Smith & Nephew introduces new antimicrobial dressing
Smith & Nephew Wound Management has introduced Acticoat Post-Op, a silver-coated antimicrobial barrier dressing designed to help manage infection risk following cardiothoracic, orthopaedic, soft-tissue, and other surgical procedures.

The trilaminate dressing consists of a proprietary perforated nanocrystalline silver wound contact layer, an absorbent hydrocellular foam layer, and a transparent, waterproof adhesive top film (IV 3000™). The manufacturer reports that Acticoat Post-Op provides potent bactericidal activity to protect against exogenous and endogenous bacterial infection, with excellent absorption. It can be left in place for up to 7 days to provide continuous antimicrobial activity while potentially reducing costs associated with multiple dressing changes.

According to the manufacturer, Acticoat provides bactericidal activity against multiple strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other tough pathogens that cause increasing concern in the postoperative patient.

For more information, visit www.smith-nephew.com.

DePuy launches new shoulder system
To give surgeons a new option for helping patients with end-stage cuff-tear arthropathy (CTA), DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., has launched the Delta Xtend Reverse Shoulder System. According to the manufacturer, the new design reduces the risk of scapular neck erosion and fosters preservation of healthy bone tissue to aid in rapid recovery, while optimizing shoulder range-of-motion.

The implant is designed so that the ball portion is attached to the scapula and the socket is placed at the upper end of the humerus. Reversing the anatomy of the shoulder and using the healthy deltoid muscle can aid in restoring pain-free shoulder function in end-stage CTA patients and can help them return to their daily activities. The new design may help preserve healthy bone tissue and improve recovery.

The Delta Xtend System is a total, semiconstrained shoulder arthroplasty that reverses the normal relationship between the scapular and humeral components. Moving the scapulohumeral joint center of rotation medially and inferiorly increases the deltoid lever arm as well as the deltoid tension, allowing the muscles of the deltoid group to compensate for rotator cuff deficiencies.

The Delta Xtend humeral stem is designed for cemented fixation. The glenoid component is cementless with four screws for primary fixation and hydroxyapatite (HA) coating for secondary fixation. The Delta Xtend is not recommended for patients who have bone disease, deficiencies in the scapula, or for patients who do not have functioning deltoid muscles. For more information, visit www.depuyorthopaedics.com.

Ivivi Technologies issues “Call for Papers”
Ivivi Technologies, Inc., a leader in noninvasive, electrotherapeutic technologies, has issued a “Call for Papers” for the second annual Science of Electroceuticals™ Symposium (SOE 2). The event, scheduled for Nov. 9, 2007, in New York City, will bring together thought-leaders in the scientific discipline of Electroceuticals™, which uses highly refined pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) for researching the noninvasive treatment of numerous medical conditions and diseases.

SOE 2 welcomes contributions from researchers in numerous fields and specialties, given the multidisciplinary and collaborative nature of this paradigm-shifting approach to noninvasive electrotherapeutic intervention. Papers for this year’s conference should be submitted by Sept. 10, 2007, in Word (.doc) and/or Power Point (.ppt) files to SOE2@ivivitechnologies.com. Accepted submissions will be announced on Sept. 28. For more information, visit www.ivivitechnologies.com.

ReGen Biologics responds to FDA request
ReGen Biologics has recently responded to the FDA’s request for additional information regarding the company’s December 2006 510(k) premarket notification for its collagen scaffold device.

“The FDA had a number of questions and requests for additional data to support its review of substantial equivalence for the ReGen collagen scaffold,” commented Gerald E. Bisbee Jr., PhD, chairman and chief executive officer of ReGen Biologics. “Based upon recent meetings with the FDA, we believe this submission, together with previously submitted information, responds fully to FDA questions and provides sufficient information to support a clearance decision,” Dr. Bisbee continued. “We expect to continue our support of the FDA’s review and will provide an update as soon as we have more definitive information.”

For more information, visit www.regenbio.com.