Briefs: GF buys maker of support surfaces

ATLANTA - GF Health Products announced in March that it planned to acquire "substantially all of the assets" of Pressure Management Group, a Jacksonville, Fla.-based, privately-owned manufacturer of pressure reduction support surfaces, gel overlays, mattresses, foam and gel cushions, and related products for the long-term care, homecare and acute care markets. GF will relocate Pressure Management to its expanded Doraville, Ga., and Fond du Lac, Wis., facilities.

Contour starts pillow fight

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Contour Products is taking an unnamed "Asian company" to court for knocking off its Contour CPAP Pillow, according to a statement. Contour claims the company copied its old packaging, using the same copyrighted photos, text, color and layout, but not its logo. While the packaging may look the same, Contour claims the pillow is smaller and thinner, resulting in poor support, and gives off a chemical odor. Contour has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina to defend its intellectual property rights.

Fastrack, CMB join forces

NEW YORK and INDIANAPOLIS - Fastrack Healthcare Systems and CMB Solutions have entered into a strategic alliance that will allow Fastrack customers to deploy patient contact solutions for replenishment and compliance through their existing system, saving them time and money. The initial focus: CPAP and respiratory contact systems.

DeVilbiss extends warranty

SOMERSET, Pa. - DeVilbiss Healthcare has an extended warranty plan for its line of IntelliPap CPAP systems. The plan lengthens the 3-year warranty for an additional two years. It covers repair or replacement of the entire IntelliPap unit. Labor costs associated with repair or replacement are also covered.

Short takes

Brightree has successfully implemented Brightree Interactive Voice, a patient management software application. The application extends Brightree's billing and business management platform with IVR technology...Responsive Respiratory has launched its new website, www.respondo2.com. The new site features a secure ordering portal for credit card and corporate purchase orders.

New hires

ArjoHuntleigh has named Drew Ortyn vice president of USA Marketing....Invacare has appointed Ellen O'Kane Tauscher to its board of directors, and named Doug Harper group vice president, sales and market development, North America...VGM Insurance Services has named Nick Rohle insurance consultant for the Midwest region, and Jason Bienemann insurance consultant for the Western region...Mada International has named Rafel Bassi international sales manager for Latin America.