• AngioScore (Fremont, California) reported the start of enrollment in the AngioSculpt scoring balloon catheter multi-center coronary bifurcation study, or AGILITY trial. The AGILITY trial will enroll 100 patients with coronary bifurcation lesions at eight premier interventional cardiology programs in the U.S. and follow these patients for nine months. AngioScore says the AngioSculpt scoring balloon catheters represent the next generation in angioplasty catheters for both coronary and peripheral artery disease. Their nitinol elements provide circumferential scoring of plaque, leading to precise and predictable luminal enlargement across a wide range of lesion types while avoiding "geographic miss" through their unique anti-slippage properties. AngioScore makes angioplasty catheters for treatment of cardiovascular disease.

• CryoCath Technologies (Montreal) reported the introduction of Arctic Front in Hong Kong. Arctic Front, the company's lead product for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), is a cryoablation balloon catheter that allows physicians to isolate all four pulmonary veins in the treatment of PAF. Arctic Front is a minimally invasive bi-directional, double-ballon cryo-balloon catheter designed specifically to treat PAF. CryoCath makes cryotherapy products to treat cardiac arrhythmias.

• Draeger Medical (Telford, Pennsylvania) said that it has received FDA clearance to market the Carina, its latest product in its ventilator product line for the U.S. market. The Carina offers both invasive and non-invasive capabilities in one device. Its latest technology, known as "Synch Plus," will compensate for leakage and provide effective breath delivery. The Carina is well-suited for the emergency room, general ward, ICU, or sub-acute facilities as it features an internal battery and can operate independent of a high-pressure gas system. Draeger Medical, the U.S. unit of Draeger Medical AG, is a leader in mechanical ventilation.

• Dynamics Research's (New York) metrigraphics division reported the introduction of micro-induction coils designed for use in implanted medical applications and traditional biomedical devices. The micro-induction coils are equipped with radio frequency signal transmission and signal and power induction capabilities, thereby eliminating the potential harmful effects to the human body posed by battery-operated implantable medical devices. Metrigraphics' new family of coils is classified by two groups — single- and multiple-layer forms. Single layer multiple-turn electroformed coils are available in round and square configurations. Multi-layer coils offer greater field density for more high-end applications. Dynamic Research specializes in fabrication of customized micro-components and micro-circuits.

• Isotechnika (Edmonton, Alberta) said that voclosporin is positioned to enter a Phase 1 clinical trial as the drug used in the Cinatra drug-coated coronary stent system developed by the company's partner, Atrium Medical. The Cinatra voclosporin coated coronary stent system is made of a cobalt chromium bare metal stent mounted on a delivery balloon catheter. The stent and the balloon are coated with Atrium's Omega-3 fatty acid coating technology, using voclosporin for its anti-inflammatory properties. Isotechnika is an international biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel immunosuppressive therapeutics that are designed to offer advantages over other currently available treatments. Atrium makes technologies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, hernia and adhesion prevention.

• Mentor (Santa Barbara, California) said it has taken the first steps toward entry into the U.S. neurological marketplace by completion of enrollment in the Phase I study in its U.S. investigational study of botulinum toxin type A for torticollis/ cervical dystonia. Mentor is a supplier for the global aesthetics market.

• Perceptive Informatics (Boston), the technology subsidiary of Parexel International, said that it has integrated its medical imaging technology with the functionality of DigiView, a specialized image management and reporting system provided by Digisonics, to offer clients expanded capabilities for cardiac function assessment in clinical studies. The system provides electronic review, analysis, reporting, and archiving of medical images related to cardiac function assessment. Cardiac function assessment is required for a broad range of therapeutic area research, including cardiology, oncology, central nervous system, and metabolism/endocrinology studies. Parexel said its technology division, Perceptive Informatics, combines clinical knowledge, quality and regulatory experience with advanced technology to decrease time to market, risk and cost associated with clinical trials.

• Simbionix (Cleveland) reported the release of a module for its LAP Mentor simulator that gives trainees hands-on experience with different techniques and alternative approaches to the treatment of ectopic pregnancy, tubal sterilization and oophorectomy. The GYN module is the latest addition to the suite of laparoscopic procedures developed for the LAP Mentor, which the company calls "the world's most advanced laparoscopic surgery simulator." The GYN module makes use of the LAP Mentor's 3-D real-life graphics and ergonomically designed hardware to provide the most realistic experience of training and learning possible. The module includes an expandable library of virtual patients with a variety of anatomical anomalies and complications, a complete set of laparoscopic instruments including those unique to GYN procedures, exceptional audio and visual learning aids and a comprehensive set of performance metrics. Simbionix makes medical simulation products.