• Medidata Solutions (New York) has introduced the Medidata Technology Partner Program, a new program designed to advance interoperability and data sharing across clinical trial technologies. The program recognizes technology vendors, contract research organizations (CROs) and other organizations that offer solutions that support data sharing with Medidata products, including the Medidata Rave platform, in order to streamline and enhance the end-to-end eClinical process. The company says the program follows a series of related initiatives introduced by Medidata over the past year intended to drive collaboration among clinical technology providers with interest in building integrations with Medidata Rave. These include Medidata Developer Central, an online community that supports developers' efforts to integrate clinical trial solutions with Medidata Rave, and Medidata Rave Web Services API, a Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC)-compliant tool designed to facilitate rapid integrations with Medidata Rave for real-time data sharing using data standards.

• Data presented on the XPECT clinical trial, sponsored by Medtronic (Minneapolis), shows that the Medtronic Reveal XT Insertable Cardiac Monitor reliably identifies patients with atrial fibrillation (sensitivity of 96.1%) and correctly confirms the absence of AF in patients. Placed just under the skin of the chest area in a short outpatient procedure, the Reveal XT device provides up to three years of continuous heart rhythm monitoring. Reveal XT captures and stores an electrocardiogram (ECG) automatically, according to physician-programmed settings. An additional option to store an ECG is having the patient place a hand-held pager-sized assistant over the device, and pressing a button. Separately, Medtronic said that results of a recent study were favorable toward the use of its Straightshot M4 Microdebrider for powered inferior turbinoplasty. The study states that patients treated with the microdebrider experienced significantly better long-term outcomes than those who received treatment with a Coblation radiofrequency device in what is the first three-year study directly comparing long-term efficacy of the two techniques. Medtronic says this system features a tiny, rotating tip that allows the surgeon to remove tissue more precisely than traditional surgery tools. Using the microdebrider, surgeons can remove enough tissue to correct the nasal obstruction and relieve the patient's symptoms while preserving the mucous lining and normal turbinate function. Preservation of mucosa is considered an important factor in better postoperative outcomes in patients who have undergone nasal surgery.

• PinPointe FootLaser (Chico, California) said it has begun a multi-site clinical trial for the evaluation of PinPointe FootLaser treatment for infected toenails. PinPointe FootLaser uses a laser technology to target the pathogens that cause toenail fungus (Onychomycosis). PinPointe's laser light passes through the toenail without causing damage to the nail or surrounding skin. Following the procedure, the new nail will grow in healthy and clear.

• Polymedco (Cortlandt Manor, New York) reported the introduction of the Pathfast immunoassay analyzer. The Pathfast point-of-care system uses a chemiluminescent technology combined with a unique separation method using magnetic particles that allows this system to report accurate results that compare to large platform instruments. The Pathfast uses individual cartridge-based technology utilizing a whole blood sample. The Pathfast platform includes a computer, LCD touch screen and printer.

• SeraCare Life Sciences (Milford, Massachusetts) has launched a new product in its diagnostic controls and panels portfolio the SeraCare Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Genotype Performance Panel. This panel is designed to enable testing laboratories, researchers and diagnostic manufacturers to validate their entire HPV testing system, ensuring that testing systems can differentiate between high- and low-risk HPV genotypes.