Medtronic plc announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to begin an investigational device exemption (IDE) pivotal trial to evaluate the Symplicity Spyral renal denervation system in patients with high blood pressure (hypertension). Renal denervation is a minimally invasive procedure intended to regulate the activity of nerves that lead to and from the kidney, which plays an important role in managing blood pressure. The SPYRAL HTN Pivotal Trial is part of the broader SPYRAL HTN Global Clinical Program, a multi-phased clinical study strategy aimed to establish the safety and efficacy of renal denervation to lower blood pressure.

April 13, 2018 — Medical advice about implanted cardiac defibrillators obtained via an online message board appears to ...

French medical technology company CorWave announced it has been awarded almost $3.5 million in financing for its R&D program NovaPulse in the Silver Economy category. This is part of phase 2 of France’s Concours Mondial d'Innovation or Worldwide Innovation Challenge.

Medtronic plc announced one-year results from the CRYO4PERSISTENT AF study of ablation with the Arctic Front Advance Cryoballoon to isolate the pulmonary veins in patients with symptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). The Arctic Front Advance Cyroablation System is not approved for treating persistent AF in the United States.

Abbott today announced the initiation of a clinical trial evaluating long-term outcomes of patients who undergo stent implantation guided by optical coherence tomography (OCT) compared to angiography. The trial (ILUMIEN IV) is the first large-scale randomized global study using Abbott's OCT imaging in patients with high-risk, complex coronary artery disease. Patients in the study will be randomized to either OCT-guided or traditional angiography to guide placement of one or more Xience everolimus-eluting coronary stents.

University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute has officially opened the APOLLO trial, implanting the first Intrepid transcatheter mitral valve replacement system in the study. Alan Markowitz, M.D., and Guilherme F. Attizzani, M.D., performed the procedure, the first in the state of Ohio.

YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) and the American Heart Association (AHA) are combining efforts to help more people better manage their blood pressure. Beginning this spring, more than 100 clinics participating in the Target: BP initiative will be able to refer qualified patients to enroll at no cost in the YMCA’s Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program.

April 5, 2018 — Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology (DAIC) magazine received the 2018 Jesse H. Neal Award for Best ...