• ArthroCare (Austin, Texas) reported the launch of its DoublePlay implant, a suture anchor device intended for soft tissue-to-bone fixation in surgical procedures such as rotator cuff repair. The DoublePlay device is a fully threaded anchor and features an "eyeless" design a new concept in the world of screw-in anchors. The design eliminates the risk of eyelet breakage, the most common mode of failure in standard absorbable anchors. DoublePlay is made from a composite material, the first composite to be used in sports medicine, with what the company said is "clinically proven osteoconductivity and replacement by bone." Arthrocare makes minimally invasive surgical products.

• Biopure (Cambridge, Massachusetts) said that the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) has submitted a new protocol for review by the FDA for a Phase II clinical trial of Hemopure [hemoglobin glutamer-250 (bovine)], or HBOC-201, for resuscitation of operational casualties with severe traumatic hemorrhagic shock without availability of blood transfusions. The proposed trial hypotheses is that for such casualties, Hemopure will improve survival and other clinical parameters, and will be relatively safe and well tolerated, in comparison with "standard fluid." The primary aim of the study is to compare the 28-day relative rate of death in patients receiving Hemopure versus the group of patients receiving the "standard fluid" for resuscitation (Hextend). Secondary and tertiary outcome measures are also defined. All subjects would receive blood transfusions, when indicated, upon availability. Biopure makes oxygen therapeutics that are intravenously administered to deliver oxygen to the body's tissues.

• Cardiogenesis (Irvine, California) reported an upcoming scientific presentation that describes the use of combining transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) with platelet rich plasma (PRP). The presentation titled "Intramyocardial Injection of Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma combined with Transmyocardial Revascularization" will be presented at the 34th annual meeting of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association. The study involves a group of consecutive patients treated with the Cardiogenesis holmium: YAG Laser TMR System. The authors conclude, "These preliminary results suggest that combining intramyocardial injection of PRP with TMR may be more efficacious at relieving angina and improving myocardial function than TMR alone." Cardiogenesis' holmium:YAG laser system and disposable fiber-optic accessories are used to perform a surgical procedure known as transmyocardial revascularization to treat patients suffering from angina.