• Biosensors International Group (Singapore) reported the four-month results from the first-in-man trial of BioFreedom, a polymer-free drug-coated stent which showed a significant reduction in in-stent late lumen loss over Boston Scientific's (Natick, Massachusetts) Taxus Libert stent. BioFreedom is a new, "polymer-free" Biolimus A9 coated stent currently under development at Biosensors. Two versions of the product were studied in this trial - BioFreedom Standard Dose (with a drug dosage of 15.6 g/per mm of stent length) and BioFreedom Low Dose (with a drug dosage of 7.8 g/per mm of stent length). Due to the absence of polymer coating, the company believes that the new stent will promote more rapid vessel healing and reduce the need for longer term anti-platelet medications. The four-month results of the BioFreedom trial have provided proof of concept for this new DCS technology, demonstrating that polymer-free release of an immunosuppressive drug from the abluminal (outside) surface of a porous metal stent is feasible, safe, and can be highly effective in addressing patients with coronary artery disease.

• Cordis (Bridgewater, New Jersey) reported study data that show patients receiving the Nevo sirolimus-eluting coronary stent reported significantly less chest pain than those receiving the Taxus Liberte Stent. Patients also reported improvements in their overall quality of life. These data demonstrate the important benefits of drug-eluting stents in reducing chest pain in patients with coronary artery disease. "In this unique study, patients treated with Nevo reported more relief from angina than patients treated with the Taxus Liberte Stent," said John Spertus, MD, MPH, from the Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, who presented the data. Nevo is made of cobalt chromium, which makes the stent flexible and conformable with thin struts to maximize vessel coverage. The biodegradable polymer used to contain and release sirolimus facilitates rapid endothelialization and results of pre-clinical studies indicated no greater inflammation than seen with bare metal stents.

• Excelsior Medical (Neptune, New Jersey) said that it has launched a major new product: the SwabCap Luer Access Valve Disinfection Cap. The company describes the SwabCap as a simple twist-on device that disinfects swab-able luer access valves prior to catheter line access. The device passively disinfects the valve top and threads while providing a physical barrier to contamination for up to 96 hours. SwabCap disinfects luer access valves by bathing the valve's threads and top with 70% isopropyl alcohol. As the cap is twisted onto the threads, a foam pad inside the cap is compressed, releasing the alcohol. The twisting action and the patent pending thread cover design help focus the alcohol on the targeted areas, without activating the luer access valve.

• IsoRay (Richland, Washington) said that surgeons at Weill Cornell Medical Center (New York) performed the world's first Cesium-131 implant for a recurrent head and neck cancer (buccal mucosa). The implant was performed using Vicryl-embedded seeds on a 66-year-old patient who had received a full course of radiation to the head and neck several years ago. Cesium-131 was chosen for its short half-life and the higher dose rate. The patient tolerated the implant procedure well, and has had no adverse effects that can be attributed to the use of Cs-131 seeds. There is no evidence of cancer recurrence to date.

• PeriGen (Princeton, New Jersey) reported the release of its Influenza Prevention and Treatment Bundle to its North American client hospitals. PeriGen has designed influenza-related decision support rules which can be immediately incorporated into the company's OB-specific, clinical decision support system, PeriBirth. The protocol bundle could aid in helping to reduce unidentified and untreated cases of influenza in pregnant women.