evaluation of the quality of cells with the aid of the phase angle also represents a great advantage for them.

In addition to determining fat, muscle mass, and water, nutrition counseling and fitness optimization are also a part of the standard program for top athletes in Honduras.

More information on the seca mBCA can be found at: mbca.seca.com

seca brasil presents:

Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:16:00 +0000

HOSPITALAR, the largest medical technology and healthcare trade fair for Brazil and Latin America, takes place in São Paulo, Brazil, from May 20 – 23, 2014. Visitors to the fair can get a complete picture of modern medical technology and pragmatic devices.

In "pavilhão branco - Rua E 91" seca will present state-of-the-art solutions in medical measuring and weighing. The skill of developing innovative measuring and weighing technology and combining it with practical functions has made seca the world market leader in its segment. The company's extensive portfolio offers exactly the right product for every use. Medical personnel get support in the fight against steadily increasing weight-related disorders such as obesity and help with routine healthcare work, such as dealing with patients who have trouble standing or walking. Solutions from seca also satisfy the very different requirements for measuring a baby's length and an adult's height. Trade fair visitors can see for themselves how seca products help to simplify and speed up routine medical procedures.

Of course the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA will also be on hand at HOSPITALAR 2014 to show interested fair visitors how easy it is to obtain a medically precise picture of body composition.

A unique system solution –

Tue, 22 Apr 2014 09:57:00 +0000

seca 456 WA transmits data from seca 360° wireless products to Welch Allyn patient monitor

Recording vital signs are apart of nearly every medical examination. Now a patient's height and weight can be wirelessly transmitted from a seca 360° wireless measuring device directly to a Welch Allyn Connex® monitor. This cooperative effort is the only one of its kind in the world. No other product system offers wireless transmission of height and weight to a patient monitor, thanks to the new seca 360° wireless USB adapter seca 456 WA from seca gmbh & co. kg, Hamburg/Germany. The obvious advantages for users include time-saving steps, optimization of work flows, improvement in vital parameter management and increased patient safety as manual transcription errors are prevented. Important measurements are provided quickly and reliably to assist medical personnel with decisions on diagnoses and treatment. Tangled cables and tripping hazards in the examination rooms are a thing of the past.

Robert Vogel, seca CEO Sales & Marketing, says about the cooperation: "We are pleased about our partnership with Welch Allyn, which will make documentation of height and weight even more efficient and reliable. Both companies place great stock in providing practical solutions that give doctors and nurses the very best support possible. Our products help to optimize routine procedures and prevent errors."

Trouble-free use with reliable documentation of measurements

The USB adapter seca 456 WA wirelessly connects the Welch Allyn Connex® Monitor with any product in the seca 360° wireless system. The Welch Allyn Connex® Vital Signs Monitor is a portable device for documentation of vital signs. Intended for hospital use, the Welch Allyn Connex® Integrated Wall System consists of a monitor and diagnostic instruments. The seca product with wireless transmission, such as the digital measuring station seca 285/284 that measures height and weight in a single step, stands within the monitor's range, which can cover several rooms.

In addition to monitoring vital signs, the patient monitor handles the transmission of measurements into a data management system. Height and weight transmission can be activated via an easy-to-use plug-and-play connection.

You'll find more information about Welch Allyn at www.welchallyn.com.

ICO 2014: seca mBCA –

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 14:47:00 +0000

The obesity epidemic has long since spread to countries with moderate to low economic performance. Stopping this development is one of the goals of the 12th International Congress on Obesity (ICO). From 17th to 20th March 2014, nutritionists and scientists will convene in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The congress is the perfect forum for experts from around the world to share their know-how and devise practical solutions.

seca gmbh & co. kg, Hamburg/Germany, the world leader in medical measuring and weighing, is well acquainted with the obesity problem. At the congress the company will present the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA, an important tool in obesity management. The innovative diagnostic device makes possible a medically precise assessment of a patient's general health and nutritional condition. In the treatment of obesity the seca mBCA helps the doctor to monitor the patient's progress. In longitudinal studies the device reliably shows the effects of changes in nutrition on body composition and distinguishes fat reduction from simple loss of water weight.

All congress attendees will have the chance to have their body composition measured by the seca mBCA. While at the seca stand, visitors can learn more about current research in bioelectrical impedance analysis.

The ICO 2014 is organized by the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) and the Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (MASO). More information about the congress is here.

ARAB HEALTH 2014:

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 09:02:00 +0000

seca directprint – talking with patients about weight is made easy
Hardly anyone talks willingly about their own weight. Most people avoid the subject altogether when their weight is above normal. With seca directprint, seca wants to make it simple for patients and doctors to talk about the sensitive subject of weight. The informative printout, which is automatically generated after a measurement with seca 360° wireless products, tells the patient about their own his nutritional condition in easy-to-understand terms. If a health risk related to overweight or underweight has been detected, tips on lifestyle changes are offered. With the report in hand, the patient may be prompted to ask for the doctor's advice. The seca directprint does not replace a conversation with the doctor, but serves to open the door to an open discussion about weight. Learn more.

seca mBCA – personal view of body composition
It is impossible to see with the naked eye whether the patient with a questionable body composition also suffers from muscle wasting or fluid retention. Clarity is achieved only with a personalized, medically precise analysis of body composition carried out by the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA. The differentiated view of fat, muscle mass and water reveals early indications of many disorders and permits close monitoring of treatment. Learn more.

seca at ARAB HEALTH 2014: Stand 2C19
ARAB HEALTH takes place from January 27th – 30th, 2014 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

MEDICA 2013

Sun, 01 Dec 2013 11:27:00 +0000

seca directprint – talking with patients about weight is made easy
The seca directprint is an innovative tool for use in patient consultation. The informative printout, which is automatically generated after a measurement with seca 360° wireless products, tells the patient about his nutritional condition in easy-to-understand terms. If a health risk related to overweight or underweight has been detected, tips on lifestyle changes are offered. With the report in hand, the patient may be prompted to ask for the doctor's advice.

The seca Directprint does not replace a conversation with the doctor, but serves to open the door to a frank discussion about weight. A continuous presentation of this new seca development took place at the seca stand.

Additional information about seca directprint is available here.

Height and weight on patient monitor
Trade fair visitors were also impressed by the results of cooperative efforts with Welch Allyn. It is now possible to wirelessly transmit a patient's height and weight from a seca 360° wireless measuring system to the Welch Allyn Connex® Vital Signs Monitor. Measurements, which are reliably documented and made available for further analysis, also can be fed directly into a patient data management system.

Keeping an eye on weight changes in newborns
Pediatricians and teams in neonatal units will welcome this product improvement. Because every gram counts for premature babies, the baby scale seca 757 / seca 727 is now equipped with wireless technology and an even finer graduation.

seca mBCA increases diagnostic certainty
Just as imaging methods once revolutionized cancer diagnostics, the user-friendly body composition analysis provided by the seca mBCA increases certainty in the diagnosis of nutritional disorders. Visitors to this year's MEDICA crowded the seca stand to see the device at work as their own body composition measurements were made. seca presented other innovations to those already familiar with the seca mBCA. The device is continuously enhanced to meet new requirements and to reflect the latest scientific knowledge, which seca acquires through close cooperation with leading medical researchers and medical associations.

Additional info about seca mBCA at mbca.seca.com

2nd BIA Symposium 2013 in Mexico

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 15:41:00 +0000

The renowned speakers were Dr. Mauro E. Valencia Juillerat (UNISON), Dr. Salvador Villalpando Hernandez (INSP), Dr. Abelardo Avila Curiel (INNCMSZ), Dr. Martha Kaufer Horwitz (INNCMSZ), Dr. Anja Bosy-Westphal (Universität Hohenheim), Dr. Heliodorus Aleman-Mateo (CIAD) and medical technology engineer Martin Höfler (seca). Under the motto "The meaning of body composition in the life cycle," they explained the advantages of using BIA in the treatment of overweight and undernourished patients. The speakers also made clear that the future belongs to body composition analysis, as the information gained through BIA for diagnostics and therapy of nutrition-related disorders already enjoys worldwide acceptance. The lectures were closely followed by the audience of 320, which included nutrition experts, doctors and government officials.

Visitors to the seca stand showed great interest in the validation studies that confirm the medical precision of the seca mBCA measurements. They also paid close attention to the explanation of the seca mBCA values such as phase angle and BIVA (Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis), which show at a glance any changes in body composition.
Of course the seca mBCA was on hand to demonstrate to symposium participants how quickly and easily the device can analyze body composition. In brief: The event was a complete success!

Additional information about seca mBCA at: mbca.seca.com

seca mBCA –

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 07:44:00 +0000

In chronic heart failure, the heart is too weak to pump blood normally through the body. Blood that cannot circulate collects in the extremities and penetrates the tissues, where it causes oedema. As a result of limited cardiac function, the body does not receive a sufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients. Those deficiencies lead to a loss of muscle, fat and bone mass, a complication known as “cardiac cachexia” or body wasting. Oedema (water or fluid retention) can mask this disastrous weight loss. Therefore, the analysis of fluid levels and body composition obtained with the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA provides important information for the treating physician, particularly in cardiology.

In a non-invasive bioelectrical impedance measurement that takes less than 20 seconds, the seca mBCA from seca gmbh & co. kg, Hamburg/Germany breaks down total body weight into the components of fat, body water and skeletal muscle. The data is later analyzed against medical reference values and interpreted. seca had validation studies made that compared the measurements from the seca mBCA with scientific gold standards (current status: www.seca.com/studies).

The “Fluid” module in the seca mBCA determines Total Body Water and extracellular and intracellular water. An excessively high percentage of extracellular water could be, under certain circumstances, an indication of pathological water retention such as oedema.

The seca mBCA uses Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) to assess the cellular mass and the fluid level. The physician can immediately see in the user-friendly graphic depiction whether the patient falls into a risk group and can quickly diagnose dehydration, hyperhydration and changes in fluid volume.

As part of a regular medical examination, body composition analysis identifies cachexia in its early stages so that timely countermeasures using nutritional therapy can be initiated.

More information about seca mBCA at: mbca.seca.com

ESPEN 2013:

Tue, 22 Oct 2013 08:28:00 +0000

Dr. Anja Bosy-Westphal, (professor at the Institute for Nutrition at the University of Hohenheim, Hohenheim, Germany) spoke about the benefits of using BIA in the treatment of overweight patients. She explained how BIA raw data such as the phase angle and Bioelectric Impedance Vector Analysis are applied to body composition estimate in cases of obesity.

In her lecture, Dr. Kristina Norman (nutritionist in the Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany) covered the applicability of BIA for malnourished patients. The BIVA in particular, she said, delivers valuable information for detection of malnutrition caused by disease and helps with monitoring patients’ nutritional therapy.

None other than Dr. Manfred J. Müller (professor and head of the Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel/Germany) and Dr. Marinos Elia (professor at the Institute of Human Nutrition and Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Great Britain) co-chaired the workshop and led the lively follow-up discussion.

seca mBCA – developed for medical use
The seca BIA Workshop was organized by seca to underscore the significance of BIA in clinical practice. Martin Höfler, team leader of seca Product Management, knows how important BIA is: “The information gained from BIA in the diagnosis and treatment of nutrition-related diseases is now recognized around the world. In addition to its use in nutrition, body composition analysis made with BIA will also have an influence on diabetology and nephrology.”
The medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA features state-of-the-art technology for body composition analysis.

For more information on the seca mBCA, visit: mbca.seca.com

new Branch

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 13:34:00 +0000

With the founding of a new branch in Finland in September 2013, seca is pursuing its global growth strategy with more intense customer care. seca finland oy follows Brazil as the second foreign branch established by seca this year. The world’s Number 1 company in medical measuring and weighing will continue its expansion into relevant markets as seca earns 98 percent of revenue outside Germany.

Robert M. Vogel, seca Managing Director of Sales & Marketing: “Hospital projects, high quality standards and continuing privatization in Finland generate a great deal of procurement activity and present a positive outlook for market development. So this is exactly the right time for seca to bring fresh impetus to the Finnish market with its own branch in Espoo.”

With a market share of 65 percent in medical measuring systems and scales, seca is the market leader in Finland. The goal is to increase market penetration by getting closer to the user, introducing innovative products like the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA and marketing specifically to selected target groups. seca also plans to expand professional service for seca products in Finland. Petri Ranki is the general manager of the new branch. He is very familiar with the seca portfolio as he was responsible for it when he worked for a Finnish dealer.

MEDICA 2013:

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 07:13:00 +0000

seca 360° wireless system – expansions for medical practices
A good example is the Keyboard Module of the free PC software seca emr flash 101 from the seca 360° wireless system. Without any extra programming effort, the basic parameters of height and weight are put into the digital patient records where they are required. And the connection can be made by any user in just a few steps.

seca also has ways to assist the doctor even more with patient counseling. After a measurement has been made with seca 360° wireless products, the doctor diagnoses an underweight or overweight condition. An informative printout of the findings is automatically generated. It makes the patient aware of health problems, provides tips on lifestyle changes and gives the patient a basis for the counseling session with the doctor.

For ideal weight monitoring of premature babies seca is presenting at MEDICA a wireless baby scale for use in neonatology. Thanks to its very fine graduation, the scale gives the pediatrician a precise picture of the baby’s development.

seca mBCA – detect serious disease early and monitor treatment progress
Interested doctors can see for themselves at MEDICA how fast and simply the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA delivers a medically precise assessment of a patient’s overall health and nutritional condition. For diagnostic purposes the seca mBCA breaks down weight into its components of fat, muscle mass and water. This aids the doctor in early detection of many diseases such as overhydration or cachexia and helps with close monitoring over the course of treatment. That’s why body composition analysis and its significance in clinical practice will be among the major topics at the seca stand.

seca at MEDICA 2013: Hall 12, Stand A63.
MEDICA 2013 takes place on the trade fair grounds in Düsseldorf from 20th to 23rd November 2013.

seca Website –

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The needs of the product user were the driving force behind the technological and content re-launch of the seca Website www.seca.com. The clearly organized site provides quick access to details about medical measuring systems and scales plus services and information about seca. The updated design helps visitors to find what they need with just a few clicks. The newly developed “Product Finder” is a perfect example. Doctors and skilled medical personnel can easily locate measuring and weighing solutions that seca has developed for their medical specialties. Users of tablets and smartphones too are well served by the new site. All content can be called up and ideally displayed on mobile devices.

What are you waiting for? Explore the seca world, where precision for health is top priority. All it takes is a singe click!

Multifunction and Wheelchair Scales

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:52:00 +0000

The seca multifunction and wheelchair scales prove themselves every day in hospitals and doctors’ offices around the world. They offer several solutions to problems with weighing persons who have trouble walking or patients with equilibrium disorders. Now seca has optimized the functionality of these scales. Equipped with the seca 360° wireless technology, the platform and bariatric scale seca 635/634 and the multifunction and wheelchair scales seca 645/644, seca 685/684, seca 677/676, seca 665/664 and seca 657/656 can now transmit all measurements to a seca wireless printer, to the software seca analytics 115 on the doctor’s PC or directly into an electronic patient file. Because the wireless system eliminates the need for handwritten notes, the doctor saves time and prevents errors. Moreover, with the combination of the seca wireless printer and seca analytics 115, the doctor has access to previously unavailable analyses and interpretations, such as trend and percentile curves, resting and total energy consumption, and a therapy planner.

seca multifunction and wheelchair scales

ICN 2013:

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 07:42:00 +0000

Body composition analysis will be a subject of discussion at the 20th International Congress of Nutrition (ICN) 2013. The annual congress is among the most widely recognized nutritional events at the international level. More than 5000 nutritionists and nutrition experts are expected in Granada, Spain, from 15th to 20th September 2013. That’s reason enough to present the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA in this pre-eminent forum.

The seca team will offer device demonstrations at stand 36 in the exhibition held in conjunction with the congress. Doctors will have the opportunity to see for themselves how quickly the seca mBCA delivers a medically precise assessment of the patient’s overall heath and nutritional status.

seca mBCA – ideal diagnostic support in nutrition medicine
Both obesity and malnutrition bring about changes in body composition that the treating physician can recognize in the early stages with the help of the seca mBCA. The innovative diagnostic device manufactured by seca gmbh & co. kg, Hamburg, was positively compared to scientific gold standards in a series of international studies (current status: www.seca.com/studies).

In a non-invasive bioelectrical impedance measurement that takes less than 20 seconds, the seca mBCA determines fat mass, body water and skeletal muscle mass and presents the findings in a user-friendly report.

Malnutrition can be reliably diagnosed as the seca mBCA differentiates overhydration from cachexia and a lean physique. In treatment of obesity the seca mBCA monitors success with great accuracy. At a glance the doctor can see whether the therapy goal – fat reduction or muscle development – has been achieved.

More information about the seca mBCA at: mbca.seca.com

More information about ICN 2013 at: www.icn2013.com

ESPEN 2013: seca BIA Workshop

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 07:21:00 +0000

“Meet the Experts on Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) in Malnutrition and Obesity” is on the program of the ESPEN congress in Leipzig at 12:45 on Sunday, 1 September 2013. seca gmbh & co. kg, the world’s market leader in medical measuring and weighing, invites congress participants to the international workshop in Room 10 on the second floor. This event gives all doctors an opportunity to gather information from acknowledged experts on the latest BIA research and clinical applications.

Dr. Manfred J. Müller (professor and head of the Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel/Germany) and Dr. Marinos Elia (professor at the Institute of Human Nutrition and Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Great Britain) will lead the 45-minute workshop.

The advantages of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in the treatment of overweight and malnourished patients will be presented by Dr. Anja Bosy-Westphal, (professor at the Institute for Nutrition at the University of Hohenheim, Hohenheim, Germany) and Dr. Kristina Norman (nutritionist in the Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany).

seca mBCA – high-level BIA
Throughout the congress the seca team will demonstrate the user-friendly and medically precise method of obtaining body composition with the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA at Stand 4 in the foyer on Level 1.

Additional information about seca mBCA at mbca.seca.com

More information about ESPEN 2013 at www.espen.org

New branch

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 15:06:00 +0000

seca is opening a branch in Brazil in July 2013. With the establishment of seca Precisão para Saúde Importação e Exportação Ltda. in São Paulo, the global market leader and innovator in medical measuring and weighing is pursuing its expansion strategy and increasing its international presence.

Robert M. Vogel, seca Managing Director for Sales & Marketing, said, “The rapidly growing health care industry in Brazil makes the country an interesting market with promising potential for us. We have long been active there and know that the demand for practical measuring and weighing systems is very high. With our branch in São Paulo we can now offer the best possible service locally and intensify our personal contact to users.”

The general manager at the Brazilian branch is Leandro Ascaneo, who has many years of industry and market experience. His main responsibilities are providing sales and marketing support to trade partners and managing the product registration process. With training sessions in the São Paulo showroom or at the customer’s site, Mr. Ascaneo will address the needs of doctors and skilled medical personnel. He will also meet this target group at regional trade fairs and medical conventions as he establishes and expands the seca presence in Brazil.

ECO 2013: seca mBCA –

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:45:00 +0000

seca mBCA – developed for medical use
The medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA is state-of-the-art body composition analysis. International studies (current status: seca studies) validated the seca mBCA against the gold standard and documented the medical precision of the device’s measurements. In the treatment of obesity, the doctor uses the seca mBCA to measure the patient’s fat mass. Then he calculates energy stores and determines the patient’s energy consumption per day to devise a weight loss diet. The seca mBCA shows whether the goal of fat reduction and muscle mass increase has been achieved. The patient is motivated when he knows that even though his weight is not changing, his body composition is developing positively.

seca is presenting the seca mBCA at Stand 20/21 in the exhibition held in conjunction with the ECO 2013. All congress attendees are invited to have their body composition analyzed in a measurement that takes less than 20 seconds. During a visit to the seca stand doctors can gather the latest information about bioelectrical impedance analysis.

More information about seca mBCA at: www.mbca.seca.com.

seca mBCA in treatment

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:16:00 +0000

With help from the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA 515, any diabetologist can determine the patient’s fat and muscle mass development with medical precision.

Proof of this claim comes from four international studies in which the innovative diagnostic device was compared with scientific gold standards (current status: www.seca.com/studies). In the non-invasive bioelectrical impedance measurement, which takes less than 20 seconds, fat mass, water and skeletal muscle mass are determined and the data presented in an understandable, user-friendly form.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus often involves overweight. With fat mass measurements made by the seca mBCA, the treating physician can calculate the energy stores and determine the patient’s personal energy expenditure per day. These figures form the basis for a weight loss plan.

Whether therapy leads to a reduction in fat mass with a simultaneous increase in muscle mass can be seen in the Body Composition Chart (BCC) devised by seca. The BCC is the further development of the Body-Mass-Index (BMI). Two indices are generated for the BCC: the fat-free mass index and the fat mass index. As with the BMI, the values are expressed in relation to the patient’s height, plotted in a system of coordinates and represented in percentiles. The doctor can see at once the level in the categories of “low muscle mass,” “obesity,” “chronic lack of energy” and “high muscle mass.” At a glance the doctor can see if the therapy goal – reduction of fat and increase of muscle – has been achieved. The diabetic patient is motivated when he knows that even though his weight is not changing, his body composition is developing positively.

The analysis of fat-free mass by means of Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIVA) facilitates early detection of other diseases such as ischemic edema due to circulatory disorders.

More information about seca mBCA at: mbca.seca.com

iF gold award 2013

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 08:59:00 +0000

seca is once again one of the best among the best in the iF design awards 2013 competition. Of the 981 products granted the iF label for product design, 50 also received the iF gold award. seca was one of the winners. The iF gold award was conferred upon its medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA.

Desirable use of form in medical applications

In explaining its decision, the jury got to the heart of seca’s design achievement: The seca mBCA analyzes the composition of the human body. The simple and sleek design, however, belies the character of medical equipment. Consequently, the patient does not feel at the mercy of the machine, but always feels safe and secure. Because this reduced use of form is highly desirable in everyday medical practice, we reward this device with an iF gold award.

This goes to prove that the seca mBCA is not only a technical innovation but also a perfect example of outstanding design for the industry.

www.mbca.seca.com

seca mBCA 515/514 won the

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 08:59:00 +0000

For the past 60 years the iF product design award has been an internationally recognized trademark for outstanding and innovative design. The iF label has long become established all over the world as a symbol of design excellence.

The iF design award reflects the current trends in design and the economics of well-designed objects.

The seca mBCA 515/514 participated in the category called “medicine/health+care”. Among the jury’s criteria were design quality, finish, choice of materials, degree of innovation, environmental impact, functionality, ergonomics, visualization of intended use, safety, brand value and branding and universal design.

Exhibition in HafenCity.
After the official awards ceremony in Munich in February, the winning entries for the iF design award 2013 will be presented in the iF design exhibition in Hanover at the same time as CeBIT. Starting in May 2013, the winning products will be on display at the iF design exhibition Hamburg right in the middle of the HafenCity, that is, in the new Elbe Arcades at Magdeburger Hafen.

New: seca 685/684 wireless

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 09:07:00 +0000

The multifunction scale seca 685/684 and the wheelchair scale seca 677/676 offer indispensable weighing solutions for frail or unsteady patients who have trouble stepping onto and standing on a scale. seca has made significant enhancements to the functionality. Both scales are equipped with seca 360° wireless technology which can transmit all measurements wirelessly to a seca wireless printer or to seca software on a doctor's PC. Now the doctor can analyze and interpret the securely received data without delay

seca 685/684 – no conversion needed to weigh a patient who is standing, seated or in a wheelchair.
The multifunction scale seca 685/684 has earned its reputation as a genuine ace among seca products. It can weigh patients who are standing, sitting on a chair or in a wheelchair without any conversion at all. The standing patient can hold onto a stable railing, a patient can take a seat on the integrated chair or can be rolled in a wheelchair right onto the scale's big platform. The Pre-TARE function simply deducts the weight of the wheelchair or walker.
It doesn't matter if the patient is weighed while standing or sitting; the easy-to-read display shows the exact results. The swivel display is set at hip level, where it is easy to see.

seca 677/676 – firm grip and safe transport.
The wheelchair scale seca 677/676 has plenty of space on its large platform to weigh wheelchair patients. Placing the wheelchair on the scale is very easy. Additional support is provided by the stable railing integrated on the scale.
The scale can be folded up in just a few steps for space-saving storage. If the seca 677/676 is needed at a different location, it can be rolled anywhere while folded up.

seca 360° wireless –

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:07:00 +0000

The product system seca 360° wireless ensures accurate measurements of height and weight. Furthermore, the wireless products offer process optimization in workflow management through paperless and error-free data transmission and integration in data management systems. The seca software, for example, can process patient data read in via a barcode scanner. The PC software provides computer-assisted diagnostics and therapy planning. With all these features the seca 360° wireless products streamline routine procedures and prevent errors.

seca 360° wireless system expansions.
The seca 360° wireless product system is still growing! Now the multi-function scale seca 685/684 and the wheelchair scale seca 677/676 are wireless! Both scales are indispensible weighing solutions for frail or unsteady patients who have trouble stepping onto or standing on a scale.

seca mBCA –

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:07:00 +0000

Each person is unique. Consequently, everyone needs individualized treatment. That is the idea behind the demand for personalized medical care. Ideally, treatment is based on the precisely measured personal data of the patient for whom tailor-made therapy is developed. For medical specialties that rely on body composition analysis for basic data, the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA makes such customization a reality.

In less than 20 seconds the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA can identify the individual components in the human body such as fat mass, extracellular and intracellular water and skeletal muscle mass and compare the measurements to medical reference values. For this purpose the seca mBCA was validated and correlated with the corresponding medical/scientific gold standards in four clinical studies. The doctor quickly gets all the data required for decisions about further treatment.

MEDICA 2012 –

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 09:07:00 +0000

Backed by many years of know-how, seca offers innovative products that ideally support doctors and nurses. The newest example is the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA. It makes the complex scientific methods used to obtain a precise picture of body mass composition completely superfluous. During MEDICA interested visitors can watch a seca mBCA product demonstration or they can have their own body composition measured in less than 20 seconds. A related demonstration shows how the seca mBCA can be integrated in an Electronic Medical Record system. Personal data entered into a PC, for example, can be read into the seca mBCA via a barcode. After the measurement the data and analysis are assigned to the "patient file" so that every MEDICA visitor who's measured receives his personal body composition analysis as a PDF attachment to an e-mail.
Furthermore, seca is presenting other product solutions – like the product system seca 360° wireless – that save time and effort in medical measuring and weighing.

Product information via QR code
By the way: Every seca product exhibited at MEDICA has a QR code on its product label. When a visitor scans the QR code on a measuring and weighing solution with a smartphone, he can call up the related product sheet or product data. He can instead ask that the information be sent to his personal e-mail address. This free service is available to every visitor to the seca stand via the WLAN set up by seca for just that purpose.

seca at

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 07:15:00 +0000

seca mBCA – developed for medical use
The seca mBCA will take centre stage at the stand hosted by seca gmbh & co. kg, Hamburg at the medical trade fair MEDICA 2012 (14th – 17th November 2012 in Düsseldorf). The innovative device makes the complex scientific methods used to obtain a medically accurate picture of body composition completely superfluous. Clinically validated against the gold standard for BCA, the seca mBCA is precise enough to satisfy the demands of medical experts. In no time at all the seca mBCA 515 measures fat mass, fat-free mass, water and muscle mass. Six analytical modules deliver a precise analysis of body composition in user-friendly graphics and data. Muscle-wasting disorders and fluid retention, for example, can be recognized early.

All trade fair visitors are invited to the seca stand to see for themselves what this innovative and easy-to-use device can do. In just under 20 seconds the seca mBCA can give each person an accurate body composition analysis.

The focus is on network solutions
Another highlight at the seca stand at MEDICA is the ever-expanding product system seca 360° wireless. The seca team will demonstrate the paperless and error-proof transmission of measurements and explain the integration of the system in a hospital's IT system. One thing is certain – networking is the future of medical technology.

seca BIA Symposium on

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 07:15:00 +0000

seca, the world leader in medical measuring and weighing, develops its innovative measurement systems and scales in close cooperation with a network of experts. The latest example is the validation of the seca medical Body Composition Analyzer, the first diagnostic device of its kind in the world. On the opening day of the ESPEN Congress in Barcelona, Spain, seca is bringing the participating experts together at one table on Saturday, 8th September 2012 at 12:00 PM in Room 111 (Dali). Renowned scientists and doctors will meet for the seca BIA Symposium entitled "Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis – Breakthrough in clinical practice?" Chairpersons for the BIA symposium are Prof. Dr. Manfred J. Mueller (Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany) and Prof. Dr. Marinos Elia (Institute of Human Nutrition and Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, United Kingdom).

Prof. Dr. Elia will make a presentation on "BIA in malnutrition" and Prof. Dr. Dympna Gallagher of New York, USA, a recognized expert in the field of body composition, will speak on the subject of "Ethnic differences in body composition". The question of "How to validate BIA?" will be taken up by Prof. Dr. Anja Bosy-Westphal, physician and nutritionist at Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Germany. Dr. Kristina Norman, nutritionist at Charité Berlin, Germany, will report on the "Clinical applicability of BIA and BIVA" and Dr. Torsten Slowinski, nephrology and dialysis expert at Charité Berlin, Germay, explains "Use and limits of BIA for dialysis patients".

Having been validated against the medical gold standard, the medical Body Composition Analyzer seca mBCA is the world's only device for body composition analysis that is precise enough to be used in the practice of medicine. Many disorders such as muscle-wasting diseases and fluid retention can be recognized in early stages. All congress participants can see for themselves how easy it is to operate the innovative seca mBCA at demonstrations held in stand no. 27-28 during the trade fair within the congress. seca invites every visitor at the congress to have his/her body composition measured in less than 20 seconds.

The 34th Congress of the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) will take place from 8th to 11th September 2012 in the Congress Centre, Barcelona, Spain.

Additional information about seca mBCA 515 at mbca.seca.com

seca middle east

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

seca gmbh & co. kg of Hamburg opened seca middle east in Dubai in January 2012. With a new branch office in the United Arab Emirates, seca, the world leader in medical weighing and measuring, further expands its presence in the Arab market. Robert M. Vogel, seca managing director for Sales & Marketing, says, "The region's growth potential is very impressive. Our branch in Dubai will be the center of our activities in the Middle East. Doctors there also demand the very best in technology and service. With our practical measuring and weighing systems we offer them appropriate solutions. seca middle east is expected to contribute greatly to our worldwide growth."

Competent local customer service.
Lennart von Wülfing, previously responsible for sales in the Arab region, has been named general manager seca middle east. In addition to his work in sales and marketing, Mr. Wülfing will concentrate on building and maintaining even closer customer relationships. His tasks include the presentation of innovative products like the seca mBCA and support of IT integration of seca 360° wireless products. Mr. Wülfing will provide product training at the local seca showroom and will represent seca at regional trade fairs.

seca has been doing business in the Arab region for more than 50 years. Sales of seca products continue to be handled by local trade partners. The seca line of medical measuring systems and scales was first exhibited at the ARAB HEALTH trade fair in Dubai in 1990.

ARAB HEALTH 2012:

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

From 23rd through 26th January 2012 more than 60,000 health care experts from around the world are expected at ARAB HEALTH 2012, the largest medical technology trade fair in the Arabic region, at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre. At the seca stand they can experience the medically precise measurement of body composition with the seca mBCA, the world's only medical Body Composition Analyzer.

seca mBCA – unique diagnostic instrument

The seca mBCA is the only device that conducts medically precise measurements such as fat mass, extracellular and intracellular water and skeletal muscle mass and also analyzes and interprets BCA raw data against medical reference values. Clinical studies validated the seca mBCA and correlated its results with the accepted scientific gold standard for each measurement method. These results help the doctor to assess his patients' general health and nutritional condition faster and more precisely, to recognize diseases early and to more closely monitor treatment progress.
Moreover, the seca mBCA is ideally adapted to the working conditions in hospitals and medical practices and is easily integrated into their patient data management systems.

seca 360° wireless System expanded

We have more news about the seca 360° wireless system. Now wireless, the chair scale seca 954 has been added to the seca 360° wireless product family. With its fine graduation, the chair scale can show the slightest weight change over the course of regular measurements.

Come by the seca stand (Stand 2D10) during ARAB HEALTH 2012 and learn about the latest innovation in medical weighing an measuring!

Chair scale seca 959/954: now wireless and with higher weight capacity

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The chair scale seca 959 (calibrated)/seca 954 (uncalibrated) long ago proved to be a real help in a variety of medical fields. In rehabilitation, orthopedics, dialysis, nursing homes and wherever patients have trouble standing on their own, the chair scale is put to work. Now that the seca 959/954 is wireless, it expands the seca 360° wireless product line. With seca 360° wireless technology, measurements can be transmitted with the press of a button to a seca wireless printer or a PC for interpretation and documentation. Equipped with a finer graduation, the seca 959/954 also boasts a higher weighing capacity of 300kg.

Seated patient weighed in comfort
Comfortable weighing while seated is a top priority for the seca 959/954. The seat is both comfortable and secure. Footrests can be pushed completely under the surface of the seat to give patients plenty of room for their feet and to ensure a firm foothold when they stand up. With armrests folded up out of the way, the patient can be moved easily from a bed or wheelchair to the chair scale. The highly maneuverable seca 959/954 can be used in very tight spaces, thanks to its ergonomically shaped handle that lets the user push or pull the chair in any direction. The extremely robust chair scale is equipped with a rechargeable battery that allows use of the scale anywhere.
The display element behind the chair is very easy to read. Practical functions such as TARE, HOLD and BMI underscore the advanced functionality of the chair scale.

seca Products – practical, designed for doctors and nurses!

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:59:00 +0000

All around the world it is becoming more important to keep a close watch on weight and height. Industrial countries are fighting an obesity epidemic while developing countries are waging national health campaigns against malnutrition. Regardless of the situation in which seca measuring systems and scales are used, the products all have one thing in common. Each is designed to make life easier for doctors and nurses by providing exact measurements and practical functions. It's clear that a scale put to work in a general practitioner's office has to fulfill requirements that differ from those of a pediatrics or geriatrics unit. At the seca trade fair stand you will find all measuring and weighing solutions presented for each of our target groups.

seca 360° wireless – experience it live
At the stand several complete seca 360° wireless networks are set up. There the measuring station seca 285 transmits its results to a wireless seca printer and the PC software seca analytics 105 interprets the measurements from the column scale seca 704 and the stadiometer seca 274. The seca Team will show you how the measurements can be sent directly to the electronic medical record system with the help of the PC software seca emr flash 101. seca offers every user the right solution in this era of networked medical technology.

Learn more

Flat Scale seca 878 – The Mobile All-round Talent

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:45:00 +0000

Features of the seca 878 make the weighing process very convenient. The robust function keys on the front of the scale guarantee simple operation with the touch of a toe. The dual display elements are positioned to let both the doctor and patient read the results right-side-up at the same time. With a capacity of 200 kilograms, the Class III seca 878 shows weights up to 150 kilograms in 100-gram steps and thereafter in 200-gram steps.

An infant or small child who does not want to step onto the scale alone can be weighed while in its mother's arms. With the Mother/child function, the mother's weight is subtracted from the total to yield the child's weight.

The robust and durable scale works anywhere under battery power. During transport the scale's start button is disabled to keep the scale from being switched on inadvertently. The automatic switch-off prevents unnecessary power consumption.

The seca 878 is turned into a mobile and stable measuring station when equipped with the adapter element seca 437 for the stadiometer 217. In just one step the patient can be weighed and measured. Securely stored in the carrying bag seca 414, the mobile weighing and measuring system can be taken along for use anywhere at all.

seca 878

Capacity: 200 kg
Graduation: 100 g < 150 kg > 200 g
Functions: Mother/child Function, HOLD, Automatic switch-off
Dimensions (WxHxD): 321 x 60 x 356 mm
Scale weight: 4.1 kg
Power supply: Batteries

Quick determination of cardiometabolic risk

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:45:00 +0000

Doctors in their own practices and in hospitals are more frequently assessing the risk of coronary heart disease as part of a standard physical examination. This makes possible both early recognition of an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke and initiation of preventive measures.

Metabolic Syndrome as risk factor
If abdominal obesity is present in a patient who also suffers from two other disorders, such as elevated blood sugar, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and high blood pressure, the doctor diagnoses metabolic syndrome. The patient's condition is then very carefully assessed by the doctor since metabolic syndrome is an established indicator of an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Good-bye to comparison charts
For years doctors have been using comparison charts to analyze and interpret measurement data. The development of medical PC software seca analytics 115 has turned this time-consuming process into a thing of the past. The module "Cardiometabolic Risk" takes into consideration all lab results and the patient's medical history to determine whether metabolic syndrome is present and to assess the risk of coronary heart disease.

Sound scientific basis for analysis
The estimate of the 10-year risk of coronary heart disease is made with defined risk scores (Framingham Score, European SCORE, PROCAM), which are analyzed on the basis of a point evaluation system. The patient data and laboratory results the PC software seca analytics 115 needs for the analysis can be imported directly from the Electronic Medical (EMR) system. Because there is no need for manual data entry, potential errors can be prevented.
Other cardiometabolic risk factors such as Body-Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference can also be considered and analyzed separately.

Value-added patient consultation
The entire analysis can be printed on a DIN A4 sheet and given to the patient. This type of diagnostic support adds a whole new dimension to patient consultation and gives the medical practice or hospital a true competitive advantage.