• Motion Computing (Austin, Texas) said that the F5 rugged tablet PC and the C5 Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) are available for use on the Verizon Wireless mobile broadband network. Also, Motion reported upgrades to the devices, including enhanced performance, the latest WiFi technology and a new 64GB solid state drive (SSD) option. Motion's C5 and F5 tablets are compliant under the Verizon Wireless open development program designed to provide the ability to use wireless devices, software and applications not offered by the company on its nationwide wireless network. With access to mobile broadband from Verizon Wireless integrated into the Motion C5 and F5, users can access email, download files and browse the Internet at broadband speed. Upgrades to the C5 and F5 include expanded communications capabilities with the Intel WiFi Link 5300 series 802.11 a/g/draft-n, Intel Centrino technology with the Intel Core2 Duo processor for improved performance and battery life, and a new 64GB SSD upgrade.

• Non-Invasive Monitoring Systems (Miami) reported that the results of a laboratory investigation published in the April issue of the journal Neuroscience links the technology behind NIMS' Exer-Rest acceleration therapeutic platform to a reduction in brain damage for the major cause of stroke. The report concludes that whole body periodic acceleration (WBPA, pGz), the technology behind the Exer-Rest, has potential to improve the management of stroke. This treatment is designed to increase release substances, such as nitric oxide, prostacyclin, prostaglandin E2, and adrenomedullin from the inner lining of blood vessels into the circulation to protect the brain from damage due to ischemia.

• Orthovita (Malvern, Pennsylvania) said that it has submitted additional data to the FDA in support of its 510(k) filing for the use of its Cortoss bone augmentation material in vertebral augmentation. The 510(k) application is intended to demonstrate that the performance of Cortoss is equivalent to polymethylmethacrylate bone cement. Cortoss is an injectable, polymer composite that mimics the structural characteristics of human bone.

• St. Jude Medical (St. Paul, Minnesota) and GE Healthcare (Waukesha, Wisconsin) reported worldwide commercial launch of what the companies said is the first fully integrated wireless solution for the measurement of Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR). The FFR solution, integrated into existing cathlab infrastructure, will enable physicians and cathlab staff immediate access to FFR measurement without time consuming setup. The solution is based on the PressureWire Aeris technology and an FFR upgrade package available for the XT and XTi system configurations of GE's Mac-Lab hemodynamic recording system, a system used to record and display physiological parameters in the coronary cathlab. PressureWire Aeris was developed and marketed by Radi Medical Systems (Uppsala, Sweden), was acquired in December by St. Jude and is now part of the company's Cardiovascular Division.

• SunTech Medical (Morrisville, North Carolina) reported the newest release of AccuWin Pro v3 ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) software. AccuWin Pro v3 software supports SunTech's Oscar 2 ambulatory blood pressure monitor. The release offers several upgrades, including new compatibility features for Windows Vista and integrated USB communications. The software also includes new features to assist with the process of analyzing and reporting on ABPM procedures such as time-slice period highlighting, medications memory auto-fill, and pre-programmed thresholds incorporating ESH and JNC7/AHA recognized standards.