The FDA granted Ethicon Inc. an expanded indication for EVICEL Fibrin Sealant (Human), which is one of the first fibrin sealants available as an adjunct to hemostasis for use in surgery, when control of bleeding by standard surgical techniques is ineffective or impractical.

Cheetah Medical Inc. said the FDA cleared for marketing the Reliant, a portable cardiac output monitor that provides a noninvasive window to cardiac and hemodynamic function.

A new line of functional and comfortable tracheostomy tube holders that are offered with designs for babies, kids and teens is being introduced by Dale Medical Products Inc. of Plainville, MA

Dale PediPrints Tracheostomy Tube Holders feature the new PediDucks, PediStars and Blue designs for babies, kids, and teens which are printed onto latex-free neckbands that are moisture repellent and ensure a snug fit. Providing fastener tabs that are shaped to easily fit into the flange of any size trach tube, these trach holders have rounded hook-and-loop back tab fasteners for sizing.

BD Diagnostics said it received clearance from the FDA for the BD GeneOhm StaphSR assay, which the company says is the first test to rapidly and simultaneously identify two deadly healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) - Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - from patients with positive blood cultures.

Terumo Interventional Systems offers the AZUR Peripheral HydroCoil Embolization System for the occlusion of blood vessels, vascular malformations and aneurysms, extending its interventional device portfolio.

January 25, 2008 – AngioDynamics’ recently launched self-centering, tunneled hemodialysis access catheter showed better flow rates at seven weeks of use compared to competitive catheters, according to a preliminary study of Centros.

January 25, 2008 - Cheetah Medical Inc. said this week the FDA cleared for marketing the Reliant, a portable cardiac output monitor that provides a noninvasive window to cardiac and hemodynamic function.

The Reliant monitor is powered by Cheetah’s BIOREACTANCE Technology, which has been used effectively with more than 1,000 patients in various clinical settings including hemodynamic monitoring, heart failure, perioperative care, hemodialysis and stress testing.

January 25, 2008 - Medicare has increased reimbursement payment rates for EECP therapy for 2008, effective immediately for the first six months of 2008 and result in a new national average physician fee payment level of $156.16 per session for EECP therapy - an increase of 6.2 percent over the 2007 payment rate.

January 25, 2008 - The FDA informed Abiomed Inc. that the first three areas of concern regarding submission for 510(k) clearance of its Impella 2.5 circulatory support device have been resolved, plus the clinical data provided by company has been accepted by the FDA and the labeling has been agreed upon.

January 25, 2008 - The winner of the Siemens online video 'Win an MRI' contest is Lockport Memorial Hospital in Lockport, NY, winning a brand new Magnetom Essenza for their staff-produced video that demonstrated the complications and inconveniences posed to patients and physicians when a hospital lacks an in-house MRI.

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