Symmetry Medical Enhances Total Solutions® Offering Through Partnerships With Independent Test Laboratories

WARSAW, Ind. – March 26 , 2007 – Symmetry Medical Inc. (NYSE: SMA), an independent provider of products to the global orthopedic device industry, announced today it has partnered with two independent testing laboratories to further enhance Symmetry Medical’s Total Solutions® offering. Symmetry has partnered with Sherry Laboratories, which is located at Symmetry’s Design & Development Center (DDC) in Warsaw, Indiana, and with MicroTest Laboratories, Inc., which is located at Symmetry’s DDC facility in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Sherry Laboratories’ specialization in instrument durability, impact load cell testing and torque testing will enable Symmetry’s Warsaw DDC to identify necessary product modifications and quickly address the changes during the development cycle. Implementing the testing process into the overall manufacturing timeline is expected to reduce the time it takes to move product to market.

"Sherry Laboratories has been serving the medical device industry for nearly twenty years and is delighted to establish this unique partnership with Symmetry Medical," said Christopher LaMothe, Chairman and CEO of Sherry Laboratories. "This industry leading concept allows Symmetry Medical’s customers to enjoy the confidence of independent third party testing as an integrated part of product design, development and quality assurance."

"As the world’s leading independent provider of implants, related instruments and cases to orthopedic device manufacturers, as well as an established product design and development provider to several other segments of the medical device market, Symmetry recognizes the value that independent, on-site testing will bring to our design and development cycle. Partnering with Sherry Laboratories provides a natural extension of our value added services, which enable our customers to achieve greater speed to market," said Barry Parker, Senior Vice President, Symmetry Medical Design & Development Center.

In partnering with MicroTest Laboratories, Inc., a leader in third-party independent testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Symmetry Medical’s DDC in Manchester, New Hampshire becomes the first surgical instruments case manufacturer in the U.S. to offer services ranging from sterilization validation to cleanability testing.

"Symmetry Medical’s ability to consolidate third-party validation into the case design and manufacturing process provides a significant time-to-market advantage to medical device manufacturers. By instituting these measures, Symmetry ensures its customers the highest levels of quality and efficiency and positions itself ahead of what may soon to be a requirement throughout the industry," said Dr. Steven Richter, President and Founder of MicroTest Laboratories, Inc.

"Our ongoing partnership with MicroTest Laboratories, a world class test organization, provides Symmetry Medical with the ability to enhance its Total Solutions offerings to its multitude of medical product customers," said Michael Curtis, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Medical Products, Symmetry Medical. "The opportunity to provide total design, manufacturing sterilization and cleanability testing for all our medical products maintains our position as a supplier of choice in the medical device market."

About Symmetry Medical Inc.
Symmetry Medical Inc. is a leading independent provider of implants and related instruments and cases to the orthopedic device industry. The Company also designs, develops and produces these products for companies in other segments of the medical device market, including dental, osteobiologic and endoscopy sectors and provides limited specialized products and services to non-healthcare markets, such as the aerospace market.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in the press release regarding Symmetry Medical Inc.'s business, which are not historical facts, may be "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties, within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are predictive in nature and are frequently identified by the use of terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend," and similar words indicating possible future expectations, events or actions. Such predictive statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the loss of one or more customers; the development of new products or product innovations by our competitors; product liability; changes in management; changes in conditions effecting the economy, orthopedic device manufacturers or the medical device industry generally; and changes in government regulation of medical devices and third-party reimbursement practices. We refer you to the "Risk Factors" and "Forward Looking Statements" sections in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the Company's other filings with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov.

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Posted by Tiziani Whitmyre, www.tizinc.com

[Symmetry Medical] [Microtest] [independent testing service] [contract manufacturing] [medical device] [pharmaceutical] [surgical instruments case] [sterilization validation] [cleanability testing]

Microtest Announces Deal to Manufacture New Antisoma Drug AS1411 at Expanded Agawam, Mass. Facility

AGAWAM, MASS. – March 26, 2007 - Microtest, a Massachusetts-based contract manufacturing and testing laboratory, today signed a deal with UK-based biopharmaceutical company Antisoma to immediately begin the aseptic manufacturing of AS1411, a new drug being developed for the treatment of various cancers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Microtest will be responsible for the formulation and aseptic fill/finish of AS1411 Phase II clinical trial material supply for forthcoming phase II trials. In addition, Microtest will be responsible for stability testing of the AS1411 product.

“AS1411 is the first aptamer to be tested in cancer clinical trials. After successfully completing phase I trials, we are now advancing to phase II trials in renal cancer and AML. We are pleased to be supported in this work by expert specialist collaborators such as Microtest.” said Glyn Edwards, Antisoma’s CEO.

“This agreement provides a strategic opportunity for us at Microtest to form a strong working partnership with an important category leader like Antisoma,” said Steve Richter, Microtest’s president. “Our flexibility, skills, and manufacturing expertise seamlessly compliment Antisoma’s scientific strength and clinical trial plans.”

Based in London, UK, Antisoma is a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel products for the treatment of cancer. Antisoma fills its development pipeline by acquiring promising new product candidates from internationally recognized academic or cancer research institutions. Its core activity is the preclinical and clinical development of these drug candidates. For more information, visit www.antisoma.com.

Microtest recently expanded their pharmaceutical testing services and fill/finish contract manufacturing capabilities with a $7.5 million investment. The expansion included a new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical testing laboratory facilities and new aseptic fill/finish manufacturing facilities.

Microtest is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Based in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA, the company's expertise and flexible processes enhance product safety and security, accelerate time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. For more information, visit www.microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680.

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Press release contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, www.tizinc.com

[Microtest] [Antisoma] [AS1411] [aseptic fill finish] [pharamaceutical manufacturing] [pharamaceutical testing]

When “His” Meets “Hers” – Tips for Newlyweds on Blending Decorating Styles in a New Home

WALTHAM, MASS. – March 21, 2007 - Of the 4.6 million newlyweds who tie the knot this year, nearly 60% plan to buy a new home and 75% plan to redecorate. But while newlyweds receive lots of advice about marriage, there’s usually little offered on the intricacies of designing a new home together.

"Picture the newlyweds, as the moving van pulls away, standing amid the stacks of his and hers boxes in their new, shared residence – and each wondering how they’re going to pull it all together," said Davis Remignanti, lead design consultant at Furniture.com (www.furniture.com).

To ensure that their happy new home doesn’t become “a post-wedding house divided,” Remignanti offered newly married couples the following decorating tips towards a “blissfully blended outcome when his meets hers”:

• Relax – Don’t worry about what goes with what: Mix, don’t match. A new home, like a new relationship, is about the couple. Follow decorating instincts with pieces that suit both his and her interests and activities.
• R.E.S.P.E.C.T. – Beware of underlying emotions. She’ll trample his feelings if she trashes his well-worn recliner – a hand-me-down from Dad. Instead, both need to get creative and compromise: Give it a corner in the bedroom if it’s a “no” for the living room.
• Prioritize – Blending pieces from the past is one thing while shopping for new furniture is another, and larger, undertaking. Step one: List what’s needed most. While he may want a sleek new media center for the television, does it make sense if the couple is left to sit on a dorm-room futon?
• Budget – Be realistic in setting spending limits and work within them. Ask when shopping: Will this be a “forever” dining room or is it just a temporary solution until a future move into a larger place? Saving money now for a better selection down the road is an option, too.
• Get inspired – Research the possibilities as a couple. Get together on the couch and scan newspapers, magazines, and TV shows. Discuss friends’ homes. Find design inspiration and common ground. If she likes Cottage Style and he prefers Modern, both should rejoice upon discovering they prefer lighter wood tones and color schemes.
• Collaborate – Many couples include one décor-conscious person and one “it’s just a chair” person. While one partner may be driving most decisions, for the long-term good of the relationship, involve the other. Don’t forget - it’s his/her home, too.
• Try before you buy – Free Internet resources, like Furniture.com's Room Planner at www.furniture.com/roomplanner, offer couples the opportunity to browse, try lots of items, and see what fits where – without spending weekend after weekend driving from one store to another. Even better, once the newlyweds have created a room plan they both love, they can turn their plan into a purchase with a few clicks of the mouse.
• Keep it light – Rome wasn’t decorated in a day. Couples can remove much of the pressure by viewing the experience as an opportunity to share what they love about each other. They should focus not only on the beautiful outcome of creating a new décor together, but the bigger picture as well – starting a new life together.

“Even if a couple starts out worlds apart, there are more looks and options to chose from today than ever before, and plenty of opportunity to find common ground and create their dream home,” Remignanti said. “Of course there’s no prouder moment than when guests stop by and admire the result and he turns to her and says: ‘Well, great minds think alike.’”

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Press release contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc., www.tizinc.com

[Furniture.com] [furniture] [home furnishings] [decorating] [home] [newlyweds] [newlywed] [interior design] [furnishing] [wedding] [new home] [first home] [decorate] [interior decorator] [discount furniture] [wedding] [bride] [bridal]

Outsourcing is Answer for Pharma, Med Device Labs Struggling to Meet Unique Testing Requirements of New Combo Products

AGAWAM, MASS. – March 21, 2007 – Outsourcing is the answer for pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers struggling to meet the unique testing guidelines, practices, and regulations spawned by the development and production of the new breed of “combo products,” said Steven Richter, Ph.D., President, Microtest, Inc. (www.microtestlabs.com).

Richter made his remarks in advance of PharmaMedDevice 2007, April 24-26 in the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Richter’s company, Microtest, will be exhibiting at the event in booth number 110.

Market demand for combination, or combo, products – medical devices embedded with a pharmaceutical or biologics component – is booming. Growing at a 10 percent compound annual growth rate, the market will reach approximately $9.5 billion in 2009 according to one analyst. Pharma companies and medicals device makers are racing participate with new product introductions.

“But most manufacturers’ in-house labs are not yet ready in terms of the equipment, skills and experience needed to address the challenges of testing and validating combo products,” said Richter, whose previous industry experience included a position with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

“Many pharma labs don’t have the expertise or facilities to address the processing of a physical product through their labs – let alone the skilled personnel knowledgeable in medical device testing and succeeding such a device through the FDA maze of regulatory issues. Medical device manufacturers generally lack the drug GMP systems to handle a combo product’s pharmaceutical aspects,” Richter said. “And both face the costs of the training, time, and technology it would require to upgrade their in-house labs.”

“Given all this, it’s not unreasonable to understand why the convergence of the required resources, skill sets, and practices at in-house labs to handle combo products has been slow,” Richter said. “The solution instead, for many pharma and device manufacturers, is to outsource the testing and validation needs of combination products with an outside laboratory testing partner.”

For manufacturers, selecting the appropriate partner to outsource the lab testing of combo products is both critical and complex, and according to Richter, questions should include:

• Specific experience and track record relating not just with drugs or devices, but with combination products
• Specifics as to capacity, equipment and personnel
• Explanation of validated procedures and Best Practices
• Expertise with regulatory benchmarks and requirements
• Details of their technology platform: GMP, GLP, QSR, ISO, CMC
• Availability of dedicated, onsite project management, rather than relying on outside consultants, to manage the project
• Comprehensiveness of internal resources, without the need to subcontract
• Ability to deliver against the required timeline
• Cost effectiveness
• In-house manufacturing capabilities – an added “bonus” – that will not only provide valuable “real world” expertise to the partnership, but offer an additional manufacturing resource once approval is secured.

“As we anticipate the issuance of new FDA guidelines specific to the research, development, production, and validation of combo products, the selection of an outsourcing laboratory testing partner is nothing less than a critical element for any manufacturer’s successful development and production process of a new combo product,” Richter said.

For more information, contact Richter in the Microtest booth, number 110, at PharmaMedDevice 2007, April 24-26 in the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Or, visit the Microtest website at www.microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680.

Microtest is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Based in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA, the company's expertise and flexible processes enhance product safety and security, accelerate time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption.

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Press release contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, www.tizinc.com

[Microtest] [PharmaMedDevice] [pharmaceutical manufacturing] [contract manufacturing] [pharmaceutical testing] [fill/finish] [aseptic fill finish] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Avantis.PRO EAM solution now offers improved support for reliability centered maintenance strategies

BURLINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA – March 19, 2007 – The Avantis (http://www.avantis.net/) unit of Invensys Process Systems today announced new enhancements for its Avantis.PRO enterprise asset management (EAM) software solution. Many of these enhancements are specifically designed to provide users with better support for their demanding reliability centered maintenance (RCM) strategies.

The new release offers enforcement and validation of critical asset information required for integration with third-party root cause analysis (RCA) solutions. In addition, preventive maintenance (PM) functions have been expanded to enable analysis of forecasted labor and material requirements. Globalization and multi-site capabilities, for sharing of equipment information, PM jobs, and costing across plant locations or jobsites, have also been improved.

“Our focus on overall asset performance enables our customers to continuously improve their PM and RCM strategies and programs,” said Isauro Martinez-Cairo, director of product strategy. “Avantis.PRO 4.2 represents yet another important technology in the Invensys portfolio that we can use to help our customers improve both the utilization and availability of their industrial assets.”

Additional Avantis.PRO 4.2 software enhancements for maintenance management, MRO inventory and procurement users include:

• more comprehensive analysis and valuation capabilities for MRO inventory
• increased data capture and views of procurement information and more flexibility in approval procedures
• greater support for more efficient physical transfer of parts and materials among multiple geographies and worksites
• enhanced user authentication capabilities which allow user information to be stored in a centralized, secure manner and help meet security-related regulatory compliance requirements.

The Avantis.PRO software solution provides a key component within Invensys’ overall asset performance management strategy, which is designed to help today’s global manufacturers balance asset availability and utilization to achieve business objectives. The software offers the industry’s most comprehensive solution for total enterprise asset performance management. It brings management easy-to-access tools that help view asset performance at all levels. For more information on Avantis.PRO, contact info@avantis.net or visit http://www.avantis.net/

About Avantis
For more than 20 years, customers throughout the world have relied on Avantis enterprise asset management (EAM) solutions to improve resource productivity by driving down operating costs, minimizing the risk of unplanned downtime, and maximizing financial return on capital assets. Avantis is a unit of Invensys Process Systems.

About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys’ automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world’s largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills. For more information on Invensys’ process automation businesses, please visit www.invensys.com/ps.
The Invensys Group (http://www.invensys.com/) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

Invensys, Avantis, Avantis.PRO, Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor and Wonderware are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Posted by Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc., www.tizinc.com

[enterprise asset management] [EAM] [CMMS] [asset management software] [maintenance software]

Eventective to Profile New Event Planning Technology at ACCED-I Annual Conference

Portland, Maine – March 19, 2007 – Eventective will feature its meeting and event space search engine (www.eventective.com) at the Association of Collegiate Conference and Events-Director Annual Conference (ACCED-I) in Baltimore, Maryland, at booth #23, March 25-28, 2007.

Eventective, the world’s most comprehensive Internet meeting and event space search engine, attracts more than 25,000 visitors a day – many of whom are especially interested in the kinds of unique resources and facilities that colleges and universities can offer.

Eventective’s powerful functionality for planners has made it the most popular venue search resource on the internet. Eventective accelerates the planner’s ability to find, evaluate, and select collegiate venues. Planners have access to the following features:

• Comprehensive search functionality that allows venue search by state, city, and/or capacity
• Detailed profiles of venues, including descriptions of meeting facilities, amenities, and features, plus venue photographs and directions
• Direct email to query venue availability
• An easy-to-use tool kit that enables planners to save favorite venues, track and organize multiple events, and invite attendees
• Reviews from planners who have used venues for their events.
• Continuously validated venue and vendor listings to ensure accurate information

Learn more about Eventective March 25-28, at booth #23 at the ACCED-I 2007 Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Or, contact Eventective online at http://www.eventective.com/ or by phone: 207-253-1653.

About Eventective.com
Eventective (http://www.eventective.com), headquartered in Portland, Maine, is the Web’s most comprehensive meeting and event space search engine. With more than
25,000 visitors a day, Eventective is also one of the most popular venue search resources on the Internet.

For venues, Eventective delivers qualified leads to assist college and university facilities to better market their available resources and compete in the growing $300 billion U.S. meeting and event industry.

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Press release contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc., www.tizinc.com

[ACCED-I] [event directors] [Collegiate] [convention planning] [event facility] [event planning]
[event venue] [meeting planning] [meeting space]

NCTAF, MetLife Foundation, and WGBH Host Town Hall Meeting on Educator Empowerment for Improved Teaching and Learning

-- March 22nd Panel to Discuss Strategies to Support Student Achievement --

BOSTON – Teaching in the 21st century should look different than it did in the 1950s.

On March 22, 2007, the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF), MetLife Foundation, and WGBH will host a town hall meeting to discuss strategies to transform schools into places where great teaching and learning can thrive.

According to NCTAF, teachers leave the profession in droves because schools are stuck in an old factory-era model that fails to support a collaborative, supportive work environment. Almost half of new teachers leave the profession in five years. The problem is particularly acute in low-income communities, where one in five teachers leave each year. Principal turnover is just as alarming, with four years or less as the typical stint for many.

“Teacher and principal churn in schools undermines the ability to develop successful learning cultures because there is a constant rebuilding of staff,” said NCTAF’s President Tom Carroll. “It’s time to focus on strategies that work, especially if we are serious about retaining our best educators and improving student learning.”

The town hall meeting will also feature a WGBH-produced video that showcases Boston’s Richard J. Murphy School, followed by an opportunity to discuss this school’s efforts to improve teaching quality and student achievement.

The town hall meeting will be held Thursday, March 22, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. at WGBH, located at 125 Western Avenue, Studio A, Boston, MA. Continental breakfast will be available at 8:30 a.m.

Panelists include:

• Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria (moderator), Special Advisor for Education to Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA) ;
• Dr. Karen Mapp, Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education;
  Lynn Stuart, Leadership Coach, Atlas Learning Communities & Center for Collaborative Education;
• Mary Russo, Principal, Richard J. Murphy School; and
• Harry Gilliam, Jr., Teacher, Richard J. Murphy School

For more information, contact: Karen Abercrombie, Dir. of Communications & Public Policy Outreach, NCTAF, 202-429-2570, kabercrombie@nctaf.org.

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Posted by: Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc., www.tizinc.com

[NCTAF] [WGBH] [teacher turnover] [teacher churn] [education] [principal turnover] [educator] [retention]

Invensys Asia Pacific User Group Conference draws customers from across region to Kuala Lumpur

SINGAPORE – March 15, 2007 – Invensys Process Systems recently hosted a record number of customers at the company’s 2007 Asia Pacific Users Group Conference, January 23-26, 2007 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Approximately 250 users of various Invensys brand products – including Foxboro process control systems, Triconex safety and critical control systems, SimSci-Esscor simulation software, and Avantis enterprise asset management software – attended the four-day technical conference.

Invensys customers came from across the Asia Pacific region, including nearby Asean countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as from Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Some of the larger customer organizations represented at the conference included Brunei Shell, Petronas Carigali, Reliance Industries, China Light Power, PT Indonesia Power, PTT Chem, PetroVietnam, Sinopec, and the Chiyoda Corporation.

The keynote speakers, Mr. Wan Hassan Wan Mamat from Petronas Carigali (Malaysia) and Mr Shirasaki Yoshihiro from Chiyoda Corporation (Japan), presented industry technological and business trends. Mr. Yagnesh P. Buch from Reliance Industries (India) also presented the progress of the Reliance Jamnagar Export Refinery Project, for which Invensys was selected as process automation and control system supplier.

In addition to technical sessions where participants from across the region had the opportunity to exchange ideas and network with other colleagues to learn best practices, Invensys industry and application experts provided many different sessions covering timely subjects such as trends in automation, wireless technology, manufacturing execution systems, and enterprise control systems.

User Group Conference participants also had the opportunity to see live demonstrations of the latest Invensys technology in a large Showcase area. These included demonstrations of Invensys Performance Services (Wireless, Cyber Security, Alarm Management, Loop Management, Energy Management, etc.) plus the new InFusion enterprise control system, which is designed to help solve many kinds of business problems by providing a cost-effective solution for integrating all plant and enterprise systems (DCS, PLC, SIS, MES, CMMS, EAM, ERP, etc.) into a common application environment.

About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys’ automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world’s largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills. For more information on Invensys’ process automation businesses, please visit www.invensys.com/ps.
Invensys Process Systems’ Asia Pacific headquarters is based in Singapore. The division has major technical centers in Shanghai, Beijing, Mumbai, and Chennai, plus offices or representatives in most principal cities throughout the region.
The Invensys Group (http://www.invensys.com/) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

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Invensys, Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Avantis, InFusion, and Wonderware are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Press release contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc., www.tizinc.com

[Invensys] [Distributed control systems] [Enterprise asset management] [Process automation] [Process manufacturing] [Real-time business intelligence]

Advanced Instruments Features the Anoxomat Mark II Anaerobic System atCLMA ThinkLab 2007

-- Anoxomat Excels at Effectively Isolating Anaerobic Bacteria While Saving Consumables, Time, Effort, and Money --

HOUSTON, TEXAS, -- March 13, 2007 -- Advanced Instruments’ subsidiary, Spiral Biotech, will show the Anoxomat™ Mark II anaerobic system for the cultivation of anaerobic, micro-aerophilic, and capnophilic bacteria in clinical laboratories at CLMA ThinkLab 2007.

The Anoxomat Mark II’s automatic jar evacuation/replacement technology is an excellent alternative to the use of anaerobic chambers and gas bags currently used in clinical laboratories.

Advanced Instruments will feature the Anoxomat Mark II anaerobic system at the CLMA ThinkLab 2007 Conference & Exposition, March 24 - 27, in booth number 1103.

“The Anoxomat Mark II creates microaerophilic and anaerobic conditions quickly – delivering significant advantages for clinical laboratory managers. Moreover, managers report that the Anoxomat delivers significant savings in terms of consumables, time, effort, and money versus anaerobic jars, anaerobic glove cabinets, or CO2 incubators,” said Anthony Pappas, National Sales Manager, Advanced Instruments.

Angelika Lichtenfeld of Calgary Lab Services in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, reported saving “a considerable amount in gases – perhaps a quarter” of what the laboratory used previously.

The Anoxomat is also fast and easy to use, makes the work process more flexible, and its built-in quality assurance guarantees reliable results, Pappas added.

Dr. Hanna Wexler of the VA Wadsworth Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif., said, “Because of the way the Anoxomat jar works, I can open it up, take out a sample, and make it anaerobic again very fast.”

Benefits of the Anoxomat Mark II system include:

• Rapid achievement of anaerobic conditions, reaching anaerobiosis as quickly as one to three minutes as opposed to one to four hours for gas bags or chambers,
• Repeatable environmental conditions, with gas mixtures remaining consistent within 0.5 percent of desired values,
• Substantial cost-of-ownership savings versus the expense of consumables, pre-reduce media, and ongoing costs involved with chambers and gas bags,
• “Walk-away convenience” and ease of use due to the Mark II’s new, intuitive software and touch-screen interface,
• Automatic quality assurance programming features that ensure an airtight status, warn of pressure leaks, and bind any residual oxygen after evacuation cycling, and
• Unmatched flexibility allowing users to take plates in and out of jars and return to anaerobic environments in minutes rather than hours.

Anoxomat’s Excellence in Technology

The Anoxomat system is highly efficient and cost effective at cultivating pathogens and attaining growth performance that easily equals or exceeds that of chambers or gas bags.

Each Anoxomat cycle involves an evacuation phase, followed by replacement using an oxygen-free gas mixture. One cycle achieves 70% to 80% removal of the original atmosphere and gives a microaerophilic environment in one minute. Three cycles achieve an anaerobic atmosphere in less than 3 minutes.

A built-in quality assurance system checks for leaks before incubation. The system also checks whether the catalyst is capable of achieving the desired conditions and warns you if there's a threat of gas failure.

The resulting gas mixture stays well within 0.5% of the desired value. This high precision, combined with the well-known reproducibility of these conditions, gives microbiologists a strong tool to draw accurate conclusions from repeated findings, Pappas said.

The Anoxomat Mark II Anaerobic System is immediately available from Spiral Biotech. For more information, visit Advanced Instruments, Inc. at the CLMA ThinkLab 2007 Conference & Exposition in Houston, Texas, March 24 - 27, in booth number 1103. Or, reach Advanced Instruments or Spiral Biotech on the Web at www.aicompanies.com or by phone at 1-800-554-1620 or 1-781-320-9000.

About Advanced Instruments and Spiral Biotech
Founded in 1955, Advanced Instruments, Inc. is the world’s largest supplier of freezing-point osmometers used in clinical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology laboratories. The company is also a leading supplier of analytical instruments and test kits for the food, dairy, and industrial microbiology markets. Based in Norwood, Massachusetts, USA, the company also produces Fiske® Associates brand diagnostic instruments and operates Spiral Biotech, Inc., and Delta Instruments as wholly-owned subsidiaries.

For nearly 30 years, Spiral Biotech, Inc. has developed and supported automated microbiology systems for food, dairy, and environmental sciences. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Advanced Instruments, Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of freezing-point osmometers for clinical and research applications. Visit Spiral Biotech online at www.spiralbiotech.com.

Advanced Instruments’ products are supported by a worldwide network of direct sales people and independent distributors. Reach Advanced Instruments online at www.aicompanies.com or contact customer service at 800-225-4034 or +1-781-320-9000.

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Press release contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc., www.tizinc.com

[Anoxomat] [Advanced Instruments] [Spiral Biotech] [anaerobic system] [CLMA] [anaerobic chamber] [gas bag] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

New, Free White Paper Details Hospital Strategies for Meeting JCAHO Continuous Compliance Requirements

NEWTON, MASS. - January 30, 2007 - A new, free white paper entitled "Continuous JCAHO Compliance: Responding to the 2006 Unannounced Survey Policy within the Environment of Care" is available to help hospitals prepare for new accreditation requirements and unannounced surveys.

Drawing on studies and the direct experience of EH&E personnel managing the Environment of Care program at several large healthcare institutions, this white paper offers insight into common areas of vulnerability and offers ideas for cost-effective solutions.

Written by EH&E, a leading provider of health & safety and engineering consulting services, the white paper is available for download at: http://www.eheinc.com/jcaho.htm.

"Hospitals are well aware of the high level of activity on all fronts that precedes a scheduled JCAHO audit. With the advent of unannounced surveys, activities such as facilities inspections, document reviews, and educational programs now have to be repeated often. Healthcare organizations are trying to cope with implementing these resource-intensive preparations on an ongoing basis without potentially compromising patient care," said Jack McCarthy, President and co-founder of EH&E.

This white paper reviews the common barriers to continuous compliance EH&E found at several hospitals and the solutions that were implemented to address them. The paper will be interesting and informative to all hospitals faced with meeting the latest challenge of unannounced surveys.

To download the free white paper or for more information, visit http://www.eheinc.com/jcaho.htm.

To learn more about how to prepare a healthcare facility for an audit, attend the free EH&E webinar titled "Meeting Continuous Compliance Requirements Within the Environment of Care - A New Support System." The free webinar is March 14, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. EST, to register visit: www.eheinc.com/news_workshops/jcahowebinar.htm.

About EH&E
EH&E (http://www.eheinc.com) has provided an extensive range of environmental and engineering consulting services for over 18 years. Our team consists of more than 60 experts with an outstanding record of providing business-focused solutions for issues that affect the built environment. EH&E has a depth of knowledge and credibility unmatched in the industry and our wealth of readily-accessible information has become a powerful resource for our clients. Our new series of eH&E web compliance solutions is just the latest example of our continuing effort to provide this knowledge and information to a wider range of companies.

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Press release contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc. www.tizinc.com

[EH&E] [environment of care] [JACHO] [Joint Commission] [unannounced survey] [webinar] [hospital] [healthcare] [white paper] [whitepaper] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Accuracy of Lucid’s In-Vivo Confocal Imaging to be Evaluated for Pigmented Lesion Diagnosis Under NCI Grant

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, USA, March 12, 2007 – Lucid, Inc. has received a $1.9 million, 3-year grant from the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI) to perform a large clinical study to evaluate the efficacy of its VivaScope® in-vivo confocal microscopy technology for the diagnosis of pigmented lesions.

The study is being conducted at 5 sites including: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s facilities in New York City and Long Island; the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York; and the Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. The study will involve approximately 600 patients presenting a suspicious pigmented lesion on clinical examination.

“The need for early detection is crucial to a melanoma patient's long-term survival of this disease,” said Jay Eastman, chairman and CEO of Lucid, Inc. “This grant represents one of the steps required to bring a revolutionary medical device to the market that combines early detection capabilities with a painless, non-surgical procedure.”

Lucid’s VivaScope confocal microscopy can non-invasively image skin in-vivo with cellular resolution. This potentially permits pathologic diagnosis without the need to excise tissue. “Just as MRI and CT scans have largely eliminated the need for routine ‘exploratory surgery’, in-vivo reflectance confocal microscopy may one day eliminate the need for routine invasive skin biopsy.”

The clinical research plan is intended to demonstrate the efficacy of Lucid’s VivaScope digital imaging technology. In addition, the clinical investigators involved in the project intend to produce and submit for publication an extensive atlas of confocal images and a glossary of terms for the description of confocal images of pigmented lesions. Presently, study protocols are under development for submission to the participating medical centers’ Institutional Review Boards. The project will be completed within two years from now.

The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2006, 62,190 new cases of invasive melanoma were diagnosed in the United States, and that 7,910 deaths occurred due to the disease. According to Cancer Facts and Figures 2005, if melanoma is diagnosed and removed while the tumor is localized, the 5-year survival rate is 97.6%; however if the lesion has metastasized to either a regional or distant site, the five-year survival rate drops to 60.3% or 16.2%, respectively.

Pilot studies of the efficacy of confocal imaging for the diagnosis of melanoma, published in 2004 - 2006, demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for VivaScope images read by a panel of diagnostic readers with relatively little training (30 to 60 minutes) in confocal image interpretation.

This new study, a comparison of confocal imaging to the "gold standard" of pathologic examination of excised tissues, will be conducted at leading U.S. clinical sites and will utilize well-trained diagnostic readers,” said Eastman. “It should produce compelling clinical data for use in the Federal regulatory approval process. We believe the project has a high probability of a positive outcome,” he said.

About Lucid, Inc.
Lucid Inc., based in Rochester, New York, is a medical device and information company dedicated to creating innovative cellular imaging technology and using the Internet to securely deliver accurate, real-time VivaScope® cellular resolution images to medical professionals. When coupled with its digital VivaNetTM system, the company’s ability to image in-vivo (living) tissue will aid medical practitioners and pathologists in skin cancer screening with clarity, speed and patient comfort. For more information, visit www.Lucid-tech.com.

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Public relations contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, www.tizinc.com

[National Institute of Health] [NIH] [National Cancer Institute] [NCI] [clinical study] [VivaScope] [in-vivo confocal microscopy] [pigmented lesion] [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center] [University of Rochester Medical Center] [melanoma] [Loma Linda University]

Steve Richter, Founder & CEO of Microtest, is Appointed to Robert H Goddard Council

AGAWAM, MASS., -- March 12, 2007 -- Dr. Steven Richter, founder, president & CEO of Microtest Inc. of Agawam, Mass., was recently appointed to serve on the Robert H. Goddard Council on STEM Education, a 27-member council which will advise the state’s Board of Higher Education on STEM Pipeline Fund workforce development programs.

The Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Pipeline Fund is a workforce development initiative designed to increase student interest and teacher preparation in STEM subjects. Originally created in 2003, the Fund was recapitalized in 2006 with an additional $4 million.

The Robert H. Goddard Council includes representatives from the state’s education and business communities, the legislature, and workforce development and labor organizations, and is co-chaired by Mass. State Senator Steven C. Panagiotakos and Representative Daniel E. Bosley.

“I am honored by my appointment and am looking forward, and seriously, to my role on the Robert H. Goddard Council,” Richter said.

“The growth and success of my own company is directly rooted in the highly skilled and innovative employees, world class educational institutions, and strong state and community support of Western Massachusetts.”

“Let’s take the lessons of that success – and redouble our efforts,” he said. “Strong and ongoing state support of science and technology is a critical investment in our residents and communities, and in our state and future.”

Microtest, Inc., which currently employs more than 100, recently completed a $7.5 million expansion of the firm’s pharmaceutical and virology testing laboratories and fill/finish contract manufacturing facilities in Agawam. The company is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, biotechnology industries.

For more information about Microtest, Inc., visit www.microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680.

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Press release contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, www.tizinc.com

[Goddard Council] [Microtest] [Richter] [Agawam] [education] [economic development] [Massachusetts]

Maryland Youth Ballet Soars into the Forefront of Therapeutic Dance for Children

-- With the unveiling of its new Silver Spring Dance facility, Maryland Youth Ballet gives children with disabilities the ability to reach new heights --

SILVER SPRING, MD – March 12, 2007 – Maryland Youth Ballet’s “Music & Motion” program is giving physically disabled children the freedom to dance with a state-of-the-art overhead track system designed specifically for their needs. This is a first-of-its-kind application of technology used in health care and rehabilitation settings to give students greater mobility.

On January 2, 2007, Maryland Youth Ballet (MYB) moved into a brand new facility in Silver Spring, Maryland. The 35-year old dance center provides instruction to all levels of dancers. MYB alumni dance with some of the most prestigious dance companies in the world. MYB will celebrate its new facility at a Grand Opening celebration on March 10, with an open house for the public.

“At MYB, we want everyone to dance. MYB’s ‘Music & Motion’ program gives these children who find walking and basic motor activity a struggle the ability to really soar," said Charlie Barnett, MYB’s President. "We are proud to offer this first-of-its-kind therapeutic dance instruction.”

At the grand opening of the new facility, the Maryland Youth Ballet will unveil its state-of-the-art overhead track system that allows each physically disabled dancer to stand, walk and dance, with the equipment bearing about 75% of the dancer’s weight. The dancers are suspended with the aid of a vest sling and attached to a traverse rail system hung in the ceiling, giving the dancers complete range of motion.

Music & Motion is the innovation of MYB’s Jennifer Cox, a 30-year dance professional, and Rebecca Leonard, a licensed physical therapist specializing in pediatric physical therapy. Inspired by her own granddaughter’s desire to dance despite disabilities, Cox developed the program in 2004 to allow the children to enjoy the beauty of music and motion, and gain the benefits of the physical therapy. About 15 students have participated in the program to date.

“The most recent research in physical therapy indicates that partial weight bearing therapy is among the most promising in developing large motor skills,” said Leonard.

[View a slide show of MYB Music & Motion dance students at http://www.myb-music-and-motion.info/]

The “Music & Motion” program offers both physical and mental benefits that far exceed many of the traditional therapies available. The overhead track system gives instructors the opportunity to develop new programs and therapeutic techniques, whereas previous efforts would have been limited to the ability of volunteers who physically supported the children during the classes.

The overhead rail system that supports and allows the dancers the freedom of self-determined movement was designed by Liko Inc. (www.liko.com/na), one of the world’s leading suppliers of patient lift and transfer solutions, and was installed by Access Aid (http://www.accessaid.com/), a Maryland accessibility company.

The Liko Track System was custom designed for the MYB application, and includes six “H” shaped rail systems with a suspension strap and sling vest on each. The system is typically used in healthcare or rehabilitation setting to mobilize patients who otherwise have restricted movement due to medical conditions.

“At Liko we take great pride in designing systems that give patients and caregivers alike, the freedom to move and transfer safely within their home or medical facility,” said Gary Nowitz, Vice-President Home Care for Liko North America. “We have designed many systems for physical therapy uses and gait training, but as far as we know, this specific application of our technology is the first of its kind in the world.”

For more information on the Music & Motion class or any of the exciting programs at the Maryland Youth Ballet call 301-608-2232 or visit us on the web at http://www.marylandyouthballet.org/.

About Maryland Youth Ballet
The Maryland Youth Ballet (http://www.marylandyouthballet.org/) is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide the highest caliber of training and performance opportunities to prepare young dancers for a career in the performing arts as well as to provide classes to dancers of all ages and levels in the community. Founded in 1971 by Tensia Fonseca, MYB recently relocated to a new studio in Silver Spring, Maryland. For more information about the MYB or classes please visit: http://www.marylandyouthballet.org/ or call: 301-608-2232.
MYB alumni have gone on to careers with prominent ballet and dance companies nationally and internationally, with some MYB alumni acknowledged as among the premier dancers in the world. In addition, MYB is active in local community service efforts and in lecture/demonstrations in the Washington metropolitan area.

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Public relations contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, http://www.tizinc.com/

[Liko] [physically disabled] [disabled] [children] [rehabilitation] [mobility] [lift] [ballet] [dance] [therapy] [physical therapy] [accessibility] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

New Foxboro migration solution for Moore APACS control systems enables users to “plug in” to the latest performance-enhancing Invensys technology

- Provides cost-effective, low-risk solution for upgrading to a state-of-the-art DCS and advanced enterprise control system technology -

FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, USA – March 5, 2007 – Foxboro Automation (http://www.foxboro.com/), a unit of Invensys Process Systems, today announced that it has introduced a new family of plug-in I/A Series migration cards for Moore APACS systems. These Foxboro migration cards enable Moore users to easily upgrade their legacy APACS ACM and ACM+ control systems to advanced Invensys technology, including the latest generation of I/A Series distributed control system (DCS) and Invensys’ groundbreaking InFusion enterprise control system (ECS) technologies.

Using Invensys’ well-proven “plug in” migration approach, this DCS upgrade can be accomplished without having to replace existing field wiring, termination assemblies, system enclosures, or power supplies. Invensys replaces the old APACS input/output (I/O) modules with new Foxboro I/A Series I/O modules specially designed to plug right into the existing system racks. Thus, with proper upfront planning, database conversion, and off-line testing, the actual system switchover can be accomplished in hours, with minimal – if any – costly process downtime. To reduce engineering costs, the existing APACS per-channel configurable I/O approach is retained. This eliminates the need for complicated I/O mapping.

And to save even more on engineering and operator training requirements associated with the migration, the existing APACS ProcessSuite graphics can be re-used within Invensys’ advanced InFusion View human machine interface (HMI). InFusion View can be seamlessly layered over the new I/A Series DCS components to provide users with both a familiar HMI and an initial building block toward implementing a complete InFusion ECS.

“Invensys brings new meaning and value to the term, ‘migration.’ Not only do we make it a relatively easy, low-risk, and cost-effective proposition for users of legacy DCSs to migrate to a state-of-the-art I/A Series system to help immediately improve plant performance, we also position those same users to be able to take advantage of the latest InFusion ECS technology, which is designed to help improve overall enterprise business performance,” commented Betty Naylor-McDevitt, director of the Foxboro Automation unit of Invensys Process Systems.

The new I/A Series migration modules for APAC systems (which meet or exceed original specifications) support the latest Foxboro I/A Series system capabilities, including:

• Rugged, optionally redundant/fault-tolerant 200 Series I/O for nonstop analog, discrete, and HART digital field communications


• high-performance, optionally-redundant/fault-tolerant ZCP- and FCP-270 control processors provide the power, flexibility, and reliability needed to implement today’s demanding unit- and plant-wide process control strategies


• the new I/A Series Field Device Manager takes advantage of both EDDL and FDT fieldbus technologies to reduce configuration, commissioning, and ongoing support costs for intelligent field devices over the instruments’ entire life cycles, and


• One GB Mesh Control Network takes full advantage of proven commercial networking technologies to help ensure unconstrained performance and nonstop communications over the process control network

Using the company’s well-proven plug in migration approach, Invensys has already helped more than 400 customers around the world upgrade their legacy Honeywell TDC2000 and TDC3000, Bailey NET 90 and INFI 90, Fisher PROVOX S10 and S20, Westinghouse WDPF, Siemens Moore APACS, and Foxboro SPECTRUM and SPEC 200 systems to current Foxboro I/A Series technology.

For more information on the new I/A Series plug in migration modules for Moore APACS or other legacy systems, readers can contact their local Foxboro Automation representative, call the Invensys Customer Satisfaction Center toll-free at 866-746-6477 (508-549-2424 outside the U.S. and Canada), or visit www.foxboro.com/migration.

About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys’ automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world’s largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills.

The Invensys Group (http://www.invensys.com/) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

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Foxboro, Invensys, I/A Series, InFusion, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Public relations contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, www.tizinc.com

[Invensys] [migration] [Foxboro] [migration] [distributed control systems] [industrial automation] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

New Safe Lifting “Library” Opens Its Doors

-- Web-based repository will serve as a global clearinghouse for information about safe lifting and injury prevention practices for nurses and other healthcare workers --

Franklin, MA – March 7, 2007 – Liko, Inc., pro bono sponsor of the healthcare industry’s popular “Safe Lifting Portal” injury prevention site, has announced the addition of a new “Library” section to the site. The Safe Lifting Library is designed to facilitate access to information ranging from nursing injury research studies to contemporary articles and legislative initiatives on the broad topic of preventing caregiver injuries incurred when lifting or repositioning patients.

The primary mission of the Safe Lifting Library is to help the staff of hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities locate the background information and resources necessary to justify, initiate, and maintain safe patient handling programs.

Secondarily, the library is also geared toward meeting the needs of ancillary groups such as facility insurance providers, workers’ compensation agencies, risk management firms, and government organizations with an interest in driving down nursing injury rates. At present, according to NIOSH statistics, nurses and other caregivers in the U.S. are among the most likely to incur musculoskeletal injuries during the course of their work.

According to Brian Wright, Liko’s Vice President of Marketing and Education, “The need for information related to safe lifting is growing, not shrinking, as many more healthcare facilities struggle to get aboard the safe patient handling movement. Many times individuals are assigned the task of leading a team or gathering return-on-investment data for management, and we feel confident the Safe Lifting Library will dramatically simplify that task. While search engines are powerful research tools, they can require many hours of work to filter through the published resources and identify the most valuable items. By consolidating safe lifting citations onto a single site and making the information accessible to a worldwide audience, we thus further increase the chances that hospitals and nursing homes will be successful in their injury prevention efforts.”

The Safe Lifting Library contains listings of books, articles, and e-links, and is accessible via www.safeliftingportal.com/safeliftinglibrary.

About Liko
Liko is one of the world’s leading suppliers of patient lift and transfer solutions. The company’s products include mobile lifts, overhead ceiling mounted systems, and a variety of injury prevention solutions. For more information on the Safe Lifting Library or Liko’s sponsorship of the Safe Lifting Portal, contact Liko Inc., 122 Grove Street, Franklin, MA 02038; telephone (888) 545-6671 or (508) 553-3993; fax (508) 528-6642; or visit the Liko website at www.liko.com/na.

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Press release contact: Tiziani Whitmyre, www.tizinc.com

[Liko] [Safe Lifting] [patient safety] [hospital] [healthcare] [nurse] [caregiver] [injury prevention] [risk manager] [safety officer] [safety official] [risk management] [insurance] [library] [Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc.]

Sunnex Medical Lights Deliver Critical Illumination, Maneuverability, Ease-of-Use Demanded for Perioperative Care

-- Details at AORN 54th Congress, Booth # 1391 --

Natick, Mass. – March 7, 2007 – Sunnex will feature its line of state-of-the-art medical examination and surgical lights at the upcoming Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses AORN 54th Congress, in booth # 1391.

Sunnex medical lights, in use in leading hospitals and medical centers around the world, deliver the critical illumination, maneuverability, and ease-of-operation demanded for perioperative care.

Among the lighting solutions Sunnex will feature in booth number 1391 at the AORN Congress, March 11-15, are:

• Sunnex’s HM MedicaLight™ lamps provide bright, focused light near daylight color rendition – perfect for examination and related medical application. The 35-watt halogen light features a vented shade design which minimizes heat output, a flexible gooseneck arm, swivel joint head, and stay-cool handle for maximum maneuverability, a durable PUR sleeving to prevent drifting, a choice of mounts (mobile, table, wall or c-clamp), and optional dimmer.


• Sunnex’s HS 700/701 Series task lights feature a highly customizable design and mounting configurations for use equipment ranging from computer work stations to anesthesia machines. The compact head, and choice of a flexible gooseneck or articulating arm, in a variety of arm lengths, ensures both a brightly illuminated and unobstructed view of any work area. The high intensity 20 watt halogen bulb offers more than 2,000 hours of life.