• Aspect Medical Systems (Norwood, Massachusetts) reported interim study results from the Biomarkers for Rapid Identification of Treatment Effectiveness (BRITE) trial in major depression will be presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in San Diego. Interim findings from BRITE suggest that Aspect's EEG-based research technology is a significant predictor of patient response to treatment of depression with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) after one week of treatment. Further, the study results suggest that the technology may help expedite the process of identifying effective antidepressant drug therapy. Aspect specializes in the development of technology to monitor brain activity.

A study conducted by Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, using the Outlook Safety Infusion system and DoseTrac Safety Infusion Analysis Services from B. Braun Medical (Bethlehem), showed significant reductions in infusion-related medication events. The study collected data from a random sample of 36 of the 275 pumps implemented in designated departments. B. Braun and Lutheran Medical evaluated the first three months of usage to develop a full picture of events, including dose alerts (attempts to program outside the limits), overrides (doses outside the limits that were accepted) and potential errors (doses that were rejected).

• CAS Medical Systems (CASMED; Branford, Connecticut) said that it will be introducing its line of Lifeguard patient monitors at the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition in Atlanta. In conjunction with the introduction, CASMED is launching its updated corporate website. The new site has been streamlined to reflect the CASMED brand identity and latest product introductions, including both the Fore-Sight absolute cerebral oximeter and the Lifeguard monitors. CASMED's product lines include cerebral oximeters, blood pressure measurement technology, vital signs monitors, blood pressure cuffs, cardio-respiratory and apnea monitors and products for neonatal intensive care.

• Cytogen (Princeton, New Jersey) reported outcomes data from a cohort study demonstrating the value of Prostascint (capromab pendetide) in predicting prognosis in prostate cancer. The study evaluated the outcomes of patients whose Prostascint images showed uptake in the central abdomen, a finding suggestive of metastatic disease, as compared to those without such findings. Prostascint is a monoclonal antibody-based agent that targets prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) to image the extent and spread of prostate cancer. By targeting PSMA, the Prostascint molecular imaging procedure can detect the extent and spread of prostate cancer using a standard gamma camera. Cytogen is a pharmaceutical company specializing in oncology products.

• Orqis Medical (Lake Forest, California) reported that the 150th patient has been enrolled in the MOMENTUM Pivotal Trial, which is now 75% enrolled. The trial studies the percutaneous Cancion system in heart failure patients. The system is designed to treat patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure who inadequately respond to medical therapy. The device works by continuously augmenting blood flow in the descending aorta throughout the cardiac cycle. Orgis Medical is a clinical-stage company specializing in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

• Vidacare (San Antonio, Texas) introduced two new EZ-IO needle sets for military use. Both the manual and sternal needle sets provide immediate vascular access in austere field conditions. Provided in packs weighing less than 1.6 ounces each, the needle sets can be inserted in less than 30 seconds, enabling fluids and drugs to quickly reach the central vascular system in unstable patients. The manual needle set is a manual IO device on the market with multi-site vascular access, including the proximal and distal tibia and proximal humerus. The sternal needle set, with its stabilizer, provides yet another site should extremity trauma prevent tibial or humeral placement. The EZ-IO needle sets are 15 gauge with standard Luer-lock connectors. Vidacare makes intraosseous (IO) technology.