BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG has announced the European launch of its new, unified platform pacemaker series, Evia, and several new products to further strengthen its bradycardia portfolio. Evia pacemakers are already designed to be MRI-conditionaland BIOTRONIK is planning to launch a new pacemaker-lead system which will be MRI-compatible under specific conditions during the first half of 2010.

SonoSite’s NanoMaxx ultrasound system has just received FDA approval. The NanoMaxx system relies on SonoSite’s advanced proprietary imaging algorithms, including SonoMB and SonoAdapt to offer superior image quality in a lightweight, rugged form factor. Since it is fully portable, it can be used in several places including busy clinics, ambulances, emergency rooms and other places where ultrasound is required.

The FDA has announced the release of a draft guidance entitled “The Mammography Quality Standards Act Final Regulations: Modifications and Additions to Policy Guidance Help System 13.” The document is aimed at providing the FDA’s current view on the final regulations implementing the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 MQSA) to the mammography facilities and their personnel. Some of the points addressed in the draft guidance are:
•    General guidance regarding Additional Mammography Reviews (AMRs)
•    Previously approved alternative standards
•    Labeling of mammographic images
•    Mammographic modality and its impact on personnel experience requirements

The University of Illinois at Chicago recently unveiled this new generation magnetic resonance imaging (popularly called MRI) machine, which has a magnetic field strength more than three times that of the state-of-the-art clinical units. The world’s most powerful MRI can detect brain tumors and diseases such as Alzheimer’s even before actual symptoms appear. The FDA has approved the use of the device for certain research projects.

Positron Corp, a molecular imaging solutions company focused on Nuclear Cardiology, will be showcasing its newly developed cardiac optimized PET scanner, the Attrius, at the 14th Annual American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) annual conference in Minneapolis. The demand for Cardiovascular PET imaging is rapidly increasing as it enables the physician to provide better patient care, accurate diagnoses and the potential to reduce unnecessary procedures and radiation exposure. Joseph Oliverio, Chief Technology Officer of Positron said, “The Attrius has a small footprint, robust standard cardiovascular software package, competitive scan times and an affordable cost of entry making the AttriusTM the right choice for enhancing the capabilities of a Cardiovascular practices, while providing better care.”