November 5, 2010 – New research shows that novel drug-coated balloon technology is being adopted in niche applications throughout Europe. The research, from the Millenium Research Group, also found that the market will continue to grow as physicians increasingly use the balloons when other devices are not suitable.

November 4, 2010 – GE Healthcare has signed an exclusive collaboration agreement with West Physics Consulting to provide accreditation support. The agreement will support customers seeking accreditation from the American College of Radiology (ACR) for MRI, CT, nuclear medicine and PET systems.

November 3, 2010 – A multicenter CE-mark study has been launched for transapical TAVI system. Hendrik Treede, M.D., performed the first implantations of the system, made by JenaValve, at the Universitäres Herzzentrum Hamburg.

November 2, 2010 – Boston Scientific will sell its neurovascular business to Stryker for $1.5 billion in cash. Of that purchase price, $1.4 billion will be paid at closing, and the remaining $100 million will be paid upon commercialization of the Target Detachable Coils. Several manufacturing facilities will also be transferred to Stryker.

The first-in-man use of the Coherex WaveCrest left atrial appendage (LAA) occluder system was successfully performed recently in New Zealand, launching the WAVECREST 1 trial to evaluate the device's effectiveness. The trial is being carried out in New Zealand, Australia and several European countries and will be used to seek CE mark approval for the device.