• Archus Orthopedics (Redmond, Washington) reported completing the first human implant of its TFAS-C system, an addition to its product line for treating spinal stenosis, a condition in which degenerative changes in the facet joints result in compression of spinal nerves producing neurological symptoms in the legs. Traditionally, patients with moderate-to-severe spinal stenosis undergo decompressive laminectomy surgery, often accompanied by spinal fusion. Archus says that its products replace degenerative facet joints with a prosthetic joint implant intended to restore stability and normal motion to the spine, eliminating the need for fusion. The TFAS-C is indicated for the L3-4 and L4-5 spinal levels and complements the company's TFAS-LS system, which addresses the anatomy of the L5-S1, "lumbosacral" spinal level. Archus makes reconstructive implants.

• Nymox Pharmaceutical (Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey) reported the publication of independent studies finding that the company's NicAlert saliva product provides a convenient and cost-effective way to verify self-reported smoking status, with broad potential applications both in the clinic and in large research trials and surveys. NicAlert can be used with either urine or saliva samples to provide an accurate visual read-out on a person's tobacco use or exposure within minutes by measuring levels of cotinine, a byproduct of the breakdown of nicotine in the human body.

• Zila (Phoenix) reported FDA 510(k) clearance for its ViziLite eyewear. ViziLite is reusable filtered eyewear to be worn by a healthcare professional to eliminate ambient light while performing an oral exam under chemiluminescence when a darkened room is not available. ViziLite only allows transmission of light necessary for a ViziLite examination while blocking interfering ambient light from the practitioner's field of view. ViziLite is an oral screening technology that uses a chemiluminescent light source and a pharmaceutical-grade vital tissue dye. Zila is an oral diagnostics company.