• Smith & Nephew Endoscopy (S&N Endoscopy; Andover, Massachusetts) reported the launch of the Kinsa RC 5.5 suture anchor, designed to provide secure repair of shoulderinjuries stemming from tears to the rotator cuff, the group of musclesand tendons that control shoulder motion. Surgeons can repair these injuries using arthroscopic, minimally-invasive techniques with specialized instruments and devices such as theKINSA RC Suture Anchor, which re-attaches the torn tissue to restore mobility. The product is the second in S&N Endoscopy’s line of Kinsa suture anchors. The original Kinsa anchor, for treatment of shoulder instability, was released in 2006. Both Kinsa anchors encase a sliding, self-locking knot that permits the surgeon to secure the repairwithout tying knots on top of the tissue. Surgical knots in arthroscopicrepairs can sometimes loosen or cause irritation of surrounding tissue. TheKinsa RC anchor instead delivers “low profile” repair, without knots orprotrusions to interfere with the joint motion.

• SonoSite (Bothell, Washington) reported the introduction of the M-Turbo ultrasound system for use in the full range of clinical applications at the point of care. The M-Turbo system delivers an exponential increase in raw processing power for superior image clarity across all exam types, plus seamless connectivity for digital image export in a hand-carried product weighing less than 8 pounds. SonoSite plans to begin customer deliveries later this quarter. SonoSite’s new M-Turbo system offers a 16-fold increase in processing power yet weighs slightly less than the MicroMaxx system.

• TeleTracking’s (Pittsburgh) exclusive BedTracking mobile, the industry’s only bed tracking tool for handhelds, will be displayed during the 2007Annual ASHES Conference and MarketplaceSeptember 30-October 4, in St. Louis. BedTracking mobile transfers the gold standard performance of BedTracking to a PDA so environmental services supervisors can avert patient flow problems and speed bed turnover from anywhere in the hospital. The wireless versionprovides real-time bed status, including pending transfers and discharges. Users communicate directly with staff via ‘taps’ on the PDA screen. Other features include ‘alerts’ when bed cleaning requests are delayed, re-assigning tasks on the fly, and much more. It isone of several wireless patient flow solutions either in service or soon to be available as part of TeleTracking Technologies’ expanding mobile strategy, which is based on the recognition that to avert patient flow problems, supervisors sometimes need to be on the move instead of at a desktop PC. TeleTracking Technologies makes automated solutions which relieve hospital overcrowding, provides software and process redesign services that make real-time patient flow management possible.