• Aperio Technologies (Vista, California) has received FDA clearance to market the HER2 image analysis application available through its ScanScope slide scanning system. The immunohistochemistry image analysis application is intended to be used as an aid to pathologists in detecting and quantifying HER2 protein expression from digital slide images created by Aperio’s slide scanning systems. Aperio’s FDA clearance encompasses the company’s complete digital pathology system, including ScanScope scanners for creating digital slide images from microscope slides, the Spectrum digital pathology information management system for managing, viewing, and analyzing digital slides, and the specific image analysis application which performs the automated scoring of IHC HER2 breast cancer digital slides. Aperio Technologies makes digital pathology for the healthcare and life sciences industry.

• AtriCure (West Chester, Ohio) said that results reporting on the company’s minimally invasive products, which physicians have adopted to treat atrial fibrillation (AF), were published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. Based on the use of 30-day continuous monitoring at one-year follow-up, 87.5% of the paroxysmal and persistent AF patients and 75% of overall patients were free from AF and left atrial arrhythmias and were also off anti-arrhythmic drugs. AtriCure makes cardiac surgical ablation products.

• BSD Medical (Salt Lake City) said that the International Journal of Hyperthermia has published the preliminary results of a Phase II clinical study involving 144 patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. BSD Medical’s BSD-2000 hyperthermia system was used to deliver local hyperthermia combined with conformal radiation therapy and androgen suppression therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer. Hyperthermia combined with radiation and androgen therapy demonstrated results in survival similar to treatments using higher radiation doses, with no significant side effects associated with either hyperthermia or radiation therapy. BSD Medical makes systems used to provide therapies requiring precision-focused heat for the treatment of cancer.

• Cardium Therapeutics (San Diego) and its operating unit InnerCool Therapies have initiated the launch of InnerCool’s new CoolBlue surface temperature modulation system. The system is designed to provide a complementary tool for use in less acute patients or in clinical settings best suited to prolonged temperature management. TheCoolBlue vest and thigh pads wrap the body without requiring any adhesives to stick to the skin and produce cooling rates of around 1°C per hour. Cardium Therapeutics is focused on products and devices for cardiovascular, ischemic and related indications.

• GenPrime (Spokane, Washington) has initiated multi-site clinical trials of its bacterial contamination test for platelets. The test is a rapid QC device for detecting the presence of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria commonly found in contaminated platelets. Based on a lateral flow technology platform, GenPrime’s bacterial contamination test for platelets is designed to detect all 15 organisms known to contaminate platelets. Additionally GenPrime has developed an automated test reader and software for objective result analysis and data collection. GenPrime makes rapid microbial analysis technologies.

• Nihon Kohden America (Irvine, California) reported the development of Prefense, an early detection and notification system that allows hospital patients to freely ambulate while measuring HR, NIBP, Sp0₂ and respiration — 4 of the 7 critical parameters that trigger a rapid response team. Prefense is combined with the company’s NTX wireless telemetry transmitters. Prefense is the only solution that seamlessly integrates the mobility of Nihon Kohden America’s NTX, the advance warning capabilities of continuous trend analysis and the proven effectiveness of rapid response teams. Nihon Kohden America makes patient monitoring systems.

• Novadaq Technologies (Toronto) said that it will launch the PINPOINT endoscopic imaging system at the Annual Meeting of American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), CHEST 2007. PINPOINT is based upon the endoscopic technology Novadaq acquired from Xillix Technologies, and is designed to not only perform white light bronchoscopy, but also the more clinically relevant imaging commonly referred to as autofluorescence and narrow band imaging. Many studies have shown autofluorescence to be more effective in the detection and localization of central airway cancers than conventional white light bronchoscopy. Novadaq makes medical imaging systems.