• BioForm Medical (San Mateo, California) reported FDA approval for a method of mixing Radiesse dermal filler with lidocaine, which, in clinical trials, has demonstrated an improvement in patient comfort and an increase in patient satisfaction with Radiesse dermal filler procedures. BioForm Medical conducted a 50-patient controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of mixing Radiesse dermal filler with lidocaine. Patients in the split-face trial at two clinical sites reported that Radiesse dermal filler mixed with 2% lidocaine was less painful than Radiesse dermal filler not mixed with lidocaine, while providing comparable aesthetic correction.

• Medtronic (Minneapolis) reported first enrollments in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) substudy of the global PANORAMA registry – collecting implanted cardiac rhythm device data. The first enrolled patient received a Medtronic EnRhythm MRI SureScan pacing system. "With Medtronic's EnRhythm MRI and Advisa MRI SureScan pacing systems, which will enable thousands of patients to access MRI scans, extending the PANORAMA registry to include these systems reinforces the breadth and depth of our industry-leading, post-market quality systems," said David Steinhaus, MD, medical director for the Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management business at Medtronic.

• The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) reported that Ophthalmic Imaging System's (Sacramento, California) EMR Version 4.1 is a CCHIT Certified 08 Ambulatory EHR, and meets the Certification Commission's electronic health record (EHR) criteria for office-based use. OIS EMR is an ophthalmic-specific electronic medical record (EMR) solution which has been designed to work with OIS PM and OIS Symphony Image Management system to transition ophthalmologists to a paperless office.

• PLC Systems (Franklin, Massachusetts) said that a follow-up study of the landmark Cardiac Angiography in Renally Impaired Patients (CARE) Study determined that Contrast-Induced Nephropathy (CIN) is associated with long-term adverse events, ranging from pulmonary edema to death, and that patients with CIN were twice as likely as those who did not develop CIN to experience adverse events. Mark Tauscher, president/CEO of PLC Systems, said, "CIN is a significant and growing concern worldwide, and the publication of this study adds scientific weight to the need to find a way of preventing it. We continue to be very encouraged by the work of scientists who are studying our RenalGuard System, which we believe could be an effective solution in reducing the incidence rate of CIN."

• ZephyrBiotech (Lafayette, California) has launched a new service – the ZephyrScope – to provide in depth analysis and regularly updated information to clients on investments made into life science companies in therapeutics, diagnostics and device/delivery businesses. Reports are updated daily and issued weekly with follow up customized communications providing details and breakdown of sources of funding and details of companies who received funding. There is an analysis made of investments by stage of development broken down by compound class, series of funding, investment source and intended use of funds. There are comparisons made with the existing data base providing tracking of investments. The various analyses are presented with a clear breakdown of the data and visually straightforward graphics.

• Zynex (Littleton, Colorado) has developed a new product for its line of electrotherapy products. The product is based on the company's existing hardware platform. The TruWave Plus is capable of delivering three modalities of stimulation, traditional Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Simulation (TENS), interferential as well as NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation, within the same product.