• Boston Scientific (Natick, Massachusetts) reported the publication of an article in the Journal of American College of Cardiology (JACC) reviewing the Taxus ATLAS clinical trial, which evaluates the company’s second-generation Taxus Liberte paclitaxel-eluting stent system. The article in the April 24 edition of JACC concluded that the shorter procedure time and lower bailout rate of the Liberte stent system compared to the Taxus express2 stent system may represent a clinical surrogate for the improved deliverability and conformability of the Taxus Liberte stent as compared to the Taxus express stent. ATLAS is a trial comparing the Taxus Liberte paclitaxel-eluting stent system to a case-matched control group of patients from the Taxus IV and Taxus V de novo studies that received the Taxus Express2 paclitaxel-eluting stent system. Data reported in the JACC article showed the TAXUS Liberte stent was associated with significantly shorter procedural times. Boston Scientific seeks to make less-invasive medical devices and procedures.

• Bruker Daltonics (Indianapolis) launched its ImagePrep sample preparation device for automated matrix deposition onto tissue slices at the 55th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry. MALDI mass imaging of tissue samples with Bruker’s MALDI Molecular Imager (for research use only) solution allows color-coded visualization of the distribution of peptide or small protein biomarkers, or of drugs and their major metabolites for the direct analysis of molecular distributions in tissue sections. The ImagePrep device provides reproducible sample preparations for MALDI imaging in a fully automated, push-button process. Another unique advantage of ImagePrep is the combination of excellent spectra quality at high image resolution of 50 µm at the same time. Bruker Daltonics makes tools based on mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry.

• Cook Medical (Bloomington, Indiana) reported the availability of the Cook Turbo-Flo 8 French Double Lumen Central Venous Catheter designed to produce increased flow rates. The catheter also employs Cook’s patented antibiotic-impregnation process, infusing minocycline and rifampin on both the internal and external surfaces of the catheter to provide increased protection against catheter-related bloodstream infections. The Cook Turbo-Flo catheter’s “double-D” lumen configuration provides maximum flow rates for whole blood product delivery and sampling or to deliver medication and nutrients. This catheter is introduced by minipuncture, marked by a smaller puncture site and a decrease in complications. Additionally, it is available with the Cook EchoTip echogenic needle to improve visibility byenhancing the needle’s appearance during ultrasound imaging. The catheter is available in 15, 20 and 25 centimeter lengths and is now available with the Cook Full Spectrum tray, catheter tray and the cap, mask, gown and large drape maximum barrier precaution tray. Cook Medical makes interventional devices.

• Digirad (Poway, California) reports the introduction nSPEED, an advanced three dimensional SPECT image reconstruction technique. This algorithm provides the clinicians with significant image quality improvement over existing 2-D reconstruction techniques by producing clearer and more accurate images to help improve physicians’ interpretation confidence. nSPEED models the depth-dependent point response function in an iterative reconstruction algorithm (OSEM), thus enabling depth-dependent resolution recovery and improving chamber contrast in cardiac SPECT images. Such improvement may further enable the reduction of acquisition time while maintaining image quality as compared to conventional reconstruction without depth-dependent resolution recovery, while adhering to ASNC imaging guidelines. With this product, Digirad is striving to obtain ASNC and other society acceptance in order to meet accreditation requirements. Digirad provides diagnostic imaging products for use in cardiology, internal medicine, and general imaging applications.

• VivoMetrics (Ventura, California) reported the launch of VivoChampionTrainer with LifeShirt technology, a lightweight, compact, and non-invasive physiologic monitoring system. Built upon VivoMetrics’ original LifeShirt system, the VivoChampionTrainer has been modified for athletic training and provides real-time measurement of respiration, heart rate, activity, posture and skin temperature during and after activity — whether a practice session or an actual competitive event. Trainers, coaches and managers are able to view laboratory-quality data as the athletes perform in “real-world” environments. This allows factors such as stress of competition or environmental factors such as heat on a playing field to be duplicated and evaluated for their effect on player performance. The VivoChampionTrainer sends physiologic data to a nearby computer and intuitive, easy-to-understand displays allow coaches, trainers and team physicians to quickly assess the health status of up to 25 athletes at the same time. VivoMetrics makes wearable, non-invasive products and services.