A study using a new imaging tool, optical coherence tomography (OCT), offered a new look at the composition of carotid artery disease and has the potential to alter how physicians understand and treat the disease, a leading cause of stroke.
Although cardiovascular disease is largely avoidable through lifestyle modifications, it remains the nation’s number one cause of death. While annual wellness exams offer physicians the chance to advise patients on modifying cardiac risk factors, that advice can easily get lost given the amount of information covered during a routine check-up.
“Once patients have survived cancer, they don't die from cancer, they die from heart disease. Cardio-oncology is about making sure that doesn't happen," said Juan Carlos Plana, M.D.
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C. R. Bard Inc. announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Lutonix 035 drug-coated balloon (DCB) catheter for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) after pre-dilatation, for the treatment of de novo or restenotic lesions up to 150 mm in length in native vascular disease of the superficial femoral or popliteal arteries with reference vessel diameters of 4 mm to 6mm.
October 10, 2014—Mitralign Inc. reported on the successful use of its technology to perform a percutaneous repair on a patient with tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Prof. Dr. med. J. Schofer of the Medicare Center and Department for Percutaneous Interventions of Structural Heart Disease, Albertinen Heart Center, Hamburg, Germany; and Rebecca Hahn, M.D., director of interventional echocardiography, Columbia University Medical Center / New York Medical Center / New York Presbyterian Hospital, presented at the PCR London Valves Conference and detailed the procedure—a percutaneous bicuspidization of the tricuspid valve, successfully converting a regurgitating tri-leaflet valve into a functioning bi-leaflet valve. The German regulatory body BfArM approved the patient for a compassionate use exemption, as no other options were available. The successful procedure was performed at the Albertinen Heart Center in Hamburg. The Mitralign product is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for an indication in functional mitral regurgitation. The device is not approved for sale or distribution.

October 10, 2014 — Despite ongoing commercial challenges in 2013, the global medtech industry’s financial performance held steady at the relatively low levels of growth that have become common in recent years. But even as the industry grapples with these market and regulatory pressures, it faces a potential growing challenge: the threat of commoditization, according to new findings outlined in EY’s annual medical technology report, Pulse of the industry: differentiating differently, released today.
Providing exceptional cardiovascular care for patients to achieve the best possible outcomes is the number one goal for ...
A KLAS report revealed a lack of widespread integration with EMRs continues to limit the effectiveness of order sets and care plans.
Direct Flow Medical Inc., a transcatheter heart valve innovator focused on improving patient outcomes has received the CE Mark for an enhanced transfemoral delivery system for the Direct Flow Medical Transcatheter Aortic Valve System.
The swift migration to cloud computing and data recovery services shows no signs of slowing, with half of organizations reporting they expect to boost their cloud services budgets over the next 18 months, according to a new study conducted by IDG Research Services on behalf of Sungard Availability Services and EMC Corp.
Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) is growing in popularity among cardiologists because it provides the ability ...
LoneStar Heart Inc. announced that it received the CE mark (Conformite Europeene) for its Algisyl-LVR hydrogel implant, the company's lead product for the treatment of advanced heart failure (HF).
Preventice Inc. announced improvements to its BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System that have the potential to simplify the remote monitoring experience for patients and contribute to a more efficient care delivery process when transitioning between monitoring needs for individual patients.
CardiacAssist Inc. announced that the first Protek Duo veno-venous extracorporeal life support (VV ECLS) kit was utilized Sept. 24, at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.
When performing radiofrequency (RF) ablation to treat cardiac arrhythmia, medical professionals must balance the safety ...
Stanford Children’s Health is using cutting-edge videogame technology to get parents the information they need about the complex medical procedures their children might face.
October 8, 2014 — At the recent Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting, representatives from Cardinal Health and physicians from leading healthcare institutions led discussions to help interventionalists explore the balance between innovative approaches to lowering healthcare costs and maintaining high-quality patient care.
October 8, 2014 — New updates to the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) appropriate use criteria (AUC) calculator tool will help healthcare providers in making treatment decisions for patients who are candidates for diagnostic catheterization or imaging for heart failure. The updated tool, available online or through an iOS and Android app, is now available for download.