• Abbott Diabetes Care (Alameda, California), said it has received FDA 510(k) clearance to market the FreeStyle Connect blood glucose monitoring system in the point-of-care setting, such as hospitals and medical clinics. The company said the system would be available this month. FreeStyle Connect measures glucose levels using a very small blood sample size (0.3 micro liter), which Abbott said is the smallest sample size required of any point-of-care blood glucose monitoring product on the market. The device uses a technology based on coulometric measurement, an electrochemical technology that measures virtually all of the available glucose in the blood sample, making it ideal for measuring a small sample size. Its accuracy has been tested in three clinical studies. The company added that the FreeStyle Connect also is the fastest point-of-care blood glucose monitoring system available, providing results within an average of 15 seconds. Results are not affected by substances such as aspirin, acetaminophen, gentisic acid, uric acid, vitamins, and many over-the-counter drugs. FreeStyle Connect also is designed to seamlessly interface with any open point-of-care data management system. Abbott Diabetes Care is a division of Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, Illinois).

• Beckman Coulter (Fullerton, California) has introduced Hemoccult ICT, an immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) used for detecting fecal occult blood as an aid in colorectal cancer screening. Calling it the latest addition to its “market-leading Hemoccult product family,” the company said Hemoccult ICT “offers higher clinical sensitivity than traditional, guaiac-based tests, without compromising specificity for lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.” The test requires no drug or dietary restrictions. Noting that the American Cancer Society recommends regular colorectal cancer screening for persons past the age of 50 and for those at average risk of developing colorectal cancer, Beckman Coulter said studies have shown that more than half the more than 80 million Americans over age 50 have not been screened. “This type of test is critical in helping physicians determine whether further diagnostic tests, including diagnostic colonoscopy, are required,” said a company official.

• Eastman Kodak’s (Rochester, New York) Health Group has introduced new medical imaging and information systems designed to enhance efficiency and improve patient care by offering faster, more accurate diagnostic results. The new products unveiled at the American Healthcare Radiology Administrators annual meeting include a digital imaging system and software that the company said improves image analysis and information management. The products include the Kodak Directview CR 975 System, a computed radiography system that provides better visualization than prior systems for areas of the body that are traditionally difficult to image, according to the company. It said wait times may be shortened due to the CR 975 system’s rapid processing of digital images. Also introduced was a new Kodak radiology information system designed for outpatient imaging centers that the company said streamlines the scheduling of patient exams and provides tools for better utilization of employees and imaging equipment. It said the information system also expedites the delivery of reports and images to referring physicians.

• Medstrat (Downers Grove, Illinois) said it has received FDA 510(k) clearance to market its orthopedic picture archiving and communications system (PACS) software, echoeSYSTEM. Medstrat said echoeSYSTEM PACS users view patients’ radiological studies on workstations locally or across computer networks at widely distributed locations, including on a practice’s intranet or remotely via extranet or Internet connections. echoeSYSTEM PACS automates offsite data backup for disaster recovery of archives and simplifies HIPAA conformance by practices, the company said. It said the application allows orthopedic specialists and sub-specialists to “readily collaborate on complicated decisions while avoiding extra office visits by patients or physicians, thus improving the quality and efficiency of clinical practices.” The echoeSYSTEM workstation software, echoeSTATION, allows user access from virtually any network-accessible PC.

• Power3 Medical Products (The Woodlands, Texas) said it has obtained the exclusive worldwide license to patents and technologies for early-detection screening tests, identified protein biomarkers and drug targets for cancer patients’ resistance to drug therapy. The technology was developed through joint collaboration between Power3 Medical and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston). Dr. Ira Goldknopf, chief scientific officer at Power3, said, “By utilizing our very sensitive and reproducible proteomic methods with definitive patient samples, we discovered a series of proteins whose concentrations in the bone marrow aspirate samples, taken from chronic myelogenous leukemia patients before treatment, demonstrated a consistent correlation with whether the patients subsequently responded to the treatment with a particular drug.”

• Siemens Medical Solutions (Malvern, Pennsylvania) has received FDA 510(k) clearance for the Arcadis Avantic, a new mobile C-arm system. The new mobile surgery C-arm is best suited for advanced imaging requirements in trauma and spine surgery, general surgery and urology, orthopedic surgery and pain management, gastroenterology and vascular surgery. The Avantic has 20 kW of power – the strongest in the industry, according to the company – up to 250 mA output and a 13-inch image intensifier. The new design also features reduced weight and smaller footprint requirements, Siemens said. A compact, swiveling operating panel and color-coded brake and control elements enable easy system movement and operation, according to the company. The product is based on syngo, Siemens’ intuitively operated software platform for different modalities. The Arcadis Avantic is expected to be ready for delivery next month.