Technology

Maquet is trumpeting the introduction of its new TEGRIS integrated OR system, which it says is characterised by its powerful and compact nature. At around a quarter of the size of its predecessor, it is a flexible and space-saving unit for use in the OR and certainly looks light years ahead of the operating environment we remember.

SpineGuard, the company with the stated mission of making spinal surgery safer, has announced that data accepted by Spine and published ahead-of-print online demonstrates that the Company’s PediGuard® device reduces spine surgeons’ radiation exposure from fluoroscopy by 30% while maintaining a 97.5% accurate placement of pedicle screws during lumbar spine fusion.

Biotronik has announced that the first cardiac resynchronisation therapy device (CRT-D) patient has been enrolled in its so-called EuroEco Trial—the European Health Economic Trial on Home Monitoring in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and CRT-D patients.

US researchers have found that the irregular heart rhythms of atrial fibrillation are caused by small electrical localised sources or “hotspots” inside the heart called focal impulses or rotors. Now they can map these rotors and ablate them with a degree of accuracy which seems to render results which are twice as good as previously achieved.

Expanding Orthopedics’ innovative pedicle screw system saw its 12 month clinical study published as an e-poster at SRS last weekend. Despite not being a comparative study, results from the ten patients suggest the device may offer earlier pain reduction and improved clinical outcomes compared with standard pedicle screws.

Spinal device company K2M has announced that its Rail 4D™ Technology will debut at the 19th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST) which is taking place right now in Istanbul,Turkey.

In a press release issued today via Globe Newswire, Mako Surgical Corp. has announced that Steven J. Nunes has tendered his resignation as MAKO’s Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing effective July 17, 2012.

TriReme Medical, Inc. has announced that it has received FDA clearance for an expanded matrix of sizes for its unique Glider PTCA balloon catheter. Glider is now approved for the treatment of lesions in the coronary vasculature in balloon diameters from 1.5 3.5mm and in lengths from 4mm to 20mm.

NeuroLogica has announced the integration of NeuroLogica’s portable BodyTom™ 32-slice CT scanner with Medtronic’s StealthStation® S7® surgical navigation system.

Cartiheal, a privately held device company developing an innovative cell-free technology for regenerating hyaline cartilage, has raised up to $10 million which it will use to accelerate the development of Agili-CTM, as well as support ongoing clinical studies.

Improving success rates after heart attacks, avoiding problems following cataract removal or robotic prostatectomy, improving accuracy in spinal fixation. And more. This week’s View From The Med points to extraordinary advances that we just take for granted.

FDA has cleared ProPep’s Nerve Monitoring System, the first real-time nerve monitoring system specifically designed for use during robotic surgery.

It’s all a bit weird. Companies issue press releases containing information about their rosy prospects all the time, but they don’t often charge you for the privilege of reading them. Tissue Regeneration Technologies obviously has other ideas.

University of Pittsburgh’s cell-free, biodegradable artery graft results in a regenerated artery in 90 days, leaving behind no trace of synthetic graft materials in the body.

One of the smaller devices featured on our pages, but nonetheless significant. Californian ophthalmic device company Glaukos has gained FDA approval for its iStent device, which relieves intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients.

Teleflex Incorporated has acquired Semprus BioSciences who’s core Semprus Sustain™ Technology for coating devices is designed to reduce the attachment of platelets and blood proteins at the device surface.