• B-K Medical (Copenhagen, Denmark) reported the launch of its transrectal prostate transducer, the 8818, which combines simultaneous biplane and endfire transducers in one. The product uses simultaneous biplane imaging enabling real-time simultaneous images of the prostate in both the sagittal and transverse planes. Endfire imaging provides the view when taking biopsies in the apex of the prostate. The design of the endfire biopsy channel ensures the shortest distance to the apex, thereby helping users to avoid accidentally piercing surrounding tissue. B-K Medical, a subsidiary of Analogic, specializes in diagnostic ultrasound equipment.

• Biomet (Warsaw, Indiana) reported that Biomet 3i, the company’s dental reconstructive device subsidiary, has introduced a new dental implant that utilizes nanotechnology. The NanoTite implant builds upon Biomet 3i’s Osseotite implant by adding deposits of nano-scale calcium phosphate crystals to about 50% of the surface. According to pre-clinical studies, these nano-scale deposits create a complex surface on the implant that appears to play a role in how the implant bonds with the bone, the companies said. Human bone recognizes calcium phosphate as biologically natural, allowing the bone and implant to bond during healing. Biomet and its subsidiaries make products used primarily by musculoskeletal medical specialists in both surgical and non-surgical therapy.

• Rimage (Minneapolis) reported the launch of the Medical Disc System, featuring improvements to its patient CD and DICOM diagnostic study output and distribution. The disk system features three different hardware options, each containing an embedded processor, an integrated everest printer and a footprint for operation. The MDS 5100 is a compact design for patient CD and diagnostic study output. The MDS 5200 is for use with large and small PACS installations for Patient CD and diagnostic study distribution. The MDS 5300 is available with blue laser disc recorders, increased capacity, higher throughput, and the Rimage Publisher 7.4 software package for Patient CD and high-capacity DICOM Archive Discs. Rimage makes recordable CD, DVD and Blu-ray publishing systems.

• Rosetta Biosoftware (Seattle) introduced the Rosetta Resolver gene expression data analysis system 7.0, with capabilities to promote standardized data storage and exchange. The system version 7.0 also provides support for endpoint data storage in the clinical data interchange standards consortium’s standard for exchange of non-clinical data format and additional gene expression platforms, such as the Illumina platform. The Resolver can accept and analyze data from a wide variety of expression profiling formats, and applies Rosetta Biosoftware’s proprietary error models to yield quality statistics for every gene expression measurement within the system. Rosetta is a provider of informatics software for life science research.

• Sound Medical Solutions (Houston) reported FDA approval of new software that allows the ExAblate 2000 incisionless surgery procedure to be performed more efficiently by permitting more sonications during the same treatment window. This means that women with fibroids can be treated faster and women with larger fibroids may now be eligible for the outpatient procedure. The greater the area of the fibroid that a physician can treat, the greater the symptom relief, according to the company. The ExAblate procedure uses MRI to see inside the woman’s body and plan the treatment; the physician aims focused ultrasound “sonications” at the tumor to burn it up. The procedure takes less than three hours. Sound Medical Solutions was formed with the express purpose of partnering with gynecologists in the development of outpatient ExAblate facilities.

• Stereotaxis (St. Louis) reported initiating the HEAL HF clinical trial, designed to evaluate the ability to magnetically navigate to multiple potential pacing sites and then optimize LV lead placement to treat heart failure. The case included the evaluation of seven pacing sites in the left ventricle, which exhibited significant differences from site-to-site in the hemodynamic response of the patient’s heart, measuring cardiac function. The Stereotaxis magnetic guided lead placement system is designed to enable physicians to complete more complex interventional procedures by providing image guided delivery of catheters and guidewires through the blood vessels and chambers of the heart to treatment sites. This is achieved using computer-controlled, externally applied magnetic fields that govern the motion of the working tip of the catheter or guidewire, resulting in improved navigation, shorter procedure time and reduced x-ray exposure. Stereotaxis makes cardiology instrument control systems.