Amphenol Alden Products Helps BÂRRX Medical Bring Barret's Esophagus Technology to Market

Amphenol Alden Products Company, a leading manufacturer of electronic interconnect solutions, has been tapped by BÂRRX Medical to design and manufacture the lightweight, easy-to-use and use-limited handpiece of its award winning HALO360 therapeutic ablation device. Amphenol Alden engineers designed an integrated connector and cable assembly that delivers ruggedness, assuredness and safety. The Halo's unique handpiece seamlessly pairs a rugged cable assembly to an overmolded version of Alden's proprietary Pulse-Lok® auto-latch circular connector. A miniature programmable e-prom chip and custom printed circuit board embedded in the Pulse-Lok connector housing detects the number of handpiece uses and electronically disables the handpiece after its specified number of uses is reached.

I think we're at our best when we collaborate with our customers to develop hybrid cable and connector solutions like this one that combine voltage and signal in a compact, cost effective package

Brockton, MA (PRWEB) November 9, 2007 -- Amphenol Alden Products is proud to help the 2007 Medical Design Excellence Award winning BÂRRX HALO360 fight esophageal cancer -- one of the fastest growing and most fatal cancers in the United States. The innovative HALO360 delivers targeted bursts of powerful current to pre-cancerous esophageal tissue through a simple endoscopic outpatient procedure. This revolutionary new therapy has been proven to prevent the development of esophageal cancer in over 98% of patients.

The HALO360 system features a balloon catheter surrounded by specialized radio frequency electrodes. Once positioned within the esophagus, the HALO360 operator uses a foot pedal to inflate the balloon catheter and bring its RF electrodes into contact with the diseased tissue. The HALO360 generator delivers quick bursts of energy to the catheters' electrodes, killing the diseased tissue. The pre-cancerous cells killed by the procedure slough harmlessly off the esophageal walls and the body replaces them with healthy tissue.

BÂRRX designers tapped Amphenol Alden to design the lightweight, easy-to-use and use-limited HALO360 handpiece. Amphenol Alden engineers designed an integrated connector and cable assembly that delivers ruggedness, assuredness and safety. The Halo's unique handpiece seamlessly pairs a rugged cable assembly to an overmolded version of Alden's proprietary Pulse-Lok® auto-latch circular connector. A miniature programmable e-prom chip and custom printed circuit board embedded in the Pulse-Lok connector housing detects the number of handpiece uses and electronically disables the handpiece after its specified number of uses is reached. This intelligent connector technology ensures that the handpiece is only used for one ablation procedure. The Pulse-Lok connector also provides the operator audible and tactile confirmation that the cable and handpiece is fully engaged.

"We are happy we could help bring this therapy to market," says Chris Behning of Amphenol Alden. "I think we're at our best when we collaborate with our customers to develop hybrid cable and connector solutions like this one that combine voltage and signal in a compact, cost effective package," Behning continues.

For additional information about Amphenol Alden connector and cable assembly solutions please contact Chris Behning or visit www.aldenproducts.com.

About Amphenol Alden Products:
Amphenol Alden Products Company is a leading manufacturer of performance-engineered connectors and cable assemblies based in Brockton, Massachusetts. Alden is best known for its signature line of Pulse-Lok® auto-coupling connectors, high voltage interconnects, and custom overmolded cable assemblies.

About BÂRRX Medical, Inc.:
BÂRRX Medical, Inc. develops treatment solutions for Barrett's esophagus. Its first product, the HALO360 Ablation System, uses a balloon-based electrode to ablate Barrett's tissue circumferentially within the esophagus. A newer product from BÂRRX Medical, the HALO090 Ablation System, is an electrode system that is mounted on the end of an endoscope, allowing the physician to treat focal areas of diseased tissue. Both HALO Systems provides uniform and controlled therapy at a consistent depth, which can remove Barrett's esophagus and allow the regrowth of normal cells. Both systems are cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are commercially available. Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., BÂRRX Medical, Inc. is a privately held company. Additional information about BÂRRX Medical, Inc. and the HALO Ablation Systems is available at www.barrx.com.

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