• Bayer Diabetes Care (Tarrytown, New York) reported the launch of A1CNow Selfcheck, a new A1C monitor that enables people with diabetes to check their A1C level at home. Measurement of A1C provides an average assessment of blood sugar levels over the past three months — and is an indicator of how well diabetes is being managed. The Selfcheck enables patients to more closely watch their A1C level in between healthcare provider visits so they may modify their diet and exercise, or have a more informed discussion with their healthcare provider based on the results. An A1C reading provides the average blood sugar level over the past three months and indicates how well blood sugar is being managed. A1C levels, for most people without diabetes, range from 4-6%. For most patients with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends an A1C under 7%. A1C levels higher than 7% increase the risk of developing complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye disease, nerve damage, amputations and circulation problems. An A1C over 7% may prompt a physician to re-evaluate the diabetes management plan to help bring the A1C closer to normal.

• iMedicor (Nanuet, New York) reported the introduction of its technology solution that addresses the longstanding and widespread inability of disparate electronic health records (EHRs) systems to communicate, collaborate and exchange medical records in a HIPAA-compliant environment. iMedicor says its technology provides physicians, healthcare providers and patients with the capability of transporting medical records in a manner that eliminates the risk of them being intercepted or altered. The portal, which also provides physicians with a social and professional referral network and access to continuing medical education programs, is available to healthcare organizations, professionals and patients free of charge at www.imedicor.com.

• Innovia (Miami) has received FDA clearance to market the InnoPort to facilitate single-port access laparoscopy. The InnoPort is inserted into the abdomen to perform laparoscopic surgery through one small incision – instead of multiple incisions – with the goal of minimizing scarring, pain, recovery time, and complication risk to the patient. The port is enabled by Quatromer, one of Innovia's proprietary biopolymers. The biopolymer's flexibility grants the physician unrestricted access to the abdominal cavity with up to three rigid and/or articulating instruments.

• InSite Vision (Alameda, California) said that Bausch & Lomb has received FDA approval of Besivance (besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension) 0.6% for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) in patients one year and older. Besivance is formulated with InSite Vision's DuraSite technology, a synthetic polymer delivery vehicle that enhances the retention time of the drug on the surface of the eye. B&L licensed the besifloxacin DuraSite formulation from InSite Vision in 2003. DuraSite is a synthetic polymer of cross-linked polyacrylic acid that stabilizes small molecules in an aqueous matrix, allowing for targeted and sustained administration. By increasing the time that a therapeutic level of medication remains on the eye's surface, DuraSite enables a less-frequent dosing schedule, increases patient compliance, and increases the therapeutic efficacy.

• MedSolutions (Franklin, Tennessee) has introduced its Premerus Diagnostic Accuracy program. The company says that an independent analysis has estimated that payors can realize savings of $4.45 PMPM through Premerus by employing expert subspecialist radiologists in the accurate diagnosis of disease. The Premerus workflow is accomplished through MedSolutions' technology platform, which transfers studies to the most appropriate radiologists based on specialization and experience. The subspecialist makes a timely interpretive report which includes quantitative and qualitative observations (such as the size, density, margin characteristics and location of a tumor) that are essential to making the best treatment decisions. The referring physician receives the report and can contact the Premerus Expert to clarify the findings or ask further questions.

• Merge Healthcare (Milwaukee) reported the addition of the eFilm archive to its portfolio of eCommerce diagnostic imaging solutions. This archive gives imaging centers, specialty clinics and rural hospitals an economical way to increase their storage capacity for medical images and enable efficient image routing. eFilm Archive is packaged as a complete solution, including all software, server hardware, onsite installation and training, and one full year of support. Because it uses the same hardware and software configurations as Merge's hosted RIS/PACS solutions, it also provides customers with an affordable mechanism for adding applications like Radiology Information Systems, disaster recovery and billing. These add-ons create essential information for electronic health records and help meet the future growth demands for an imaging business.

• Therapeutics (Orlando, Florida) presented data demonstrating the use of ChemoFX, a chemosensitivity assay, to predict the effectiveness of cetuximab (Erbitux) on the colorectal cancer cells of individual patients. Results from the study show that of the 54 primary colorectal cultures tested, 8% were responsive to cetuximab, a result that is consistent with the reported clinical response rate for cetuximab in colorectal carcinoma patients (11%). A predictive assay such as this could give physicians the edge they need to determine if cetuximab is appropriate for a patient before administering the biologic. ChemoFx is a test that measures an individual cancer patient's probable tumor response to various chemotherapeutic and biologic agents – providing both sensitivity and resistance information.