• Micrus Endovascular (San Jose, California), a manufacturer of implantable and disposable medical devices used in the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases, said it has received FDA clearance to market its Watusi guidewire platform in the U.S. This product line received CE mark clearances in March 2006 and is currently marketed in the European Union. Micrus said it intends to begin selling this product through its domestic direct sales force immediately.

• Novadaq Technologies (Toronto), a developer of medical imaging systems for the operating room, reported that it has received a 510(k) premarket clearance from the FDA for a labeling revision for its SPY Intra-operative Imaging System. The company said the labeling will give cardiac surgeons greater flexibility for the administration of the imaging agent while enhancing image quality during coronary artery bypass graft procedures. The company also reported the start of two additional clinical trials in different therapeutic applications for SPY: cerebral angiography during neurosurgery and the evaluation of access points for renal failure patients who are undergoing hemodialysis. Both studies are being conducted in Canada.

• Raymedica (Minneapolis) said it will introduce its next-generation technology, the HydraFlex Nucleus Arthroplasty System, in conjunction with the Spine Arthroplasty Society meeting ongoing through Saturday in Montreal. According to the company, the emerging nucleus replacement segment, contained in the U.S. spinal motion preserving and non-fusion products market, was worth approximately $186.2 million in 2004 and is projected to reach more than $1.5 billion by 2009.

• Siemens Medical Solutions (Malvern, Pennsylvania), working in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH; Boston), said it has developed a prototype 128-channel MRI system based on Tim (Total imaging matrix) technology. Built with Siemens Magnetom Trio with Tim 3 Tesla (3T) MRI system, the prototype is based on the 102X32 Tim architecture - 102 coil elements integrated in 32 independent radio frequency (RF) channels - that has been expanded to 128 independent RF channels and coil elements. The principles and potential applications of 128-channel MRI scanning are being evaluated at MGH, with initial findings showing the potential to exceed current standards of image resolution and parallel imaging, with up to a 25-fold increase in speed. The newly developed prototype 128-channel 3T MRI system is designed to be suitable for clinical and research imaging, especially in cardiology and advanced neurology where speed and sensitivity are of the essence.

• Sontra Medical (Franklin, Massachusetts) said that it has introduced its second generation SonoPrep skin permeation device for continuous transdermal glucose monitoring and topical lidocaine delivery. The next generation SonoPrep device is more portable and ergonomically friendly with improved features to provide clinician ease of use and patient comfort. New to the system is a digital display that monitors system and patient treatment status. Also new is a removable battery that allows customers to recharge backup batteries for heavy use conditions.