Photonics-related technologies were big winners at the 12th annual Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition. Winning products received gold or silver recognition at a ceremony held during MD&M East, a medical device manufacturing trade show at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. There were 32 total winners for 2009; the photonics-related MDEA winners for 2009 included: CATEGORY: Dental Instruments, Equipment and Supplies PRODUCT: Styla MicroLaser advanced dental laser system, manufactured by Zap Lasers of Pleasant Hill, Calif. Entry submitted by KRT Marketing of Lafayette, Calif. The Styla -- the first microlaser for dentistry, enabling dentists to perform soft-tissue procedures with little or no patient anesthetic, recession, bleeding or pain -- won a gold award in its category. CATEGORY: General Hospital Devices and Therapeutic Products PRODUCT: Rad-87 pulse CO-oximeter, manufactured and submitted by Masimo of Irvine, Calif. The Rad-87, which won a silver award in its category, is a pulse CO-oximeter with optional built-in 802.11a/b/g radio for bidirectional wireless communication with a remote monitoring and clinician notification system. It allows single-touch activation of features. CATEGORY: In Vitro Diagnostics PRODUCT: Bactec FX microbial detection system, manufactured by Becton, Dickinson and Co. of Sparks, Md. Entry submitted by Bresslergroup Inc. of Philadelphia, Pa. The Bactec FX is a microbial detection system used for growing and detecting microorganisms in clinical specimens. The system, which won a silver award, retains the fluorescent technology of its predecessor, the BD BACTEC 9000 System. Supply and design credit to Bresslergroup Inc. of Philadelphia, Pa., Crescent Industries Inc. of New Freedom, Pa., and CW Thomas Inc. of Philadelphia. CATEGORY: Radiological and Electrochemical Devices PRODUCT: Aquilion One dynamic volume computed tomography system, manufactured and submitted by Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. of Tustin, Calif. The Aquilion One system reduces diagnosis time from hours or days to minutes. It can image up to 16 cm in a single rotation, and show dynamic movement. CATEGORY: Radiological and Electrochemical Devices PRODUCT: Accu-Right CT marker device, manufactured and submitted by Accu-Right Correct Side Solutions LLC of Los Angeles. The Accu-Right CT marker device, a safety innovation that labels the right side in computed tomography images with a capital letter R to distinguish it from the left side, took a silver award in its category. This recyclable CT accessory may reduce wrong-side surgery. Supply and design credit to ProAction Products of Van Nuys, Calif., HLB of Chicago, VIP Rubber and Plastic Products Inc. of La Habra, Calif. The full list of winners is available at: www.devicelink.com/expo/awards/awards/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 – responsible for the groundbreaking innovations that are changing the face of health care. Winners are selected based on product innovation, design and engineering achievement, end-user benefit and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing and health care delivery. The awards program is organized by Canon Communications LLC and sponsored by MD&DI (Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry) magazine, with corporate sponsorship provided by major industry suppliers, The MedTech Group Inc. and Sebra. Laura S. Marshall laura.marshall@laurin.com