• 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.

• Endologix (Irvine, California) reported that it has been granted approval by the Canadian Regulatory Agency, Health Canada Therapeutic Products Directorate to begin marketing its Powerlink System. Powerlink is an endoluminal stent graft for the minimally invasive treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The system is a unibody self-expandable device, with a frame made of stainless steel alloy covered with an ePTFE graft. The Powerlink System is also approved in the U.S. and is marketed to select European countries through a distribution agreement with Edwards LifeSciences AG.

• Mentor (Santa Barbara, California) reported the launch of its new IsoStrand technology for use in conjunction with the Isoloader, the automated needle loading and physics workstation for prostate brachytherapy treatment. Automating the stranding process at the touch of a button, the IsoStrand provides safe, efficient material handling with optimal clinical flexibility. The IsoStrand technology enables brachytherapy practitioners to continue the clinical shift towards intra-operative planning and the demand for real-time seed stranding and loading.

• Royal Philips Electronics (Andover, Massachusetts) reported introduction of its “smallest, easiest-to-use, most mobile” HD ultrasound system. The HD3 high-definition system provides grayscale and color Doppler imaging with one-button image optimization, Cineloop review, Tissue Harmonic Imaging, an adjustable flat panel monitor, and analysis packages and measurements for a wide variety of exams, the company said. Like its “premium” ultrasound systems, the HD3 features a broadband digital beamformer that captures and preserves more tissue information than conventional narrowband systems, and its wide dynamic range and digital focal tuning provide exceptional sensitivity and detail resolution, Philips said. It has also been designed with an intuitive interface, simple controls and a self-paced training CD. Single-control image optimization also makes it easy to capture a quality image based on common settings for a wide variety of patients and helps improve image consistency between exams. The small, cart design of the HD3 allows quick access to multiple transducers, scanning supplies and necessary peripherals. The HD3 can also store images and reports to convenient recordable CDs or connect to DICOM-compatible patient information and image archiving networks. The company said that first customer deliveries of the HD3 system will start in 3Q05.

• Vapotherm (Stevensville, Maryland), a developer of high-flow oxygen therapy, reported recent publication of three pending U.S. patent applications. The first patent relates to the Vapotherm Patient Delivery Tube. The delivery tube enables maintenance of breathing gas temperature and humidification, while minimizing rainout. In addition, the technology eliminates the need for heated wires within a patient breathing circuit. The second application publication covers the Vapotherm Low Flow Vapor Transfer Cartridge, used in the neonatal and infant population. This specialized cartridge allows for optimal conditioning of gases delivered at lower flows. The final application publication relates to an invention of Dr. Owen Bamford, involving the reduction of the work of breathing.