• Boston Scientific(Natick, Massachusetts) reported that the FDA has approved extending the shelf life of its Taxus Express2 paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system in the U.S. to 12 months from the current nine months. The decision was based on data submitted by Boston Scientific to the FDA that demonstrated the performance of the Taxus system – in particular the drug content, drug degradation profile and drug-release mechanism – was maintained within FDA-approved specifications at 12 months. Boston Sci said the new approved U.S. shelf life for the Taxus is longer than any competing product. The extended expiration date applies to all sizes of the Taxus system for sale in the U.S. The company said it would immediately begin updating labels to reflect the 12-month expiration date. The shelf life for the Taxus system outside the U.S. remains unchanged at 18 months.

• Ciphergen Biosystems (Fremont, California) reported that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued Ciphergen U.S. patent No. 6,881,586, directed to methods of rapidly purifying proteins. The methods involve using ProteinChip chromatographic arrays integrated with SELDI-TOF-MS detection to rapidly identify “on-chip” conditions for purifying a protein for applications including protein identification. Using a range of ProteinChip array chromatographic surfaces and wash conditions, scientists can quickly identify those combinations that optimize target protein purification conditions. Scientists can then translate these on-chip conditions into a column chromatography protocol for purifying the protein at lab scale. The company said this method greatly aids in providing rapid protein sequencing as well as purification for protein-protein interaction studies, crystallography or activity assays.

• Condor D.C. Power Supplies (Oxnard, California) reported the introduction of a low-power (60 watt) AC/DC universal input power supply specifically for medical and industrial device applications. A compact footprint and full approval to both the EN60601-1 and EN60950 standards equip the new GNT60 series for uses such as single-board computers, battery chargers, small motors, pumps and solenoids, according to the company. The power supply meets all UL, CSA and EN standards. Three models are available, covering a 100 Vac to 240 Vac input range and including a Class II input. The GNT60 series also features overvoltage and short circuit protection. Leakage current is less than 200 mA at 264 Vac. Its package improves design-in time and reduces end-system compliance costs, Condor said.

• GE Healthcare (Waukesha, Wisconsin) said that two studies presented at last week’s American Roentgen Ray Society annual meeting in New Orleans indicate that patients with suspected meniscal tears or other injuries to their knees may be able to avoid arthroscopic surgery by having a 3-Tesla MRI examination instead. Researchers compared GE’s 3T MR Excite system to arthroscopy and found that 3T MR Excite had an accuracy rate of 96% in detecting meniscal tears. The MRI examinations were able to identify 108 of the 112 meniscal tears that were found when arthroscopic surgery was performed, said Tom Magee, MD, of Neuroskeletal Imaging (Merritt Island, Florida), the lead author of the studies. There were three cases in which the MRI demonstrated a meniscal tear not seen on arthroscopy, Magee noted. 3-Tesla MRI can be performed using isotropic imaging so that the knee can be seen from all angles and planes then reconstructed three dimensionally as a “virtual arthroscopy.”

• SunTech Medical (Research Triangle Park, North Carolina), a maker of motion-tolerant, non-invasive blood pressure monitoring products and technology, reported the release of the next-generation Tango stress blood pressure monitor, the Tango+. The Tango+ features upgrades including a “Stat Mode” for frequent interval blood pressure measurement in situations requiring close monitoring, a timer to track when the last reading was taken, and a Graph View that allows the clinician to easily track blood pressure trends during a test. Tango+ begins shipment this month and will soon be available in four additional languages.

• Varian (Palo Alto, California) reported the availability of the OnTrak TesTcard 9, a rapid in vitro diagnostic device used in hospitals to determine if patients entering the emergency department could be under the influence of drugs. OnTrak TesTcard 9 provides a qualitative screen for the presence of amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiaze-pines, cocaine, methamphetamines, morphine, phencyclidine, THC and tricyclic antidepressants in urine. TesTcard 9 is a single-step point-of-care test that requires no reagent mixing, timing, incubation or special handling. Results for all nine drugs are available in three to five minutes. Additionally, TesTcard 9 test results are stable for up to six hours.