• ArthroCare (Austin, Texas) said that it has expanded its Parallax line with Parallax Contour, a poroduct designed to mechanically displace soft bone in fractured vertebrae. The product set includes a variety of products used for the minimally invasive stabilization of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Parallax Contour integrates with the company's line of Threaded Cannulae, the Parallax Contour, an osteotome, uses a movable, curved stylet to displace soft bone. This displacement of soft bone improves access into the vertebral body, which can then be filled with the injection of bone cement. The Contour uses a small access needle and is precisely advanced and rotated to prepare the space within the vertebral body. Conventional systems for enhanced vertebroplasty include high pressure injection systems such as balloon kyphoplasty. Arthrocare makes minimally invasive surgical products.

• MediNotes (West Des Moines, Iowa) reported the latest release of its Net-based integrated electronic medical record (EMR)/practice management (PM) solution MediNotes Clinician Spring R2. "This release is the latest example of our unswerving commitment to invest in our single database EHR/PM solution and to provide enhancements requested by physician users to improve their business processes and financial performance," said Donald Schoen, president/CEO. "Our powerful solution will help practices further maximize productivity and efficiency and reaffirms our position as the industry's leading provider of integrated EHR and PM solutions."

• Meridian Bioscience (Cincinnati) reported launch of two new rapid tests for Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV): TRU EBV-M and TRU EBV-G. The TRU EBV tests use recombinant antigen technology to detect IgM and IgG antibodies specific to EBV. EBV is the primary cause of infectious mononucleosis and has been implicated in a number of benign and malignant disorders, including Hodgkin's disease and certain lymphomas. The current rapid methods for the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis rely primarily on the patient's symptoms and non-specific heterophile antibody testing. The TRU EBV test system is a simple, sensitive and rapid approach that allows healthcare providers to more precisely diagnose EBV infections. Meridian makes diagnostic test kits.

• PerkinElmer (St. Louis) reported the launch of its Victor X multilabel plate reader platform. The Victor X platform is the latest edition of PerkinElmer's Victor series of multilabel detection instruments, which are used by research labs of all sizes, including academic centers, pharmaceutical and biotech screening labs, drug discovery groups, and disease and therapeutic area research groups. The enhanced software package features: an improved "Start Wizard" for easier creation of new protocols; application-based example protocols for off-the-shelf use.. PerkinElmer specializes in health sciences and photonics.

• Royal Philips Electronics (Amsterdam, the Netherlands ) reported an addition to its HD ultrasound family of products, the Philips HD7, has launched in the U.S. The system draws upon an array of features and capabilities available on high-end Philips systems and puts them into an affordable, mobile unit that is well-suited for a wide variety of clinical settings. The system provides grayscale and color Doppler imaging with simple one button optimization, as well as tissue harmonic imaging. In addition, the HD7 features a wide array of transducers, an adjustable flat panel LCD monitor, proven system architecture, and advanced imaging, measurement and quantification technologies. The HD7 has a broadband digital beamformer to capture and preserve more tissue information than conventional narrowband systems and its wide dynamic range and digital focal tuning provide exceptional sensitivity and detail resolution. Philips makes diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems.