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State court jury rules in favor of Merck in FOSAMAX trial

Merck & Co., Inc. today said a state court jury in New Jersey found in its favor in the Rosenberg v. Merck case, rejecting the claims of a woman who blamed her dental and jaw related problems on her FOSAMAX use.

15 Feb 2011

GW plays key role in NIH's Management of Myelomeningocele Study

Researchers at The George Washington University Medical Center played a key role in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study of a surgical procedure to repair a common birth defect of the spine, which if undertaken while a baby is still in the uterus, greatly reduces the need to divert, or shunt, fluid away from the brain. The study was published online in the New England Journal of Medicine on February 9, 2011.

14 Feb 2011

SpineSmith to rollout VisuALIF stand alone device for intervertebral body fusion of lumbar spine

SpineSmith, a Texas-based medical device company, today announces the company will begin the national rollout in March of the VisuALIF, following a successful Alpha launch.

14 Feb 2011

ArthroCare fourth quarter total revenue increases to $92.6 million

ArthroCare Corp., a leader in developing state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical products, announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010.

14 Feb 2011

UH Case Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center increases tPA use for ischemic stroke by 13.5 times

University Hospitals Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center recently reported that it has increased the use of tPA or "clot busting therapy" for ischemic stroke by 13.5 times throughout UH system hospitals since implementing the System Stroke Program. Launched in 2008, SSP sought to increase access to the lifesaving treatment for acute ischemic stroke patients in the 15 counties surrounding Cleveland.

14 Feb 2011

Surgical procedure to repair spina bifida while still in the uterus may help the baby walk after birth

More than two thousand physicians, some of the top obstetric/gynecologists in the world who specialize in maternal-fetal medicine, especially high risk pregnancies, gathered today for their annual meeting in San Francisco to begin four days of intensive research presentations. Presentations each year at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting -, represent major findings in reducing high-risk pregnancies and complications.

11 Feb 2011

FDA grants Stryker 510(k) clearance for MDM X3 Mobile Bearing Hip System

Stryker Corporation's Orthopaedics Division today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance for its MDM X3 Modular Dual Mobility Mobile Bearing Hip System. MDM X3 is an addition to the company's portfolio of next-generation technologies designed to minimize the risks traditionally associated with hip replacement surgery and address a broader patient population, including both primary and revision total hip arthroplasty candidates.

From Stryker 11 Feb 2011

Orthovita receives 510(k) clearance to market Vitoss BA Bimodal Bone Graft Substitute

Orthovita, Inc., an orthobiologics and biosurgery company, announced today that it received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market Vitoss BA Bimodal Bone Graft Substitute as a non-structural bone void filler for use in the extremities, pelvis and posterolateral spine.

10 Feb 2011

Globus Medical's Pivot system infringes Medtronic patents, confirms US Appeals Court

Medtronic announced today that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed that the Pivot system offered by Globus Medical infringes two patents owned by Medtronic.

10 Feb 2011

New research: Motorcycle helmets appear to reduce cervical spine injury

Motorcycle helmets, long known to dramatically reduce the number of brain injuries and deaths from crashes, appear to also be associated with a lower risk of cervical spine injury, new research from Johns Hopkins suggests.

10 Feb 2011

New study: Fetal surgery for spina bifida greatly improves child's mobility

Performing delicate surgery in the womb, months before birth, can substantially improve outcomes for children with a common, disabling birth defect of the spine. Experts at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia co-led a new landmark study showing that fetal surgery for spina bifida greatly reduces the need to divert fluid from the brain, improves mobility and improves the chances that a child will be able to walk independently.

9 Feb 2011

UW research receives Keck Foundation grant to restore lost brain function using neurochips

Tiny, implantable computers that would restore brain function lost to disease or injury is the goal of University of Washington research recently funded by a $1 million, three-year grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation.

9 Feb 2011

The Arthritis Society awards $3.5 million grant for new research and training

Canada's largest non-government funder of arthritis research has announced more than $3.5 million for new arthritis research and training.

9 Feb 2011

Study finds link between sleep duration and colorectal adenomas

An inadequate amount of sleep has been associated with higher risks of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and death. Now colon cancer can be added to the list.

9 Feb 2011

Motorcycle helmets reduce spine injuries after collisions

8 Feb 2011

SANUWAVE Health raises $4,102,660 from exercise of Options

SANUWAVE Health, Inc., an emerging medical technology company focused on regenerative medicine, announces that it has raised gross proceeds of $4,102,660 from the exercise of Options that were issued as part of the sale of Units to accredited investors during 2010. The Options had an expiration date of January 31, 2011.

7 Feb 2011

Integra LifeSciences launches Integra Allograft Cancellous Sponge

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp announced today the launch of Integra Allograft Cancellous Sponge, a compressible bone graft composed of 100% cancellous bone. The sponge-like handling characteristics of Integra Allograft Cancellous Sponge allow it to absorb fluids like saline, blood or bone marrow aspirate.

7 Feb 2011

North Shore-LIJ begins patient enrollment in epilepsy research study

In the United States, epilepsy affects nearly one million women of childbearing potential and whether there is increased infertility in women with epilepsy is presently unknown. People with epilepsy have been reported to have fewer children, however, the specific factors contributing to this lower birth rate are unknown.

5 Feb 2011

Dermatologists offer preventative tips to minimize pesky skin problems caused by plants

What may start as a seemingly harmless day of gardening or yard work can quickly take a turn for the worse when common plants make their mark on the skin, causing a host of mild to even severe skin reactions. That is why dermatologists are arming outdoor enthusiasts with preventative tips to keep these perils of the great outdoors at arm's length.

4 Feb 2011

ConforMIS receives FDA 510(k) clearance for iTotal CR Knee Replacement System

ConforMIS has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to commercially market its iTotal® CR Knee Replacement System. The iTotal CR is the only true patient-specific system available for patients who would traditionally receive a standard total knee replacement (TKR).

4 Feb 2011