• Covidien's Surgical Devices unit (North Haven, Connecticut) has launched Parietex ProGrip mesh throughout the U.S. and Europe. It says that Parietex ProGrip mesh is the first bicomponent mesh composed of monofilament polyester and a resorbable polylactic acid gripping system that facilitates tension-free repair. This secure, self-gripping, biocompatible solution is positioned and placed in the same manner as in a standard open patch repair. The mesh's self-gripping feature provides secure fixation, reducing or eliminating the need to place supplemental fixation.

• DePuy Spine (Raynham, Massachusetts) reported the launch of the Bengal stackable cage system and the X-Mesh expandable cage system, vertebral body replacement (VBR) systems that offer surgeons multiple implant options for multi-level corpectomies. The Bengal is a VBR system that includes both monolithic (single-piece) and stackable implants and the X-Mesh expandable cage system is the first VBR system to come in three approach-specific shapes for the anterolateral, direct anterior and posterior approaches.

• GE Healthcare (Chalfont St. Giles, UK) reported the release of Discovery positron emission tomography/computed tomography 600, GE Healthcare's newest PET/CT system at the annual meeting of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine. GE says the Discovery PET/CT 600 includes a scintillator with the highest sensitivity in the industry. GE BGO technology allows for improved lesion detectability, potentially reducing the dose requirement and allowing for faster scans and increased throughput. The Discovery PET/CT 600 provides a 70 cm bore offering a full 70 cm PET and CT field of view and a 500-pound patient table capacity. Discovery PET/CT 600 features a vertical scan range that provides more flexibility in radiation treatment planning and patient positioning, according to the company.

• Interventional Spine (Irvine, California) reported introduction of the single-use PERPOS fusion facet prep kit, used in conjunction with the PERPOS PLS system to promote fusion of the facet joints. "[The] PERPOS PLS System is the first and only percutaneous transfacet-pedicular compression system for posterior stabilization during a fusion procedure," said CEO Walter Cuevas. "The PERPOS PLS system, including the BONE-LOK PLS Implant, provides bilateral immobilization of the facet joints, allowing the healing process to create fusion. The PERPOS Fusion Facet Kit, when used with the PERPOS PLS System, is intended to enable roughening of the facet joints prior to stabilization and to place bone graft material in the area of the facet join, according to the company.

• Kinetic Concepts (San Antonio) has received FDA clearance for its LifeCell Tissue Matrix for the management of chronic, trauma, surgical and other acute wounds. The product uses the company's Strattice technology is a sterile reconstructive tissue matrix that supports tissue regeneration. The Strattice technology is a porcine-based, acellular dermal matrix that acts as a scaffold that is revascularized and repopulated with cells by the host, ultimately converting it into functional, living tissue. The new product provides an environment that supports wound healing and can be used in the management of a range of wound types, including pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, chronic vascular ulcers, surgical wounds, trauma wounds and other acute wounds.

• Life Spine (Hoffman Estates, Illinois) reported nationwide market introduction of the Conquest polyaxial screw system, a top-loading thoracolumbar pedicle screw system that features a concerted locking mechanism allowing inline compression and distraction of the construct. Lockdown of the construct is predictable and efficient with the square threaded locking mechanism. The Conquest features 80 degrees of screw angulation, double helical bone screw thread design, toggle free implant-instrument interface, "facet-friendly" and low-profile footprint, and color-coded instruments and implants available in 4.5 mm to 8.5 mm diameters, ranging from 25 mm to 55 mm in length.

• Visiogen (Irvine, California) reported that several independent investigators presented clinical results at the recent meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS; Dublin, Ireland), confirming that the design and "proven accommodation mechanism" of the Synchrony IOL is providing patients with sustained positive outcomes and functional vision at all distances. Results from trial comparing Synchrony to the ReSTOR multifocal IOL were presented at ESCRS, demonstrating equivalent vision to ReSTOR at distance and near, and significantly better intermediate vision for patients implanted with Synchrony. The lens also showed "significantly less" incidence of moderate to severe halos and glare, and better quality of vision as measured by contrast sensitivity, the company said. These data were reported at six months after binocular implantation.