• Biolase Technology (Irvine, California) has introduced its new Deep Pocket Therapy with New Attachment using the Waterlase MD and Radial Firing Perio Tips for a non-surgical alternative treatment for moderate-to-advanced gum disease. The procedure for the Waterlase MD assists in new attachment, and in most cases provides deep pocket treatments in a single visit without the use of a scalpel, stitches or the conventional cutting of the gums. Traditional periodontal therapy for the treatment of deep pockets involves a surgical procedure where after scaling and root planning of the teeth, the gum tissue is cut with a scalpel and flapped back to expose the teeth and underlying disease which is removed with traditional dental instruments, followed by stitching the gums back into place.

• Covidien (Boulder, Colorado) said that its Nellcor OxiMax pulse oximetry system has been integrated into Nihon Kohden's BSM-9100 series of bedside monitors. Covidien says clinicians using Nihon Kohden monitors will now have access to Covidien's innovative specialty sensors, such as the Max-Fast forehead sensor and SoftCare nonadhesive sensors for patients with sensitive skin. These specialty sensors work only with the Nellcor OxiMax pulse oximetry system.

• DSM Biomedical (Geleen, the Netherlands) reported the development of VitroStealth, a non-biofouling (NBF) coating technology. Specifically developed to combine state of the art non-biofouling properties with high durability and fast processing, VitroStealth coating is scratch resistant and reduces unwanted protein absorption and cellular adhesion on surfaces. "While the main application focus at this time for VitroStealth coating is in life science consumables, pre-analytics, and point of care diagnostics, we are excited about the many other areas that the technology can significantly impact," said Steve Hartig, President of DSM Biomedical. "We currently are investigating the scope of this technology for in vivo medical applications and see a future for this coating technology in several other markets."

• Echo Therapeutics (Franklin, Massachusetts) said it has made advances to the development of its needle-free Symphony tCGM biosensor. The biosensor replaces the prototype two-piece biosensor used in earlier clinical trials and is designed to offer a one-piece, cost-effective, single-use biosensor with improved performance for use by consumers and healthcare providers. "We are extremely pleased to announce this next step in the product development work on our one-piece biosensor, a critical component of Symphony, our needle-free, continuous glucose monitoring technology," said Patrick Mooney, MD, CEO/chairman of Echo Therapeutics. The one-piece biosensor uses new materials and effective geometry design. It is intended to be a cost-effective product that allows for advanced continuous glucose monitoring performance for consumers and healthcare providers.

• Interlace Medical (Framingham, Massachusetts) received FDA clearance to market the MyoSure Hysteroscopic Tissue Removal System for the removal of submucosal fibroids and polyps. The MyoSure System enables physicians to quickly remove fibroids in a single step, avoid risks associated with energy-based devices, and will provide women with an incision-less treatment alternative that preserves uterine form and function. The easy-to-use device provides gynecologists with confidence, control and a minimally invasive care option for their patients.

• IsoRay (Richland, Washington) reported on the first Cesium-131 lung implants. Four Cesium-131 lung implants were performed at Weill Cornell Medical Center (New York) using a wedge resection technique as a part of the surgical treatment. Cesium-131 was chosen based on the short half life and higher dose rate. The short half life allows 99.8% of the treatment dose to be delivered by the time the sutures and mesh dissolve unlike other isotopes used in this procedure. IsoRay says the Cesium-131 seed offers a significantly shorter radiation half-life than the two other isotopes commonly used for brachytherapy, which results in a substantially faster delivery of therapeutic radiation, a theoretically improved radiation delivery against aggressively replicating cancer, and the potential for a reduced longevity of common brachytherapy side effects.

• ViVre Medical (Portsmouth, Virginia) reported the launch of the Lifeguard30, the newest life saving tool for consumers to arm themselves with information that may potentially save their life in an emergency. Lifeguard30 is a system that is designed to help ensure critical medical information is available to emergency medical service (EMS) professionals in situations where patients are unable to speak for themselves. Lifeguard30 is a complete system designed to store and transport personal medical information for use at the scene of a medical emergency. The device stores identification and personal information, medications, allergies, medical conditions, emergency contacts and more, digitally viewable on the device.