• AMI Semiconductor (Pocatello, Idaho) reported that Dynamic Hearing (Richmond, Australia), a technology company making solutions for hearing aids, has selected the Ezairo 5900 series of integrated circuits and packaged hybrids for its latest suite of high-end sound processing algorithms. The Ezairo 5900 series features a 24-bit precision open programmable DSP core combined with a highly reconfigurable HEAR accelerator engine. This dual-core architecture allows Dynamic Hearing algorithms to run with an optimal balance between performance and power consumption. Ezairo 5900 includes all necessary on-chip peripheral blocks to directly interface with transducers, battery and controls. The hearing aid designer, running on Ezairo 5900, combines extremely high performance and functionality while using battery power sparingly, thus enabling manufacturers to produce discrete, attractive and comfortable hearing aids for use in every listening situation. Dynamic Hearing makes mixed-signal and structured digital products for the automotive, medical and industrial sectors.

• Endologix (Irvine, California) reported receipt of FDA approval to manufacture the ePTFE graft material used in the Powerlink system for the minimally invasive treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). More specifically, ePTFE is the graft material that covers the Powerlink system's self-expanding cobalt chromium alloy stent cage. The company's self-manufactured ePTFE graft material meets the same product specifications as that currently in use in Powerlink System production. Endologix makes minimally invasive treatments for vascular diseases.

• E-Z-EM (Lake Success, New York) reported that it has received 510(k) clearance for its EmpowerMR injector system, the company's first product for the MRI market. EmpowerMR uses features designed to cope with the problem of electrical interference in the magnetic field of the MR scanner. MRI systems operate by detecting minute variances in the alignment of molecules within certain tissues of the human body. To detect these variances, MR systems create powerful magnetic fields, and require the use of non-magnetic materials and components in the immediate surroundings of the scanner. Electromechanical devices like injector systems can create both electric and magnetic fields that cause electrical interference with the scanner during the imaging process, leading to image distortion or artifacts. To minimize this problem, EmpowerMR uses a hydraulic control system instead of the shielded electrical control components used by most other MR injectors systems.EmpowerMR provides for utilization in MR field strengths up to 7 Tesla. E-Z-EM makes contrast agents for gastrointestinal radiology.

• HydroCision (Billerica, Massachusetts) launched a new product, MicroResector MD, at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS; Rolling Meadows, Illinois), this week in Washington. The MicroResector MD is based on HydroCision's HydroDiscectomy platform, designed to use a high-velocity waterjet to quickly decompress herniated discs, providing relief to patients suffering from chronic back and/or leg pain. The HydroDiscectomy procedure bridges the gap between conservative therapy and conventional open surgery, according to the company. HydroDiscectomy is intended to offer an option to patients who have failed conservative treatments. In a recent retrospective study of the outcomes of 27 patients who underwent a HydroDiscectomy procedure to treat their lumbar herniated disc, these patients required zero revision procedures within the first year after surgery, compared to 34 patients who underwent a microdiscectomy spine surgery using conventional techniques to treat a lumbar herniation, 17.6% of whom required a revision microdiscectomy within a year after surgery. HydroCision is a developer and distributor of fluidjet-based surgical tools.