A snippet:

In a small pilot study, fasting plasma glucose levels for patients who received the duodenal-jejunal bypass liner (EndoBarrier) fell 55 mg/dL, while levels among those who had a sham procedure rose 42 mg/dL (P≤0.05), according to Christopher Sorli, MD, of the Billings Clinic in Billings, Mont., and colleagues.

But differences in this measure of glycemic control did not remain significant after the 24 weeks of the study were completed. Also, the study was scheduled to run for 52 weeks but too many patients had to have the device removed because of pain or anchor migration before that time.

Read on at MedPage Today: Intestinal Sleeve May Improve Glycemic Control

Press release: GI Dynamics' EndoBarrier™ Gastrointestinal Liner Demonstrates Safety and Efficacy in Pre-surgical Weight Loss ...

Abstract in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics: Pilot Clinical Study of an Endoscopic, Removable Duodenal-Jejunal Bypass Liner for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Link: EndoBarrier Technology...

Flashbacks: EndoBarrier, an Internal Condom, Gets Positive Results in Diabetic Clinical Trial ; Eat Away, Just Don't Digest

The SmartPill GI Monitoring System, version 2.0, allows physicians to measure pH, pressure and temperature throughout the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract, providing whole gut and regional gut (gastric, small bowel and colonic) transit times, a pH profile of the entire GI tract and GI tract pressure patterns. SmartPill's ability to differentiate slow (abnormal) transit from normal transit, while providing regional transit times for both the upper and lower GI tract, is an important assessment for physicians when evaluating GI motility disorders and guiding appropriate therapy.

The SmartPill GI Monitoring System features the SmartPill Capsule, a wireless, ingestible medical device about the size of a large vitamin pill. The patient ingests the single-use SmartPill Capsule in the doctor's office and then returns to their daily activities. As the Capsule travels through the GI tract, data is wirelessly transmitted to the SmartPill Data Receiver. The SmartPill Data Receiver is later returned to the physician's office where the data is downloaded to a computer providing gastric, small bowel, large bowel, and whole gut transit times.

Press release: SmartPill Announces 510(k) Release for Evaluation of Constipation ...

Product page: SmartPill GI Monitoring System ...

Flashbacks: FDA "Green Light" for Sale of SmartPill ; Fastastic Voyage: Smart Pill to Expand Testing

A snippet from the interview:

MassDevice: Tell us about the procedure. It's a minimally invasive device?

Will Rutan: I don't know what the classification is for minimally invasive, but I would say it's a class below that. The product goes through an existing opening, the anus, and the whole procedure takes place within two inches of the anus. It's under direct visualization by the doctor. It's a one-time treatment that takes 45 minutes, either under general anesthetic or conscious, but it's a same-day procedure and the patient can return to normal activity within 24 to 48 hours. There's generally no post-operative discomfort and any discomfort can be handled with aspirin or Tylenol.

Read on at MassDevice...

Link: Mederi Secca procedure...

Link @ BBC...

(hat tip: Engadget)

The WallFlex Biliary RX Stent is designed to offer the benefits of prior-generation stents, such as the industry-leading WALLSTENT(®) Endoprosthesis, while incorporating new features to accommodate a range of anatomical and clinical requirements. Based on extensive research and physician feedback, the WallFlex Biliary RX Stent employs a platinum-cored Nitinol construction designed to deliver on three critical components: radial force, flexibility and radiopacity. The Platinol™ Wire provides greater flexibility - 30 percent more than the WALLSTENT Endoprosthesis - to help the stent conform within tortuous anatomies. The enhanced full-length radiopacity offered by the Platinol Wire and the reconstrainable delivery system are designed to allow for more precise stent placement, while the radial force of the WallFlex Biliary RX Stent is designed to maintain patency and resist migration....

TheWallFlex Biliary RX Stents also feature a closed-cell construction designed to resist tissue ingrowth(2), looped ends intended to reduce the risk of tissue trauma, and flared ends to help reduce the risk of stent migration. The proprietary, durable silastic polymer (Permalume(®)) covering of the fully and partially covered stents is designed to reduce the potential for tumor ingrowth. In addition, the WallFlex Biliary RX Stent incorporates an integrated retrieval loop for removal during the initial stent placement procedure, which can be used in the event of incorrect placement.

Preliminary results from Dr. Petersen's study were reported at United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW) in 2008. Results showed that the fully covered WallFlex Biliary RX Stent yielded technically successful placement, low rates of re-intervention (two percent) and recurrent biliary obstruction, and minimal occurrence of migration (two percent) and complications. With 98 percent of patients meeting the primary endpoint of clinical palliation of the biliary obstruction until completion of follow-up, study results suggest that the fully covered WallFlex Biliary RX Stent may successfully palliate most patients with malignant distal biliary obstructions.

Also presented at UEGW were preliminary data on a 70-patient WallFlex Biliary RX partially covered stent study led by Primary Investigator Guido Costamagna, M.D., Head of Digestive Endoscopy at Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome. Preliminary results of the study demonstrate that the partially covered metal stent may palliate most patients with malignant biliary obstructions.

Press release: Boston Scientific Announces FDA Clearance and U.S. and European Availability of WallFlex® Biliary RX Covered Stents...

Product page: WallFlex® Biliary RX Stents...

Video below the fold demonstrating the features of the WallFlex Biliary RX:

-- PillCam SB is used by physicians to evaluate patients and detect small bowel abnormalities, such as obscure GI bleeding, iron deficiency anemia, suspected Crohn's disease, suspected small intestinal tumors, polyposis syndromes, as well as in suspected or refractory malabsorptive syndromes, such as celiac disease.

-- The Agile Patency System is an accessory to the PillCam video capsule intended to verify adequate patency of the gastrointestinal tract in patients with known or suspected strictures prior to administration of the PillCam video capsule. Clinical situations in which physicians may wish to confirm patency include suspicion of strictures due to Crohn's disease, chronic NSAID use, tumors and radiation enteritis.

PillCam capsule endoscopes are ingestible video capsules that enable physicians to visualize distinct portions of the GI tract. Patient friendly in nature, PillCam endoscopy typically is used on an outpatient basis and has been clinically validated, as evidenced by more than 1,000 peer-reviewed publications. To date, more than 1,000,000 patients worldwide have benefited from Given Imaging's PillCam capsule endoscopy.

Previously PillCam SB and Agile were indicated for children 10 years and older. PillCam SB is cleared for the visualization of the small bowel mucosa and may be used as a tool for the detection of abnormalities of the small bowel.

Press release: Given Imaging's PillCam(R) SB and Agile(TM) Patency System Cleared for Use in Young Children...

Product pages: PillCam SB; Agile Patency System...

More from Globes...

From the manufacturer:

Crospon has addressed the need for a GERD-focussed diagnostic platform by developing an integrated solution which facilitates real-time imaging of the lower esophageal sphincter in less than 10 minutes. The EndoFLIP® system constitutes a set of 16 electrodes that sit within a balloon catheter which is attached to a data recorder with a touch screen. This series of electrodes is capable of measuring resistance or impedance to calculate cross-sectional areas at different points along the balloon. At the commencement of the procedure, the deflated balloon catheter is attached to a prefilled syringe, which is inserted into the syringe pump on the front of the EndoFLIP® tool. Subsequently, the deflated balloon is then passed trans-orally or trans-nasally to the gastroesophageal junction whereby it permits a challenge test to the lower esophageal sphincter to determine its functionality.

The scientific principle behind EndoFLIP®’s implementation is impedance planimetry. This is a technique that can measure cross-sectional area electrically which in turn enables 16-slice display images. This display shows the changes in the estimated diameters of sphincteric regions in the body in real time, thereby permitting a real time image of the geometry in vivo of the human esophagus to be obtained. Crospon has submitted an application to the FDA for EndoFLIP®’s clearance in the US market. The company has already received CE mark certification from the National Standards Authority of Ireland.

Video below fold demonstrating the placement of the device:

During an EUS procedure, the endosonographer inserts an endoscope, which has a small ultrasound transducer at its tip, through the patient's mouth into the esophagus, facilitating imaging from within the GI tract. EUS also enables tissue sampling through fine needle aspiration (FNA), a safer and less invasive alternative to open surgical biopsy. Under ultrasound guidance, a special needle inserted in the endoscope collects cells from targeted sites.

Cook Medical's EchoTip Ultra with HDFNA is a single-use, disposable needle intended for sampling of targeted submucosal GI lesions through the accessory channel of an ultrasound endoscope. The needle surface is dimpled with a high-definition pattern that greatly improves its visibility on an ultrasound monitor. This highly echogenic design provides increased assurance that the needle tip is within the target. With traditional EUS-guided FNA, multiple passes are usually necesary in order to get an accurate sample; with the enhanced visibility of EchoTip Ultra HDFNA needles, specimens can be obtained with potentially fewer needle sticks.

EchoTip Ultra with HDFNA has all the advantages of the original EchoTip Ultra products, with an integrated sheath adjuster that makes the needles compatible with a full range of echoendoscopes and an ergonomically designed handle integrated with a nitinol stylet for precise needle control, stability and flexibility. The safety lock ring easily slides and locks at the desired needle extension and a "Zero" reference mark indicates the needle's complete retraction within the sheath. In addition, EchoTip Ultra's metal Luer lock provides a secure, stable platform for performing EUS procedures.

Press release: First High-Definition Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Technology Enhances Diagnostic Procedures...

Product page: EchoTip® Ultra Endoscopic Ultrasound Needles...

Here's what the company tells Medgadget about the new features in the latest release of the Digital Lightbox scheduled for this summer:

The new Video-input feature allows the integration of data on the Digital Lightbox, when it is located in the OR, from sources like micro-, endo- and arthroscopes; and video signals can be streamed from the OR and displayed on the Digital Lightbox when it is positioned in surgeons' offices or meeting rooms. This feature extends the range of application into new medical subspecialties, strengthening the value of Digital Lightbox as a core multi-disciplinary platform for hospital information networks.

When version 1.0 came to the market, a number of customers wanted the Digital Lightbox in rooms dedicated for teaching, patient education, tumor boards and internal meetings. The new External Display-out feature makes it possible to connect the Digital Lightbox to one or more additional displays or projectors, in or outside the room. This makes it more versatile for use in situations when large groups of medical experts come together and the even the 30" display of the Digital Lightbox isn't big enough.

Digital Lightbox also serves as the viewing display and remote control for VectorVision flex, combining an image-guided surgery platform with large-scale viewing, and fast data access and manipulation.

Here's a company video demonstrating the system:

Product page: Digital Lightbox

Flashback: Digital Lightbox Brings Minority Report to The OR (No Precognition Capabilities)

Some features from the product page:

Excess moisture is wicked away from your skin to keep you dry and cool, no matter what you’re doing.

Scrubs shouldn't leave you feeling restricted or confined. Endura™ scrubs move with your body and help maximize your gait and pace. In addition, the Maximum-Motion™ sleeve allows your shirt to stay tucked in even when you reach and stretch.

Our advanced, synthetic material is breathable, flexible and helps control your heat index and perspiration.

Our scrubs offer a shirt pocket and two side flanking pant pockets to tuck away the important things you want to keep close. The deep side pockets in our pants are angled to keep items in, whether you're sitting or standing.

The smooth fabric of Endura™ scrubs feels natural and soft on the skin.

People aren’t rectangular. So instead of making our scrubs rectangular, we looked at the actual dimensions of thousands of healthcare workers. The cut of our scrubs follows the natural line of your body and gets rid of the bulky feel and appearance of traditional scrubs.

A unique snap system allows you to customize pants length and avoid tripping, falling or slipping. Elastic on the waistband, in addition to a drawstring, helps position pants where you want them.

Strategically placed ventilation zones across the middle of the back and behind the knee keep you dry and comfortable.

Even after 90 washes, EnduraT scrubs are still going strong. Stronger than a brand-new pair of the top-selling traditional scrubs, in fact*. You'll also notice minimal color loss and lasting moisture-wicking abilities. The competitor's scrubs, on the other hand, typically only last 50 washes.

The top-selling traditional scrubs lose 15% lint when abraded. EnduraT scrubs lose only 1.4%, making them the lowest linting scrub on the market.

Made of the strongest material on the market, EnduraT scrubs outlast the competition. Our advanced, synthetic material is abrasion- and tear-resistant and has the most uniform strength in both directions.

EnduraT scrubs can be washed at cooler temperatures and dry faster than traditional scrubs. This requires less energy and can result in savings to your hospital.

Product page: Endura™ Performance Apparel

Press release: Cardinal Health launches new products for the operating room