Covidien (Dublin, Ireland) said it has overcame a significant roadblock to predictable ablation of soft tissue with its new advanced ablation system. According to the company, the system offers physicians predictable results regardless of the target location or tissue type. The Emprint ablation system with Thermosphere technology is designed to precisely heat and destroy diseased soft tissue (including liver, lung and kidney), and non-resectable liver tumors.

The U.S. obesity epidemic is a source of frustration in the medical community because despite current treatment options there is still a rather sizable gap of patients who are eligible for bariatric surgery but refuse to consider that option out of fear and social stigmas.