Five million Americans are affected by heart failure and approximately 400,000 new cases in the U.S. are diagnosed each year, according to the Heart Failure Society of America — that figure quadruples globally, and many do not know they have a heart failure condition until they are hospitalized.

New technologies adopted by cardiologists not only improve patient care but expand the role of these physicians. Whether it's stenting a carotid artery or viewing real-time ultrasound images at the bedside, today's cardiologist can solve more problems than just those of the heart.

The long-standing standard of care for patients with carotid artery disease was surgery and/or medical management. In August 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration changed all that when it approved the first carotid stenting system, called the RX ACCULINK Carotid Artery Stent System and RX ACCUNET Embolic Protection System by Guidant.

Dead is dead — everyone knows it, especially physicians. And what’s dead can’t be recovered; or can it? Startling ...