• The Kodak Molecular Imaging Systems (New Haven, Connecticut) unit of Eastman Kodak (Rochester, New York) has introduced two new digital imaging systems for in vivo molecular imaging research in fields such as cancer, heart disease or drug discovery. The Kodak Image Station In-Vivo F and FX systems feature Kodak’s digital image capture technology for highly sensitive optical imaging of biological processes at a molecular level. The In-Vivo FX system includes a digital X-ray imaging module in addition to its optical imaging capability. Molecular imaging identifies molecular abnormalities that are the origin of disease at a very early stage, which can expedite the development of therapeutic pathways that could help cure that disease.

• Roche Diagnostics (Pleasanton, California) said the results of the ALTS (ASCUS/LSIL Triage Study for Cervical Cancer) clinical trial, which were published in the July 20 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, support the use of genotyping certain human papillomavirus (HPV) high-risk types, particularly HPV16. The company said HPV genotyping may be important to assessing the risk of developing pre-cancerous conditions or cervical cancer in women with either ASCUS (an ambiguous type of cellular abnormality formally called “atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance”) or LSIL (mildly abnormal cells formally called “low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions”) results of Pap testing. Roche provided research reagents that led to providing genotyping information for the study. Its Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test, which has received CE-mark certification for in vitro diagnostic use in the European Union, includes both the low- and high-risk genotypes.

• Siemens Medical Solutions (Malvern, Pennsylvania) said that more than 80% of clinical research published to date on cardiac computed tomography (CT) has involved Siemens CT technology, with three 64-slice studies published in peer-reviewed, medical journals. Siemens bills its Somatom Sensation 64 CT system as “the most successful” 64-slice CT system, with more than 350 installations worldwide. More than 40% of these installations include the Somatom Sensation Cardiac 64, which specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. In the published studies, results derived from 64-slice CT were compared to traditional invasive catheter angiography and intravascular ultrasound. The authors of all the articles highlight the Somatom Sensation 64’s image quality, with an isotropic spatial resolution of below 0.4 mm in all routine and cardiac scan modes, enabling what the company termed a new level of clinical confidence. Using z-Sharp Technology and a rotation speed of 0.33 seconds, the system supplies high quantitative and qualitative diagnostic accuracy for the non-invasive assessment of coronary artery stenoses, coronary plaque composition and plaque burden in a broad spectrum of patients.

• Solectron (Milpitas, California), a provider of electronics manufacturing and integrated supply chain services, said it partnered with diabetes management company Insulet (Bedford, Massachusetts) to manufacture the OmniPod Insulin Management System, which debuted at the recent American Association of Diabetes Educators meeting. The OmniPod System features fully programmable CSII with multiple basal rates and bolus dosage options, suggested bolus calculations, safety checks and alarm features. The system also incorporates blood glucose monitoring technology. Unlike current insulin pumps, which require users to manage individual components and carry a separate blood glucose meter, the OmniPod System features a fully-integrated design containing two components: the OmniPod, a small, lightweight, self-adhesive pod that delivers insulin according to pre-programmed personal basal rates and bolus dosages; and the Personal Diabetes Manager, a wireless, hand-held device that programs the OmniPod with custom-ized insulin delivery instructions, monitors the OmniPod’s operation, contains a fully integrated blood glucose meter and automatically stores patient records.

• Tecan US (Research Triangle Park, North Carolina) said that IDEXX Laboratories has developed and validated its HerdChek Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Antigen EIA Test Kit using Tecan’s Freedom EVO 150 liquid-handling platform with a Tecan Columbus Pro microplate washer and Tecan Sunrise absorbance reader. The IDEXX BSE test is an antigen-capture enzyme immunoassay for detection of the abnormal conformation of the prion protein, which has been associated with incidences of BSE in post-mortem brain tissues from affected cattle. Tecan said methods for rapid screening of post-mortem samples are essential to ensure that BSE-tainted products do not enter the market, and IDEXX’s HerdChek Test Kit has been designed for rapid identification of samples containing disease-associated PrPsc with minimal sample handling. Using Tecan’s Freedom EVO robotic sample processor with eight-tip liquid-handling arm, IDEXX can fully automate the assay for high-throughput applications, making it suitable for use in BSE eradication programs, herd management and abattoir surveillance programs.

• vasamed (Minneapolis), a developer of non-invasive, hemodynamic assessment technology, said it has made initial customer shipments worldwide of its new AcQtrac Impedance Cardiography (ICG) Non-invasive Hemodynamic Assessment System. The company said AcQtrac ICG is “the newest generation of non-invasive solutions that assess cardiovascular functioning and provide physicians with rapid, reliable results.” The AcQtrac ICG “is unique in its class since it provides a waveform ‘image’ of the heart that serves as a diagnostic aid and helpful tool in guiding drug therapy management,” said Paulita LaPlante, vasamed president.