• 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.

• 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.

• Phonic Ear (Petaluma, California), a manufacturer of hearing systems, said it has received FDA clearance for its Front Row Active Learning Systems, which improve speech intelligibility in classrooms for hearing impaired and normal hearing children. Phonic Ear said it is the first and only wireless technology developer to earn this clearance for these systems. Front Row Active Learning Systems compensate for classroom noise, gently amplifying and clarifying teachers’ and students’ voices, essentially giving every student a front row seat. The system includes a small, lightweight wireless microphone for the teacher, one to four small speakers, and a hand-held, pass-around microphone for the students.