• HemCon Medical Technologies (Portland, Oregon) reported the availability of its hemorrhage control dressing, ChitoFlex, to acute care professionals in two smaller sizes, 1”x 3” and 3”x 9” strips. HemCon said its decision to expand the ChitoFlex product line was the result of feedback asking for additional product flexibility for varying wound sizes. The original ChitoFlex dressing, which comes in a roll and measures 3” x 28”, will remain available for purchase. A two-sided, stuffable wound dressings, the ChitoFlex family of products is made from chitosan, a natural substance found in shrimp shells. The shrimp shells are processed, chemically treated, made into bandage form and then sterilized. ChitoFlex dressings control severe bleeding within two to five minutes by becoming adherent when in contact with blood. The adhesive-like action seals the wound and attracts red blood cells to the dressing, forming a seal that stops hemorrhaging independent of the body’s natural clotting process. The dressings are antibacterial and effective on high-pressure, high-flow arterial bleeds.

• Hologic (Bedford, Massachusetts) reported the publication of a large-scale breast screening trial comparing a single radiologist using computer-aided detection (CAD) to double reading without CAD. The study compared the recall rate, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and cancer detection rate for single reading with CAD, versus double reading without CAD. Biopsy and pathology data for positive cases were also compared. The efficacy of screening mammography is enhanced when sensitivity is high and the recall rate is low. Double reading, though used by few practices in the U.S., is a method for increasing sensitivity commonly used in European screening programs. CAD has become increasingly popular as an alternative way to increase sensitivity, since double reading is time- consuming and because of a shortage of radiologists. CAD has the potential to increase sensitivity of screening mammography by marking areas of interest that might otherwise be overlooked by interpreting radiologists. However, CAD also may place false marks, identifying areas of suspicion that are not cancer. A small fraction of false marks may result in unnecessary patient recalls for further evaluation. The major goal for CAD is to reduce oversights when screening mammograms are read; the radiologist is still responsible for lesion analysis and final interpretation of an examination. Hologic makes imaging systems, diagnostics and interventional devices for women.

• Micro Power (Beaverton, Oregon) said that it designed and manufactured a new, custom Li-ion battery pack specifically for the latest point-of-care ultrasound systems from SonoSite (Bopthell, Washington), the M-Turbo hand-carried system and the S Series ultrasound tools. Micro Power’s new battery pack not only powers SonoSite’s new, fourth-generation systems, but it is compatible with existing SonoSite products such as the MicroMaxx and TITAN systems. The battery pack provides over 60 Watts of power, 15% more power than current battery packs offered with SonoSite products. The battery pack was designed to support SonoSite’s requirements for uncompromised performance, immediate boot-up from a cold start and extended sessions of use within a lightweight unit. Micro Power makes portable power systems for mission-critical equipment. SonoSite makes hand-carried ultrasound systems.

• Orqis Medical (Lake Forest, California) said that the company’s MOMENTUM Trial Abstract was accepted for Late Breaking Clinical Trial presentation at the upcoming (March) annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology (Washington) in Chicago. MOMENTUM evaluated the percutaneous Cancion System in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. “MOMENTUM is a landmark study examining the hemodynamic and clinical effects of the Cancion System in managing patients hospitalized with heart failure inadequately responsive to medical therapy,” said Barry Greenberg, MD, who will present the abstract. Orgis makes products for treatment of heart failure.