Aspect Medical Systems (Newton, Massachusetts) reported that data presented at the New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit meeting in Boca Raton, Florida, showed that the company's brain monitoring technology was able to predict changes in suicidal ideation, or thoughts of suicide, during selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment of major depressive disorder. Aspect's technology works by analyzing the electroencephalogram (EEG), or electrical activity in the brain. Research was initiated primarily to investigate the use of Aspect's brain monitoring technology to predict treatment response to SSRI antidepressant medications. During an interim analysis of study data, researchers learned that certain brain wave patterns were predictive of new or worsening suicidal ideation. Researchers used Aspect's brain monitoring technology to obtain and analyze EEG measurements in 42 subjects prior to starting SSRI antidepressant therapy. Results indicated that Aspect's technology was able to predict with 76% accuracy which patients would experience new or more severe suicidal ideation.

Cardinal Health (Dublin, Ohio) reported the release of the Alaris Tri-Site Thermometer. The Alaris Tri-Site Thermometer features a "smart" adaptive algorithm that adjusts to the heat transfer characteristics of the appropriate body site, thus providing fast and reliable temperature predictions without dependence on the patient's age, Cardinal said. The Alaris Tri-Site comes standard with backlight, pulse timer, anti-theft protection, long cords and a three-year limited warranty. Additionally, Cardinal offers the Alaris Tri-Site Thermometer as dual integrated probes for environments where oral, axillary or rectal measurement decisions often occur at the bedside.

CompuMed (Los Angeles), a medical informatics company serving the healthcare community with diagnostic software solutions, said it presented at the recent Society for Computer Applications in Radiology meeting in Orlando, Florida, results of a clinical study comparing its digital S-ray OsteoGram against its standard film S-ray OsteoGram. The results affirm that the digital version assesses Bone Mineral Density (BMD) more efficiently than the standard X-ray version, with comparable reliability and image quality. The study's DICOM BMD results were found to correlate highly with the standard film-based system, which has been used successfully for nearly 10 years to diagnose osteoporosis for more than 140,000 patients worldwide. Over that time, the film-based OsteoGram has developed a reputation as an accurate, low-cost bone density test. The newer DICOM OsteoGram uses a digital image derived from filmless X-ray equipment to enable clinicians to perform accurate and precise osteoporosis testing. As a result, the DICOM OsteoGram can provide a similar result as a standard X-ray, but more quickly and at a lower cost.

IRIS International (Chatsworth, California), a manufacturer of automated IVD urinalysis systems and medical devices, said its StatSpin (Norwood, Massachusetts) subsidiary has initiated shipments of its new next-generation centrifuge, the StatSpin Express 3. The Express 3 has a larger capacity than the Express 2 model and represents a new platform for StatSpin enabling further application expansion in urine, blood and body fluids. Statspin Express 3 addresses critical workflow needs by providing rapid sample processing of serum or plasma. The Express 3 can separate blood in only two minutes compared with traditional centrifuges that take 10 minutes or more.

PerkinElmer (Wellesley, Massachusetts), a provider of genetic screening, drug discovery, life science research and analytical solutions, reported the launch of its BioXpression Biomarker discovery and screening platform at the American Society for Mass Spectrometry conference in San Antonio. PerkinElmer said its BioXpression Biomarker platform provides a complete solution that can speed the discovery of biomarkers through its biomarker sample enrichment technology and highly accurate mass pattern recognition approach. The BioXpression platform introduces new Proteomic Signature Technology that delivers high throughput and ultra-high mass accuracy and stability. The BioXpression Biomarker platform includes the prOTOF 2000 MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer, ProXpression carrier protein-based blood biomarker enrichment kits and BAMF technology from Predictive Diagnostics. Two new components, a MALDI calibration kit and a standardization kit, which will provide uniformity across multiple instrument platforms, were also launched at the conference.

Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, California) said it is introducing the Acuity Brachytherapy Suite, which enables doctors to deliver real-time image-guided brachytherapy treatments. Currently in use at four cancer clinics in the U.S., the suite combines a Varian Acuity imaging system with technology for planning and delivering brachytherapy treatments. Varian's Acuity imager generates 3-D images that can be used both for treatment planning, and for guiding the placement of catheters and needles during brachytherapy procedures. The company said the Acuity Brachytherapy Suite allows doctors to place catheters, acquire images for treatment planning, and deliver a treatment in as little as 30 minutes, without moving the patient room to room.