• CardioSoft(Houston) reported the completion of two clinical studies using its new diagnostic cardiology tool, the HFQRS ECG, which measures and characterizes high frequency signals present in the QRS portion of the electrocardiogram, offering enhanced diagnostic information that supplements conventional ECG. The core technology initially was developed by researchers at the Johnson Space Center and is licensed from NASA by CardioSoft from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In the first study, involving 45 patients undergoing nuclear medicine scanning for myocardial perfusion, the HFQRS ECG correctly predicted ischemia more than nine out of 10 times. Study results were presented at the recent annual meeting of the International Society of Computerized Electrocardiology. In the second study, the HFQRS ECG performed with similar accuracy when used to assess 60 patients for the presence of cardiomyopathy. Results of this study will be presented in June at the 12th Congress of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology in Gdansk, Poland. CardioSoft said that additional investigations are under way at academic medical centers in Houston and other locations. CardioSoft is focused on developing ECG products for improved diagnosis and management of heart disease.

• DePuy Spine (Raynham, Massachusetts), a business of Johnson & Johnson (New Brunswick, New Jersey), re-ported launch of the Uniplate Anterior Cervical Plate System, a new midline screw-per-vertebral-body system for one- or two-level cervical fusion procedures. The Uniplate System consists of a semi-rigid plate only 10.5 mm wide that, DePuy said, provides stability comparable to traditional cervical plates without requiring fewer screws and thus fewer steps. The company said that the Uniplate System is the narrowest plate on the market, with a thickness of 2.3 mm, and includes a patented locking mechanism, called Tri-lobe Cam-Loc, to secure the screws. The system also includes the Universal Guide, described as an all-in-one tool that acts as a plate holder through which an awl, drill, tap and screws can be inserted. DePuy Spine’s other anterior cervical plate systems include Eagle Rigid, Swift Dynamic and Slim-Loc. Anterior cervical fusion is performed to relieve pain caused by a damaged or degenerated disc. Metal plates and screws may be necessary to support the neck while the vertebrae fuse.