• BodyMedia (Pittsburgh) said it has released version 6.1 of the SenseWear software for its clinical customers and their patients. The SenseWear 6.1 software is compatible with the SenseWear wearable display device and has improved algorithms that report accurate metabolic metrics. This solution enables patients to keep track of their health data such as calories burned, physical activity, and sleep so health professionals can objectively monitor adherence to their behavioral prescriptions. Patients and their physicians use SenseWear to identify the behaviors that best promote increased activity, weight loss, and healthy living — ultimately lowering the risks associated with their chronic conditions. BodyMedia specializes in metabolic assessment and behavioral therapy solutions.

• Combe (White Plains, New York) reported that The Vagisil Screening Kit For Vaginal Infections — an inhome screening kit — is now available. The Vagisil Screening Kit is intended for use by women who are experiencing itching, burning, unpleasant odor or unusual discharge. The screening kit is available in the in the feminine hygiene section at food, drug and mass merchandise stores.

• Ethicon Endo-Surgery (Cincinnati) reported the launch of the Universal Mammotome MR biopsy system, its MRI breast biopsy device that has all the features of the company's first Mammotome MR and is compatible with a wider variety of breast coils and magnets and can work with most grid/cube localization systems, the most common method of MR lesion targeting. A procedure with the Mammotome involves the single insertion of a needle equipped with a vacuum device into an incision about the size of a match head. Under MRI guidance, the device gently vacuums, cuts and partially or completely removes suspicious breast tissue for evaluation. The biopsy incision is so small that only an adhesive bandage is needed to cover it, no sutures are required, and there is minimal scarring. Most patients return to normal activity immediately following the procedure. The outpatient procedure can be performed in an MRI suite and typically takes an average of 30 minutes.

• Fluidigm (South San Francisco) has achieved a first in microfluidics — a matrix chip architecture that enables both a high density of experiments (2,304 per chip) and effective mixing of nano-volume scale fluids. This new chip will allow Fluidigm to enter end-point PCR detection markets, such as SNP genotyping, which require both high-throughput and fully mixed reaction components. Reagent is loaded into a microchannel and contained by valves, in effect, as a "reagent slug". These containment valves then open to allow sample to be introduced into the same channel in contact with the slug. Valves and external pressure are then used to squirt the reagent/sample into a mixing chamber, resulting in highly uniform reagent-to-sample ratios and full mixing of fluids.

• SACS Medical (Gothenburg, Sweden) reported it has been granted FDA 510(k) clearance. The clearance is for SACS Medical's system for medical signal handling, which can handle EEG signals, among others. The system is used by specialist clinics to diagnose, monitor and treat patients spread over a large geographical area from one centralized location. SACS Medical provides IT-solutions for signal handling in health care and medical research.

• SonoSite (Bothell, Washington) reported that its SonoMB imaging advance is now available on its curved array probes, thereby extending this valuable technology to a broad range of exam types. The company began customer shipments of new MicroMaxx systems incorporating the SonoMB technology early this week. It is available as a software upgrade at no charge to existing MicroMaxx customers. SonoMB technology is a proprietary SonoSite imaging algorithm that improves contrast resolution and reduces ultrasound artifact while providing exceptional frame rates and superior image quality for the clinician. The result is increased resolution in both the near and far field, finer definition of small structures and improved visualization of physiology and subtle tissue differences. SonoSite makes hand-carried ultrasound.