• Ablation Frontiers (Carlsbad, California) said that data on the first five patients enrolled in a study involving its RF ablation catheter and generator were presented by Stefania Riva, MD, at the 7th annual session of the Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing on April 3 in Milan. The patients, two of whom presented with permanent atrial fibrillation and three with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, underwent pulmonary vein isolation without any reported complications. The procedures were conducted using the PVAC pulmonary vein ablation catheter and multi-channel GENius generator for ablation catheters. The PVAC was used for both mapping and ablating during the procedures. "The use of a single mapping and ablation catheter has streamlined and simplified the procedure," said Riva. Ablation Frontiers makes anatomical-based catheters and a multi-channel RF generator.

• Smith & Nephew's Endoscopy Division (Andover, Massachusetts) reported the launch of the Footprint PK suture anchor, a system used to attach rotator cuff tissue to bone in the shoulder. Early approaches to cuff repair included transosseous tunnel repairs, which are still done today in some medical practices. During this procedure, the surgeon drills bone tunnels through the humeral head and laces sutures through them. The Footprint PK suture anchor delivers a transosseous equivalent repair without the need for drilling transosseous bone tunnels. Its two-piece design allows for the shell of the anchor to be tapped into place. Then, independent of implantation, an inner plug is advanced, which secures the sutures running from the other anchor rows. Smith & Nephew specializes in orthopedic reconstruction, orthopedic trauma and clinical therapies, endoscopy and advanced wound management products.