• Abbott (Abbott Park, Illinois) reported enrollment of the first patient in HERCULES (Herculink Elite Cobalt Chromium Renal Stent Trial to Demonstrate Efficacy and Safety), a U.S. clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the investigational RX Herculink Elite renal stent system to treat patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS), a condition characterized by fatty plaque buildup in the kidney arteries that can lead to high blood pressure. The RX Herculink Elite is an .014-inch rapid-exchange (single-operator) renal stent system made of cobalt chromium, a material that is stronger and easier to see under X-ray than stainless steel. To qualify for the HERCULES study, patients must have uncontrolled hypertension that is not responding to treatment with at least two blood pressure medications, and must have at least 60% stenosis or blockage in a renal artery as measured by visual X-ray angiography. Abbott Vascular, a division of Abbott, is a vascular care business.

• American Medical Systems Holdings (Minneapolis) reported the launch of its MiniArc single-incision sling system. MiniArc treats female stress urinary incontinence using a minimally invasive, single-incision procedure, reducing operative invasiveness and enhancing patient recovery. Inspired by AMS’ Monarc Subfascial Hammock, MiniArc follows the familiar transobturator pathway using Monarc’s proven mesh and needle design. Initial implants and research support MiniArc’s efficacy and ease of use. American Medical Systems makes products to help cure erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, incontinence, menorrhagia, prolapse and other pelvic disorders.

• HepaLife Technologies (Boston) reported early results of new in vitro studies involving the company’s PICM-19 liver stem cells, which were placed inside its proprietary artificial liver device and were able to favorably produce urea and successfully remove ammonia, a highly toxic by-product which causes brain damage, coma, and even death. According to researchers, the most vital component in an artificial liver device is not the mechanical hardware, but rather, it is the biological cells inside the device which are responsible for truly replicating and performing the functions of the human liver, similar to the functions mimicked by HepaLife’s PICM-19 cells in today’s research outcomes. HepaLife Technologies makes artificial liver devices.

• NextGen Healthcare (Horsham, Pennsylvania) reported that Health Management Associates purchased software licenses for the unified NextGen electronic medical records (EMR) and enterprise practice management (EPM) system. This purchase, the second made by HMA, represents the second phase of HMA’s long-term plan to implement the integrated NextGen clinical and financial platform to all physician practices under its ownership. NextGen EPM is designed to increase collections, reduce A/R days, and improve efficiency in billing, scheduling, reporting and other critical practice functions. NextGen EMR enables caregivers to quickly document patient encounters at the point of care, reducing the need for transcription services and providing a secure, longitudinal record of a patient’s health. NextGen Healthcare makes abulatory healthcare and connectivity products.

• W. L. Gore & Associates (Flagstaff, Arizona) reported the availability of the Gore Preclude vessel guard, the first non-biological membrane indicated as a cover for vessels following anterior vertebral surgery. This advanced biomaterial reduces the risk of potential vascular injury by providing a permanent and visible plane of dissection around the vasculature to facilitate anterior revision surgery. Gore Preclude enables vasculature management in patients having undergone anterior spinal surgery for degenerative disc disease, including artificial disc replacement. Scarring around the aorta, vena cava and iliac vessels complicates revising, repositioning or removing a disc prosthesis. The vessel guard has a three-layer construction with two outer layers consisting of a tight expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) microstructure preventing penetration by fibroblasts, and thus minimizing vascular tissue attachment to the device, allowing safer anterior revision. The Gore medical products division makes vascular grafts, endovascular and interventional devices, surgical patches and meshes for hernia repair, and sutures for use in vascular, cardiac, general surgery and orthopedic procedures.