• BioSphere Medical (Rockland, Massachusetts) said that it has received CE Mark approval for transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using HepaSphere microspheres and doxorubicin. Standard transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a two-stage process involving the injection of a concentrated dose of chemotherapeutic drugs, e.g. doxorubicin, directly into the blood vessels supplying a tumor, followed by the infusion of an embolic agent through a catheter and into the blood vessels that feed a tumor, thus selectively blocking its blood supply. Because the blood vessels are blocked with the embolic material, the chemotheraptic drug is thought to dwell in direct contact with the tumor longer and target the tumor more effectively than a systemic chemotherapeutic treatment would. Thus, with chemoembolization the drug concentration has been measured to be 20 to 200 times greater within the tumor, compared to chemotherapy administered systematically. BioSphere Medical uses bioengineered microspheres to treat uterine fibroids, hypervascularized tumors, and vascular malformations by a minimally invasive, image-guided medical procedure called embolotherapy.
  • A study in the November issue of Neurosurgery shows that DuPuy Spine's (Raynham, Massachusetts) Healos bone graft replacement, when combined with bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and used in combination with fibular allograft, was effective in promoting fusion in multi-level anterior cervical fusion surgeries and compared favorably to fusion rates reported in the published literature with iliac crest autograft. Healos is a bone graft substitute that serves as a 3-dimensional scaffold for use with autologous BMA. Healos is intended for use in filling bony voids or gaps of the skeletal system not intrinsic to the stability of the bony structure and is resorbed and remodeled into new bone as part of the healing process. DePuy Spine makes products to treat spine disorders.
  • Telemedicus (Houston) said it will begin final testing of its technology for fixed/remote and ambulance based systems in anticipation of market launch in early 2008. Telemedicus' disaster relief and emergency medical services (DREAMS) technology turns practically any ambulance or medical transportation vehicle into a mobile trauma center.