• Kinetic Concepts (KCI; San Antonio) has introduced a new mattress replacement system (MRS), the AtmosAir V-series MRS, designed to assist hospitals in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. According to the company, the V-series MRS enhances the AtmosAir family of surfaces, which already accommodates a wide range of hospital bed frames and stretchers, by adding compatibility with the Hill-Rom VersaCare frame. The AtmosAir V-series works automatically, keeping patients at an appropriate level of pressure redistribution with no power or patient adjustment required, KCI said. The company makes advanced wound care products and therapeutic surfaces.

• MedWaves (San Diego) has received FDA clearance to market its microwave coagulation/ablation system for general surgery use for the coagulation and ablation of soft tissues. The system is comprised of a microwave generator and single patient use sterile devices. According to MedWaves, the system offers potential advantages over RF thermal ablation methods in the following ways: consistency and predictability of lesion creation; ability to treat large lesions (over 3 cm); increased safety due to the elimination of grounding pads and the resultant skin burns due to poor contact; and more even distribution of the thermal energy delivery in the tissues that is not dependent upon low impedance paths that can be unpredictable. MedWaves said that it develops microwave ablation technology.

• Medtronic (Minneapolis) reported FDA approval of a new physician-use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system, the CGMS iPro Recorder. Physicians send patients home with the CGMS iPro to uncover patterns and potential problems that often go undetected with today’s standard glucose measurements like finger stick meters and HbA1c tests. Patients wear the CGMS iPro Recorder for three days, after which physicians can review the data and use the results to uncover glucose patterns and optimize patient therapy. The iPro is attached to a small glucose sensor inserted just under the skin. During the course of three days, the recorder automatically measures and stores glucose values during daily activities like work, sleep, eating, and exercise. After the recording period is completed, the patient returns to the physician’s office where the device is removed and downloaded.

• Mentor (Santa Barbara, California) reported that enrollment and initial dosing in a Phase IIIb study of its investigational botulinum toxin type A for the reduction of glabellar rhytides (frown lines) by intramuscular injection has been completed. Mentor said it makes products for the aesthetic market.

• Nikon Instruments (Melville, New York) launched the A1 series of confocal laser point scanning systems, which integrates with the new Ti-E research inverted microscope. The fully-automated confocal imaging system captures high-quality confocal images of cells and molecular events at high speed and enhanced sensitivity. Two models are available: the A1 and the A1R. The A1 offers standard paired galvanometers with high resolution scanning at up to 4096 X 4096 pixels, with a standard speed of two frames per second (fps) for 512 x 512 pixels. The A1R model incorporates a hybrid scanner system of paired galvanometers coupled to a high speed resonant galvanometer. Nikon said it specializes in developing advanced optical technology.