• Biocept (San Diego) will launch I.D. Rh(D), a series of noninvasive prenatal diagnostic tests that can be performed with a simple maternal blood sample, at the annual clinical meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The I.D.Rh(D) test diagnoses the Rh(D) status of a fetus in an Rh(D) negative pregnancy, and can be performed as early as ten weeks of gestation. The test isolates fetal DNA circulating in the mother's whole blood, using Biocept's I.D. (Isolating Fetal DNA) platform technology. The fetal DNA is analyzed in Biocept's CLIA-accredited clinical laboratory to determine Rh(D) genotype. Similar noninvasive tests have been available routinely in some countries outside the U.S. Biocept says that I.D.Rh(D) is the only fetal Rh(D) diagnostic that identifies fetal DNA in maternal blood in all cases in which a diagnosis can be delivered-whether the fetus is male or female, Rh(D) negative or positive. This eliminates the uncertainty that can occur with other tests in which an Rh(D) negative female fetus cannot be definitively identified from the maternal blood sample. Biocept specializes in diagnostic assays.

• Boston Scientific (Natick, Massachusetts) reported the FDA approval of its Altrua family of pacemakers, following on the heals of winning the CE mark. The company says the Altrua is its most advanced pacemaker, delivering enhanced therapy with small size and battery longevity. It is the first Boston Sci-branded pacemaker to treat bradycardia — a condition when the heart beats too slowly, usually less than 60 beats per minute.

The company cited a number of Altrua features:

— Multiple Atrial Ventricular (AV) Delay programming options, options designed to reduce unnecessary right ventricular (RV) pacing, without dropping ventricular beats, "a key distinction from other competitive RV pacing algorithms." The Altrua 50 and 60 series include an enhanced AV search hysteresis feature, now with an extendable AV delay out to 400 milliseconds, providing additional flexibility to tailor device programming for unique patient needs.

— Minute Ventilation (MV) Blended Sensor, treating a condition called chronotropic incompetence, the inability of the heart to regulate its rate appropriately in response to physical activity and emotional stress. Boston Sci says its MV Blended sensor is the only sensor that has been shown to restore chronotropic competence.

— Ventricular Rate Regulation (VRR), which helps physicians manage patients with frequent atrial arrythmias.

— Automatic Capture, designed to offer automatic and accurate ventricular pulse management. The device checks every heartbeat to see if the lower chambers of the heart contract in response to the delivered pulse. If no contraction is detected, a backup pace with more energy is delivered.

• Connect Imaging (Honolulu) has released a new version of its Mammo ViewBox software to support a super-high-resolution mammography display from Totoku Electric (Japan). CEO Philip Manly said the company's mammography workstation software is the first to support the ISD technology of the Totoku MS51i2 digital mammography display. "Totoku developed a novel way to triple the resolution of its 5 MP (megapixel) monitor, but taking advantage of the higher resolution required some software changes," Manly said. "Connect Imaging made these necessary modifications a priority. We now can offer this workstation software to all users of digital mammography. Though it works most efficiently when combined with other mammography modules in the Connect Imaging PACS, our Mammo ViewBox workstation software is compatible with any DICOM archive." Connect Imaging makes customizable picture archiving and communication systems.

• GE Healthcare (Waukesha, Wisconsin), makers of imaging and dose reduction technologies, reported FDA clearance of the LightSpeed CT750 HD, which they billed as the "world's first high-definition CT scanner."

GE engineers discovered that, by changing the molecular structure of real garnets, they could develop a scintillator capable of delivering images 100 times faster, with up to 33% greater detail through the body and up to 47% greater detail in the heart. They had unlocked the secret of the GE gemstone detector, which the company boasts as the fastest primary speed in the CT industry. Gemstone spectral imaging uses up to 2496 views per rotation (a 2.5x increase) to deliver improved spatial resolution and improved image quality across the entire field of view. Dual energy fast kV switching registers energies at least 165 times faster than Dual Source CT at a .33s rotating speed. It offers 128 slices of unique data per rotation and 101 user selectable energy levels for viewing.

GE Healthcare makes medical technologies that help treat cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases, and other conditions.

• Royal Philips Electronics (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) reported shipments of a new version of its Xcelera multimodality cardiology image management, analysis and reporting solution. The Xcelera R2.2 offers enhanced functionality and greater workflow efficiency to approximately 3,000 Philips cardiology informatics customers around the world. Xcelera R2.2 is a centralized system that addresses efficiency and workflow challenges while helping caregivers manage the multitude of examinations and procedures their patients undergo while receiving cardiac care. Xcelera R2.2 offers support for imaging studies and data from key cardiac subspecialties including cardiac catheterization and cardiovascular ultrasound, and additionally supports nuclear cardiology, cardiac CT, cardiac MRI, and electrophysiology.