• AngelMed (Shrewsbury, New Jersey) reported the initiation of a Phase II pivotal U.S. trial for the AngelMed Guardian implantable cardiac monitor and alert system. The system is designed to reduce time to presentation by detecting significant changes in the heart's electrical signal and then alerting patients to seek medical attention. The system is comprised of an internal implantable device about the size of a standard pacemaker with a lead into the heart, an external telemetry device, and a programmer that aids physicians in evaluating heart signals.

• CompuMed (Los Angeles) said it will preview its new CompuBridge telecardiology electronic medical records (EMR) solution at the National Conference on Correctional Health Care in Chicago. The CompuBridge EMR is designed to capture and integrate electrocardiogram (ECG) results and over-reads into an existing EMR system. Integration does not require the practice to employ additional software, hardware or specialized servers. CompuBridge EMR will provide users of CompuMed's telecardiology services with the ability to data mine patient records and electronically transfer those records to their own EMR systems, such as patient administrative systems, electronic practice management, laboratory information systems, dietary and pharmacy.

• Derma Sciences (Princeton, New Jersey) reported the commercial launch of its newest product, XtraAsorb Super Absorbent Dressing. The dressing features a polymer-based core that could help change the way clinicians manage heavily exuding wounds, currently a significant issue in wound care. CEO Ed Quilty said, "Clinicians still want dressings to hold more fluid to reduce the number of time-consuming and costly dressing changes. Additionally, the fluid that a foam dressing does absorb is at a high risk of being pushed back onto the wound bed, potentially causing serious complications to the wound. For these reasons, our market research shows that clinicians will love the fact that XtraSorb can absorb roughly 50% more than even the most absorbent foam dressing, and that the polymer-based super-absorbent core forms a gel which locks all the wound fluid inside the dressing and away from the wound. This has multiple benefits, including reducing the risk of wound breakdown due to excessive moisture, as well as keeping harmful bacteria often found in wound fluid away from the wound."

• Endologix (Irvine, California) reported FDA approval of the IntuiTrak delivery system. This new system will be used for the minimally invasive delivery and deployment of the Powerlink stent graft, which is indicated for the endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The low-profile delivery system features enhanced flexibility, advanced hemostasis control and a hydrophilic coating to facilitate smooth delivery, particularly in patients with limited or difficult vascular access. Additionally, the delivery catheter has an integrated sheath to facilitate the introduction of ancillary devices during the endovascular AAA procedure. The company said this feature avoids the need for exchanges, thereby having the potential to reduce procedure time, blood loss and minimize vessel trauma.

• Tomophase (Burlington, Massachusetts) said that it will display what it said is the first in vivo cross-sectional images of implanted pulmonary stents using their proprietary optical coherence tomography system at the CHEST meeting in Philadelphia. The Tomophase OCT system enables the interventional pulmonologist to visualize sub-epithelial tissue structures in the airway. The system uses a near-infrared emitting probe in a catheter which is integrated with a conventional video bronchoscope. The images captured are from in vivo animal model tracheal tissue. The company said that during the next several months, it plans to continue this work as it progresses towards use of the system in human clinical studies.