• Aperio Technologies (Vista, California), a provider of microscope slide scanners and related software in the field of digital microscope slide imaging, reported that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued the company patent No. 7,035,478, titled "System and Method for Data Management in a Linear-Array-Based Microscope Slide Scanner." Aperio's ScanScope scanners create a digital image of an entire microscope slide at giga-pixel resolution in minutes.

• Canon U.S.A. (Lake Success, New York) said it showcased the latest addition to its family of portable digital radiology (DR) systems the Canon CXDI-50C at the Society for Computer Applications in Radiology Show held last week in Austin, Texas. The CXDI-50C lightweight DR system provides filmless image capture for a range of radiographic applications, including trauma and bedside exams. The large imaging area and portable design allow the system to be especially useful with patients who have limited mobility and for capturing images at angles that are difficult to set with fixed devices, the company said. Featuring Canon LANMIT (Large Area New-MIS Sensor and TFT) detector technology, the system delivers high-quality diagnostic images efficiently with minimal X-ray exposure to patients. The portable DR system consists of a Canon Amorphous Silicon Flat Panel Detector and a Cesium Iodide scintillator, and has network capability.

• Cardiac Science (Bothell, Washington), a provider of advanced cardiac monitoring and external defibrillation products, reported that the FDA has granted the company 510(k) regulatory clearance to market a new resting electrocardiograph, the Atria 6100. The company said its new electrocardiograph delivers the highest level of clinical performance while incorporating technology to streamline clinical workflow, resulting in timely, high-quality, and accurate electrocardiogram results critical for patient care. The Atria 6100 will be marketed under both the Burdick and Quinton brands. It offers all of the features of the company's traditional electrocardiographs with the additional benefit of advanced communications and storage features. The Atria 6100 includes options for both wired Ethernet applications and wireless 802.11 communications. The device features a new large color display for easy preview of electrocardiograph information, and storage for more than 150 patient records. Additionally, interpretive models include a pacemaker algorithm.

• EKM (San Diego), which develops knowledge management solutions for the government and scientific sectors, reported the introduction of a new version of Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) LIMS Made Simple and Affordable. With its built-in audit trails and electronic signature functions, LABTrack LIMS can help laboratories meet FDA and EPA compliance requirements. Developed by using the latest Microsoft .NET development tools, users need only a browser to make use of all its features. LABTrack LIMS works with the Microsoft SQL Server relational database and supports simultaneous users. LABTrack's security system ensures that only authorized users gain access to data. When integrated with the LABTrack Electronic Laboratory Notebook, LABTrack LIMS offers a unified environment across all corporate departments.

• Medical Services International (Edmonton, Alberta) said that it has completed testing on its latest development of the VScan Malaria test kit and the kit is ready for market. The new kit is the first to test for all four types of malaria. The VScan rapid test kit is a single use test for the screening of HIV 1&2, hepatitis B&C, tuberculosis, Dengue fever, West Nile, syphilis and prostate cancer.

• NuGEN Technologies (San Carlos, California), which develops RNA amplification and labeling systems, reported the release of an application note detailing results of a U.S. government lab study in which NuGEN's Ovation Biotin system provided increased speed to results and higher specificity of hybridization on GeneChip probe arrays starting with as little as 50 nanograms of human whole blood total RNA. The study demonstrated the Ovation system yielded a significantly higher percentage of genes called present. Since the Ovation system generates cDNA rather than cRNA, hybridization to the DNA content on the Affymetrix GeneChip array results in greater specificity. The Ovation system enables researchers to amplify RNA from whole blood and hybridize the target without the need for globin reduction. This significantly reduces experimental time and the amount of bias introduced to the sample, the company said.

• Synova Healthcare (Media, Pennsylvania), a subsidiary of Synova Healthcare Group, reported that the Fem-V Vaginal Infection Test will be introduced at the 54th annual clinical meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which begins Saturday in Washington. Fem-V is an over-the-counter, non-invasive diagnostic test developed to assist women in the diagnosis of vaginal infections, directing them toward the appropriate treatment for the condition. For the millions of American women who experience vaginal infections annually, this novel, easy-to-use, at-home test found within a unique pantiliner design, will help determine if an over-the-counter treatment may be considered for symptoms, or if the user should seek treatment from a healthcare professional.