• Aethlon Medical (San Diego) said it has initiated a research program to test the capabilities of the Aethlon Hemopurifier to identify and capture Cytomegalovirus (CMV). The Hemopurifier assists the immune response in combating infectious disease through real-time therapeutic filtration of infectious viruses and immunosuppressive proteins from the entire circulatory system. Safety of the Hemopurifier has been demonstrated in multi-site human studies, with robust viral load reductions observed in enrolled Hepatitis-C (HCV) infected patients. Safety and efficacy data resulting from the first use of the Hemopurifier in an individual infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is forthcoming.

• Bovie Medical (Melville, New York) said it has submitted a 510(k) pre-market notification application to the FDA requesting regulatory clearance for its ICON GS electrosurgical generator and handpiece (J-Plasma system). The technology uses a gas ionization process producing a stable thin focused beam of ionized gas that can be controlled in a wide range of temperatures and intensities, providing the surgeon greater precision, minimal invasiveness and an absence of conductive currents during surgery. Recent engineering improvements include increases in power and efficiency and component miniaturization, making manufacturing easier and more efficient.

• Digi International (Minnetonka, Minnesota) has introduced the ConnectCore 9M 2443 and ConnectCore Wi-9M 2443, ARM9-based, network-enabled embedded core modules. Supporting both Windows CE and Linux operating systems, the pin-compatible wired and 802.11a/b/g core modules feature peripherals, rich development resources and speed making the products ideal for display and embedded multimedia applications. This includes embedded applications in networked displays, medical devices, building access controls, energy management devices, time and attendance devices, scales and other devices with multimedia or display technology. Based on the Samsung S3C2443 ARM9 microprocessor and operating at up to 533 MHz, the ConnectCore 9M 2443 and ConnectCore Wi-9M 2443 feature a multilayered memory bus architecture that allows simultaneous data transfer between processor, memory and peripherals.

• Immersion (San Jose, California) said it has introduced a product to accurately and efficiently train pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons on a breakthrough emerging procedure for diagnosing and staging lung cancer. This new module, Endobronchial Ultrasound with Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) provides realistic multi-modal (sight, sound, and touch) virtual reality training for this difficult but highly accurate procedure that diagnoses and stages lung cancer, the cause of the most cancer deaths worldwide. Immersion says it is the first and only haptic-enabled endoscopy simulator designed for EBUS-TBNA.

• Itamar Medical (Caesarea, Israel) reported the use of the company's Endo-PAT2000 in the Carolinas HealthCare System's study of the potential benefits of flavonoid supplementation on endothelial function. The Endo-PAT2000 was used to measure participants' endothelial function in a study designed to evaluate how flavonoid supplementation can prevent the adverse impact on endothelial function caused by a high-fat meal. Study results indicate that flavonoid supplementation can reduce the acute impairment of endothelial function caused by a high-fat meal, adding to the growing medical literature on the long-term benefits of flavonoid supplementation on endothelial dysfunction and cardiac health.

• Merge Healthcare (Milwaukee) reported the release of eFilm Workstation 3.1, which it says adds Windows Vista support, faster load times and accelerated workflow communication to the popular diagnostic review software. "The Vista-compatible version of eFilm has improved our workflow tremendously," said Bruce Korf MD, PhD, chair of the University of Alabama at Birmingham's department of genetics and an authority in the disorder neurofibromatosis. "My work relies heavily on 3-D reconstructions and making numerous longitudinal, side-by-side comparisons of studies. The quality of information eFilm provides and its adjustable viewing protocols let me compare multiple images with ease. In fact, it's so simple to use, I have a difficult time looking at any other system."

• Picis (Wakefield, Massachusetts) reported the availability of two solutions designed to dramatically improve workflow and hospital charging for intravenous (IV) infusion and injection services within the Emergency Department (ED). The LYNX E/Point provides an Infusion and Injection Module that works behind the scenes to use clinically-relevant data entered by clinicians (such as start/stop time, type of service and medication) to calculate the appropriate CPT codes and charges. This drives increased accuracy of hospital reimbursements for these costly services, estimated at approximately $10 per ED patient visit. The InSight ED Charge Rules, an optional component of Picis' ED PulseCheck emergency department information system, prompts clinicians to record more accurate and complete documentation to facilitate the proper coding and charging of infusion and injection services.

• Smith & Nephew's Orthopaedic Reconstruction & Trauma (Memphis, Tennessee) division reported the introduction of a metal liner option for its R3 Acetabular system, a multi-bearing acetabular cup system used in hip replacement and resurfacing procedures. The multi-bearing cup, in addition to providing intraoperative flexibility for surgeons, provides solutions designed to reduce wear and the subsequent need for revision surgery. Its range of inserts accommodates larger head sizes and is optimized to help the R3 system achieve joint stability and a greater range of motion.