MD&DI Announces 32 Innovative Products Win Medical Design Excellence Awards

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - April 6, 2009) - In its April issue, published this week, MD&DI (Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry) magazine has announced the winners of the twelfth annual Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition.

Sponsored by MD&DI and organized by Canon Communications LLC, MDEA is the premier awards program for the medical technology community. It recognizes the achievements of medical device manufacturers, their suppliers, and the many people behind the scenes -- engineers, scientists, designers, and clinicians -- who are responsible for the groundbreaking innovations that are changing the face of healthcare. MDEA-winning entries excel in the areas of product innovation, design and engineering achievement, end-user benefit, and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing and healthcare delivery.

A comprehensive review of the entries was performed by an impartial, multidisciplinary panel of third-party jurors with expertise in biomedical engineering, human factors, industrial design, medicine and diagnostics. The 2009 jury selected 32 winners in 10 medical product categories.

2009 MDEA-winning products (and manufacturers) by category:

Critical-care and emergency medicine products

--  Lifepak 15 monitor-defibrillator (Physio-Control Inc.)
--  LiquiBand Optima wound-closure adhesive (Medlogic Global Ltd.)
--  ThermoSuit body-cooling system (Life Recovery Systems)
    

Dental instruments, equipment, and supplies

--  Styla MicroLaser advanced dental laser system (Zap Lasers)
    

--  UniDose glucose meter check control (Bionostics)
    

General hospital devices and therapeutic products

--  Envision E700 wound surface (Hill-Rom Co.)
--  Medigenic infection control keyboard (Esterline Advanced Input
    Systems)
--  Rad-87 pulse CO-oximeter (Masimo)
--  S3 medical-surgical hospital bed (Stryker Medical)
    

Implant and tissue-replacement products

--  InterFuse interbody fusion device (Vertebral Technologies Inc.)
--  iUni and iDuo knee resurfacing devices (ConforMIS Inc.)
--  Merlin.net patient care network (PCN) (St. Jude Medical Inc. CRMD)
    

In vitro diagnostics

--  Bactec FX microbial detection system (Becton, Dickinson and Co.)
--  Benchmark Ultra immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization
    staining instrument (Ventana Medical Systems Inc.)
--  eSensor XT-8 system for warfarin sensitivity testing (Osmetech
    Molecular Diagnostics)
--  INRatio2 blood coagulation monitor (Hemosense, Inverness Medical)
--  Spectra MRSA chromogenic plated medium (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
--  TearLab osmolarity system (TearLab Corp.)
--  True2go portable glucose monitor (Home Diagnostics Inc.)
--  Vitros 5600 Integrated system (Ortho Clinical Diagnostics)
    

Over-the-counter and self-care products

--  Bunion Aid splint (Alpha Orthotics Corp.)
    

Radiological and electromechanical devices

--  Accu-Right CT marker device (Accu-Right Correct Side Solutions LLC)
--  Aquilion One dynamic volume computed tomography system (Toshiba
    America Medical Systems Inc.)
--  NeuroStar TMS Therapy system (Neuronetics Inc.)
    

--  Lyric hearing aid (InSound Medical Inc.)
--  NuStep T5XR recumbent cross trainer (NuStep Inc.)
--  Provent professional sleep apnea therapy (Ventus Medical Inc.)
--  Whiz Freedom hygienic urine director (Jbol Ltd.)
    

Surgical equipment, instruments, and supplies

--  ClearCut Oval Burrs, ClearCut Round Burrs, and ClearCut SLAP Burrs
    (Arthrex Inc.)
--  Mic and Mic-Key introducer kit (Kimberly-Clark Health Care)
--  PolarWand endoscopic cryotherapy system (G. I. Supply)
--  Pulsar generator and PlasmaBlade disposable surgical cutting and
    coagulation devices (Peak Surgical Inc.)
    

Winning products will receive gold or silver recognition at a ceremony held June 10, 2009 during the Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East 2009 Conference and Exposition (www.MDMEast.com) at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The MDEA program is presented by Canon Communications with corporate sponsorship provided by major industry suppliers The MedTech Group Inc. and Sebra.

For more information about the Medical Design Excellence Awards -- including additional details about the manufacturers and suppliers that created the 2009 MDEA-winning products -- visit the MDEA Web site at www.MDEAwards.com or e-mail: mdea@cancom.com.

Contact Information: Editorial Contact: Dan Cutrone Canon Communications LLC (310) 445-4200