Cypher stent approved for heart attacks CORDIS has received CE Mark approval for its Cypher Select Plus sirolimus-eluting coronary stent for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).
This new indication for the stent follows the first randomised and multi-centre clinical study to assess the efficacy and safety of the stent in heart attack patients. The study – called the Typhoon Trial – showed that Cypher Select Plus reduced the risk of target vessel failure by almost half in heart attack patients relative to a bare metal stent.
Christian Spaulding, Professor of Cardiology at the Assistance Publique-Paris University Hospitals, said: “No other drug-eluting stent has this level of clinical data support in the setting of primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.”
Over 3000 patients have been treated over nine randomised trials to assess the efficacy and safety of the stent, with all showing a significant reduction in the incidence of repeated revasularisation at one year with no stent thrombosis.
Last October, Cordis, a Johnson & Johnson company, presented new data that showed the introduction of drugeluting stents can offer improved clinical outcomes while reducing healthcare costs.
For further details, visit www.cordis.com.
| A new Contour for blood glucose monitoring  BAYER HEALTHCARE has launched a new Contour blood glucose meter, the latest in its line of products designed to simplify life with diabetes.
Contour, which was unveiled at the 44th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Rome, is the only meter that offers patients the flexibility to choose either ‘basic’ or ‘advanced’ levels of testing – allowing them to keep the management of their diabetes as simple or as specific as they wish.
New personalised features in the advanced setting include programmable testing reminders and pre- and post-meal markers that provide information on how a meal can affect blood glucose. Bayer comments that this feature will be particularly helpful for self-adjusting insulin users. The advanced setting also allows users to set their own high and low blood pressure glucose targets, improving their diabetes management.
“A basic component for diabetes management is blood sugar control,” said Dr David Martin, European Diabetes Care Division of Bayer Healthcare. “To simplify monitoring of blood glucose is a win for both patients and healthcare providers.”
Bayer Healthcare Diabetes Care has also introduced the Microlet 2 lancing system, which will be included with the Contour system. Microlet 2 has been redesigned to simplify testing and has a large release button, smooth silicone-coated lancets and a reduced puncture force.
Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com. | Microwave technology speeds up ablation COVIDIEN HAS LAUNCHED ITS EVIDENT™ microwave ablation system, a powerful new tool to help clinicians ablate soft tissue.
Evident is the first microwave ablation system to be made available globally. It is intended for coagulation of soft tissue during percutaneous, laparoscopic and open surgical procedures.
Microwave energy emanates from the feed point of the radiating section of the Evident antenna, causing coagulation of the tissue. The system then creates heat by generating friction through the vibration of water molecules. There is no current flow through the patient, eliminating the need for grounding pads.
This system allows surgical oncologists, interventional radiologists, hepatobiliary surgeons and other medical specialists to perform percutaneous, laparoscopic or open surgical soft tissue ablation. The Evident microwave ablation system is also faster than other forms of ablation, taking 10 minutes or less.
“Microwave technology has allowed me to treat patients with larger ablations and more quickly compared to radiofrequency,” said Anton Bilchik, M.D., Medical Director of the California Oncology Research Institute and Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA School of Medicine. “This system provides physicians with efficient and fast ablation.”
To find out more, go to www.covidien.com. | Elekta offers Compact radiation therapy  ELEKTA HAS RECEIVED CE MARK CLEARANCE to distribute Elekta Compact™, its low-energy solution for radiation therapy.
The new system’s ultra-compact design makes it more accessible to clinicians who want to provide their patients with optimal radiation therapy care. The Elekta Compact’s patient clearance means that patients receiving radical breast cancer treatment can be treated with both arms raised while supported on a breast board. In addition, a range of accessory mounts and custom or standard blocking trays are available for more conformal techniques.
“We are pleased to offer this treatment option to our customers, completing our range of linear accelerators with a system suitable for small bunkers and developing markets,” said Peter J. Gaccione, Elekta Vice President – Global Sales Initiatives. “Elekta Compact’s modular design makes it not only upgradeable, but capable of delivering advanced radiation therapy, such as performing stereotactic treatments or conformal therapy. For countries needing to rapidly increase treatment capacity or where new Cobalt units are being considered for purchase, Elekta Compact is the ideal treatment system. Alternatively, in markets where clinically installed Cobalt unit replacements for new low-energy linear accelerators are being considered, then once again Elekta Compact is a perfect fit.”
For more information, visit www.elekta.com. | Lilly launches insulin pen in UK KWIKPEN™, Eli Lilly’s latest prefilled insulin delivery device for diabetics requiring insulin as part of their treatment regimen, has been launched into the UK market.
The device, which allows patients to dial and deliver insulin quickly, easily and conveniently, completes Lilly’s insulin device portfolio – which already includes the HumaPen® brands Luxura™, Luxura HD™, Memoir™ and other prefilled pens. Pharmacists are encouraged to advise patients that KwikPen™ does not replace Lilly’s existing pre-filled pens, which will remain available on prescription.
According to Lilly, KwikPen™ delivers insulin with a smooth injection at a low pressure; while its design, featuring a short thumb reach at high doses, means that patients with different levels of dexterity will find it easy to inject. The device also reduces insulin wastage because users can dial their dose one unit at a time, allowing the pen to be disposed of as soon as all the insulin has been used.
Over 2 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes, and nearly 800,000 of these use insulin.
For more information, visit www.lilly.co.uk.
 | APPROVALS ROUND-UP Swemed Sense needle: Vitrolife has received CE Mark approval for its new needle for the collection of human oocytes, Swemed Sense. The Swemed Sense oocyte aspiration needle is designed with a thinner front part and tip to minimise tissue damage, bleeding and pain.
Tetra Bladder Monitor System: Urodynamix Technologies’ worldwide distribution partner Laborie Medical Technologies has received CE Mark approval to market the Tetra Bladder Monitor System in Europe. Tetra is a non-invasive diagnostic medical device based on Urodynamix’s near infrared spectroscopy technology.
K2M spinal treatments: K2M has gained CE Mark clearance for its spinal devices. The K2M portfolio encompasses a full array of products developed to treat complex spinal conditions, including the Range spinal system, the Pyrenees cervical plate system and the Aleutian spacer systems.
MarrowMiner System: StemCor Systems has received the CE Mark for its MarrowMiner System, a minimally invasive device used to harvest adult stem cells from the pelvis. It represents a next-generation technology for use in bone marrow transplants, for accelerating bone healing in spinal fusions, and in other orthopaedic procedures. | |
Subscribe