• Allscripts (Chicago), a provider of clinical software, connectivity and information solutions for physicians, reported that physician group Cardiovascular Consultants will deploy Allscripts TouchWorks Electronic Health Record and Practice Management solution to connect the group’s 26 providers across 10 locations. The agreement is the latest in a recent series of supply agreements with cardiology groups, Allscripts said, including becoming a preferred solution for MedAxiom’s 4,500 physician members in more than 220 cardiology practices nationwide. Cardiovascular Consultants, providing care to Phoenix and the surrounding community, has 20 physicians and six mid-level providers in 10 locations.

• ATS Medical (Minneapolis), a maker of cardiac surgery products and services, reported an exclusive distribution agreement with Novare Surgical Systems (Cupertino, California) for Novare’s Enclose II cardiac anastomosis assist device. ATS will distribute the device in the U.S., Germany, France and the UK. The Enclose II anastomosis assist device is used by cardiac surgeons to attach a bypass vessel to the aorta during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. It is estimated that more than 800,000 CABG procedures are performed worldwide each year.

• CardioVascular BioTherapeutics (Las Vegas) reported it has signed a master service agreement with leading global clinical research organization (CRO) Kendle (Cincinnati). Kendle will support CVBT in its Phase II clinical trial ensuring that the protocol and study adhere to FDA regulatory requirements. Kendle has worked with CVBT to finalize the protocol that will be submitted to the FDA. The clinical trial is evaluating CVBT’s drug candidate, with Cardio Vascu-Grow as its active ingredient, which is injected into no-option heart patients to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. The Phase II clinical trial is planned to be an international, multi-site clinical trial performed in the U.S., Canada and Europe, for patients not eligible for traditional interventional therapies such as bypass or stenting procedures. Kendle is now screening sites for participation in the Phase II clinical trial.

• Estech (San Ramon, California) reported expanding its distribution agreement with Neoprobe (Dublin, Ohio) for the Cardiosonix Quantix/OR blood flow measurement system to include Europe in addition to the U.S. Estech says the Quantix/OR is designed to provide surgeons with quantitative hemodynamic information in coronary artery bypass graft and carotid endarterectomy procedures. Estech makes tools for least invasive techniques for coronary artery bypass, valve surgery, atrial ablation and surgical treatment of congestive heart failure. Neoprobe makes surgical and diagnostic products.

• Haemonetics (Braintree, Massachusetts), a maker of automated blood processing systems, reported that it has signed a multi-year agreement with the American Red Cross (ARC; Washington) to continue the use of Haemonetics’ red cell collection technology at ARC blood services regions in the U.S. Under the agreement, the ARC will continue to use Haemonetics’ red cell collection technology for double red cell collections. In a double red cell collection, a qualified blood donor can donate two units of red cells in one donation thereby helping to alleviate blood shortages. The ARC first implemented Haemonetics’ automated red cell collection technology into its operations in 2000 and since then has expanded use of the technology into 21 regions of its 35 regions. The Red Cross will begin a trial of Haemonetics’ automated platelet collection technology in the near future.

• InforMedix Holdings (Rockville, Maryland), a developer of systems for improving medication adherence and enabling patients to manage chronic illnesses at home, reported that its Med-eMonitor System will be distributed by Strategic Value Analysis Healthcare (Skippack, Pennsylvania), a provider of cost containment services to medical centers, regional healthcare delivery systems and psychiatric services. The Med-eMonitor system includes a home-use device that alerts the patient when it is time to take his or her medications and how to properly take them. Educational information about their care plans are also delivered on the Med-eMonitor. Data from the device is transmitted daily to a secure Internet site, enabling caregivers to monitor medication and care plan adherence. The system will also alert the caregiver, through an e-mail, text message, fax or page if the data on the patient indicates poor adherence or declining health.

• LipoScience (Raleigh, North Carolina) said it has entered into an agreement for ARUP Laboratories (Salt Lake City) to offer its NMR LipoProfile test. ARUP serves as the primary reference laboratory for more than half of the nation's university teaching hospitals and children's hospitals. ARUP's other clients include multi-hospital groups, major commercial laboratories, group purchasing organizations, military and government facilities, and major clinics. The NMR LipoProfile test "identifies patients at risk for heart disease that would normally be missed by traditional cholesterol tests alone and gives clinicians lipoprotein particle information to manage that risk," said Ronald Weiss, MD, ARUP president/CEO. LipoScience develops clinical applications of NMR spectroscopy for cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders.