• FlowMedica (Fremont, California) said that it has received FDA clearance for a new labeling indication for the Benephit Infusion Systems. The system can now facilitate targeted renal therapy (TRT) in patients who have demonstrated symptoms of or are at risk of developing Acute Kidney Injury. The Benephit Infusion Systems are indicated for use in patients undergoing medical, interventional, or surgical procedures, where the procedure carries an elevated risk of iatrogenic kidney injury for the patient. The systems are also indicated to facilitate TRT in patients who have demonstrated symptoms of acute kidney injury, and in whom arterial catheterization for TRT is feasible.

• Medtronic (Minneapolis) reported the U.S. market launch of the Sprinter Legend (semicompliant) and the NC Sprinter (noncompliant) balloon dilatation catheters on a rapid-exchange delivery system. The Sprinter Legend balloon catheter features the lowest pre-dilatation profiles on the market, making it suitable for use in challenging lesions, as well as allowing for the use of two balloons simultaneously in a small, 6 Fr guide catheter (known as the "kissing balloon" technique). The Sprinter Legend balloon catheter is being launched in a wide variety of sizes, covering diameters of 1.5 mm to 4.0 mm and lengths of 6 mm to 30 mm.

• Merge Healthcare (Milwaukee) reported the release of version 3.0 of Cedara xPipe, a software toolkit which fully automates the image processing tasks performed by CR and DR X-Ray consoles. These consoles ensure that X-ray images are of good quality before the patient leaves the room. Cedara xPipe eliminates many of the manual tasks typically performed to do this, so it helps improve patient throughput. Cedara xPipe was designed in modules that automate either individual tasks or multiple tasks in a sequence. These individual modules include capabilities such as: detecting and editing a collimator, image stitching/fusion and window width/level. At the heart of xPipe is the Cedara Image Enhancement module, which targets specific noise patterns introduced by the imaging device.

• Pressure Products (Los Angeles) has received FDA clearance to distribute the SafeSept transseptal guidewire. This device is used in conjunction with a standard Brockenbrough transseptal needle when performing a transseptal crossing in the setting of atrial fibrillation and other invasive and electrophysiological atrial bi-chamber cardiology procedures. The SafeSept Transseptal Guidewire is a novel guidewire designed to easily perforate the interatrial septum, immediately become atraumatic in the left atrium, enable fluoroscopic confirmation in the pulmonary veins, and allow safer over-the-wire advancement of the transseptal needle, dilator and introducer sheath into the left atrium.

• Response Biomedical (Vancouver, British Columbia) reported the initiation of a clinical trial of the company's RAMP test to detect respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The study is designed to demonstrate the performance characteristics of the RSV test vs. standard laboratory culture and direct fluorescence staining assay (DFSA) for RSV using multiple sample types. The successful development of this test would allow physicians to quickly diagnose the presence or absence of RSV virus and optimize the clinical management of the RSV positive patient. A highly sensitive and rapid RSV test would allow more effective management of large RSV outbreaks and reduce the amount of unnecessary antibiotic administrations.