• Alphatec Holdings (Carlsbad, California) reported the release of the NOVEL-TL Spinal Spacer System. The NOVEL-TL implant was designed to be used with Alphatec's proprietary instrumentation for ease of use and procedural efficiency; thus further enhancing Alphatec's spinal implant solution product line. The NOVEL-TL Spinal Spacer System is made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and has a patented tooth pattern that adds stability for optimal fusion and prevents migration of the spacer between the adjacent vertebrae. NOVEL-TL has radiographic markers that ease the visual assessment of implant placement during surgery and fusion process post surgery. Key features include a bullet nose, bi-convex shape, low-profile pedicle screw distraction, and a set of instruments that are designed specifically for the NOVEL-TL. All of the features are intended to minimize the surgeon's time to prepare and implant the device and allow for the highest quality spinal implant product for the patient. Alphatic Holdings develops products for surgical treatment of spine disorders.

• Clearorbit (Austin, Texas) reported the release of version 4.1 of its web-based, end-to-end Enterprise Returns Management solution. The system will automate returns processes for medical device, high-tech and industrial manufacturers, features improved functionality, unprecedented configurability and a new Returns Dashboard for real-time visibility. Clearorbit assists clients in automating and controlling process execution within their extended supply network.

• Immucor (Norcross, Georgia) reported that Galileo Echo has been cleared by the FDA for marketing in the U.S. The company describes the device as a third generation automated assay instrument, is a compact bench-top, automated walk-away instrument for the small to medium sized hospital blood bank transfusion laboratory. The Echo offers small to medium sized hospitals and laboratories a full test menu and promises labor reduction while increasing productivity and patient safety, the company said. Immucor manufactures reagents and systems used by hospitals, reference laboratories and donor centers to detect and identify certain properties of the cell and serum components of blood prior to transfusion

• Millipore Corporation (Billerica, Massachusetts) reported the release of new data concerning its ReNcell neural stem cell lines. The data conclude that the ReNcell lines, ReNcell VM and ReNcell CX, will continuously expand in monolayer culture. Both cell lines have the ability to differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and the researchers were able to differentiation the ReNcell VM line into electrophysiologically active dopaminergic neurons. Millipore provides products that improve productivity in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and in clinical, analytical and research laboratories.

• Roche Diagnostics (RotKruez, Switzerland) reported that a study published in Circulation demonstrates the effective use of NT-proBNP, a blood test that allows the identification and exclusion of heart failure by measuring the level of NT-proBNP in a patient's blood The multi-center, randomized-controlled trial conducted on 500 patients in seven hospitals, shows that NT-proBNP (N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide) guided strategy in the management of suspected acute HF in the emergency department (ED) reduced the duration of emergency department (ED) visits by 21 percent), numbers of patients re-hospitalized over 60 days by 35% and direct medical costs of all ED visits, hospitalisations and subsequent outpatient services by 15%. In addition, monitoring levels of NT-proBNP can be used to guide drug treatment and in turn reduce the total number of cardiovascular events with clinically guided treatment(5). NT-proBNP is approved by the FDA and recommended by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).