A Medical Device Daily

TriReme Medical (TRM; Pleasanton, California) reported receiving the CE mark for its Antares Coronary Stent System, a main-vessel stent system designed for use at or near coronary bifurcations.

Representing "the next generation in bifurcation stenting," the Antares system has potential use in 25% of the 2.2 million angioplasty procedures performed annually worldwide, the company said.

"This significant milestone ... allows commercialization of our Antares stent system in Europe," said Eitan Konstantino, PhD, president/CEO of TRM. "We believe that the Antares ... represents a breakthrough in the treatment of patients suffering from coronary artery disease at or near bifurcations."

Professor Carlo Di Mario, of Royal Brompton Hospital (London), said, "I like the Antares system concept... . [It] is designed to fit all classes of bifurcation lesions, irrespective of the size and angulation of the side-branch. The operator does not need to commit to a pre-determined side branch treatment and has the flexibility to do what is right for the patient."

The company noted that lesions at or near side branches in the coronary tree pose multiple challenges to interventional cardiologists.

"Combining a low-profile stent with a proprietary delivery system, the Antares system provides a unique set of solutions to the challenges of bifurcation stenting," it said. "It can be delivered and deployed in a single step while maintaining access to the side branch and scaffolding the ostium, or the origin of the side branch. As a result, the cardiologist has greater flexibility of treatment options, with the freedom to deploy a second stent in the side branch when additional support is necessary."

Alexandre Abizaid, MD, PhD, chief of coronary interventions at the Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology (Sao Paulo, Brazil), said that the Antares stent system "is an elegant solution to treat bifurcation lesions that is focused on the main vessel. It increases operators' confidence by providing continuous side-branch access throughout the procedure."

TRM is privately held and backed by Three Arch Partners and Adams Street Partners.

Distributors signed by WaferGen

WaferGen Biosystems (Fremont, California), a developer of gene expression, genotyping, cell biology and stem cell research systems, reported the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement for the company's SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System with Euroclone in Italy and Takeda Rika Kogyo in Japan.

The agreements cover WaferGen's entire line of SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System products.

WaferGen said that Euroclone and Takeda Rika are leading distributors of innovative products and services to cell biologists and stem cell researchers in the life science markets within their geographic areas of focus.

"As evidenced by the signing of these additional distributor agreements in key foreign markets, we are continuing to build momentum with our SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System worldwide," said Alnoor Shivji, CEO and chairman of WaferGen. "This innovative platform provides critical performance advantages to stem cell researchers and cell biologists, and we look forward to continuing the expansion of our SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System product line as well as our customer base."

WaferGen says that its SmartSlide Micro-Incubation enables cell biology and stem cell researchers to conduct complex time-lapse imaging studies to characterize, differentiate and proliferate cells, as well as grow stem, primary and other difficult-to-cultivate cells in consistently optimal physiological conditions.

Sunquest, Mylab in partnership

Sunquest Information Systems (Tucson, Arizona), a developer of diagnostic information systems, said it has entered into a development partnership with Mylab (Tampere, Finland) to develop solutions for the advanced diagnostic information systems market.

"Mylab has over 30 years experience developing, delivering, and supporting laboratory information systems in Northern Europe and are leaders in their market," said Richard Atkin, president/CEO of Sunquest. "Our partnership represents an important step toward developing advanced, easy to use solutions that operate across the continuum of care."

"Mylab is [pleased] to partner with Sunquest to collaboratively develop cutting-edge solutions for future technologies," said CEO Esa Soini. "We look forward to building ... relationship that will combine our technologies and expertise with Sunquest's strong brand name, product portfolio, and operational excellence."

Mylab claims a nearly 80% market share in the Finnish laboratory information services sector, having deployed more than 40 clinical laboratory information systems in that country.

Sunquest says it has placed data management solutions in more than 1,200 hospitals and commercial laboratories worldwide. Its professional services division provides an array of management and technical tools, including lab redesign and optimization, outreach and lab network program development, and operational business and implementation plans.