• Antibody therapeutics company EvoGenix (Sydney, Australia) said it has been awarded a patent by the U.S. Patent Office (patent number 7,166,697) covering its development and use of Evibodies. Evibodies are small antibody-like proteins that can be used as drugs or diagnostic agents in applications where whole antibodies may be unsuitable. Evibodies are only one-10th the size of an antibody and can therefore be manufactured more economically, EvoGenix said. The company also noted that Evibodies add a third aspect to its technology platform by supplying a means of discovering new targeting agents. EvoGenix creates what it calls “high value” antibody and protein-based therapeutics.

• Gauthier Biomedical (Grafton, Wisconsin) has released its Ratcheting Torque Limiter (RTL) Driver for medical device original equipment manufacturers and orthopedic and spinal physicians. The RTL acts as an all-in-one instrument that ratchets and limits the amount of torque applied, Gauthier said. The device is designed to deliver smoother torque limiting performance with a “roller pin style” that provides less recoil. The RTL also features less motion to actuate with 20 degrees of rotation to actuate the torque limiter, the company said, which is intended to enable Physicians to tighten and torque constructs with less hand and arm motion while positioning their hands for optimal grip using the ratcheting feature. Gauthier provides tools for the handheld orthopedic and spinal instrumentation markets.

• Lifeblood Medical (Adelphia, New Jersey) said it has released its first major study comparing Lifor with the industry’s current “gold standard” for preservation of heart for transplantation. In the study, Lifor successfully preserved guinea pig isolated hearts perfused at low flow with no added oxygen at room temperature for ten hours, Lifeblood said. The results proved, according to the company, that Lifor is an effective and convenient preservation medium for hearts during a long transport that would not require severe cooling and refrigeration and supplemental oxygen to restore viability during implantation. Based on the results in preserving the heart at room temperature, Lifeblood said it would be changing its strategy for organ and tissue preservation and that its first submission for FDA approval will be Lifor for heart preservation and transportation. Lifeblood Medical is a cell culture/biotech company.

• Synova Healthcare Group (Media, Pennsylvania) reported that Synova Pre-Natal Healthcare, a wholly owned subsidiary, and development partner BioPad have produced the initial set of antepartum fetal-movement monitors for use in their first “in-home” clinical trial. The device is designed to provide a non-invasive means of monitoring fetal movement during the last trimester of pregnancy without exposing either mother or fetus to radiant energy. Synova Healthcare Group, through its subsidiaries Synova Healthcare, Synova Pre-Natal Healthcare, and now Allendale Pharmaceuticals, produces non-invasive medical diagnostic tests and over-the-counter healthcare products to diagnose, monitor and/or treat certain woman’s healthcare conditions.

• Vascular Solutions (Minneapolis) reported that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance to launch the new 023 version of its Twin- Pass dual access catheter. The original Twin-Pass catheter was launched in January 2006 as a two lumen catheter designed to be used in conjunction with steerable guidewires to access discrete regions of the coronary and peripheral arterial vasculature. The 023 version features a larger 0.023” lumen that allows the Twin-Pass 023 catheter to measure intra-arterial pressures and deliver specialty guidewires into the distal vasculature. Vascular Solutions plans to launch the Twin-Pass 023 catheter through its direct U.S. sales force immediately. Vascular Solutions produces solutions for clinical opportunities within interventional radiology and interventional cardiology.