• A-Life Medical(San Diego), a provider of advanced natural language processing-(NLP) based solutions – which have the ability to read and understand electronic text just as a human does – has released its pathology coding solution for medical billing services through its Actus Application Suite. The Actus Workstation allows coders to work from home or office by securely routing the physician note and patient demographic data via the Internet. After the medical coder has reviewed the physician note and results, the billing information is automatically uploaded to the organization’s billing system. All physician notes, patient information and billing information are then electronically archived. NLP has the ability to read and understand electronic text just as a human does. The company reports that Actus has been installed in more 300 sites nationwide.

• Bioring reported that it has received the CE mark for its Kalangos biodegradable rings used in valvular repair and that it has begun marketing the product by setting up a distribution network in all countries where the product is approved. Chairman and CEO Raymond Andrieu called the Kalangos “a breakthrough in valvular repair. It offers a remarkable solution in pediatric cardiac surgery as well as in adult surgery and avoids standard anti-coagulation treatment.” He said it would be a large advance in developing countries where most congenital and valvular pathologies are located and where anticoagulation treatment is costly and difficult to implement. In developing countries, he predicted it might be the first ring to be implanted with a surgical robot. The company also reported receiving ISO 9001-2000 and ISO 13485-2003 approvals.

• Biosense Webster (Diamond Bar, California) launched the Cartomerge Image Integration Module for diagnosing heart arrhythmias. The Cartomerge enables electrophysiologists to create 3-D electroanatomical maps that are registered with computed tomography (CT) or MRI images. Merging the CT/MRI image with the Carto XP System 3-D map gives electrophysiologists a more precise view of the heart. The Cartomerge Software Module, used with the Biosense Webster Carto XP Electroanatomical Navigation System, allows physicians to accurately locate and map arrhythmias. The Cartomerge module offers electrophysiologists image registration in three steps: importing the CT or MRI image, processing the image on a radiology or Carto XP System workstation, and registering the images. Additional benefits include full DICOM 3 compatibility, minimal point acquisition, new tools for procedure planning and targeting, and improved speed of the system.

• Collagen Matrix (Franklin Lakes, New Jersey) reported worldwide launch of DuraMatrix Collagen Dura Substitute Membrane, Neuroflex Flexible Collagen Nerve Cuff, and NeuroMatrix Collagen Nerve Cuff at the meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (Rolling Meadow, Illinois) held last month in New Orleans. DuraMatrix features high conformability of the membrane combined with mechanical strength, enabling implantation either as an onlay or as a sutured graft and facilitates implant resorption with host tissue regeneration. A large-scale rabbit study and a clinical study have been conducted in support of the DuraMatrix product. Neuroflex and NeuroMatrix are collagen-based tubular matrices for the repair of peripheral nerves. Neuroflex is the only type I collagen-based tubular matrix with a kink-resistant property, useful in joint applications in the wrist and finger regions. NeuroMatrix is a straight collagen nerve guide similar to other tubular matrices. Both products are implanted using an entubulation technique. Collagen Matrix develops collagen-based extracellular matrices for tissue and organ repair, and regeneration. Its products are used in neurosurgery, oral surgery and wound care.