Bracco Imaging announced that the first echocardiography imaging procedure with Lumason was performed in May at Morristown Medical Center, part of the Atlantic Health System, in New Jersey. This is the first administration after the development of the agent (sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres) in the United States and approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The announcement was made through Bracco Imaging’s affiliate Bracco Diagnostics Inc.

Using tools that help physicians decide whether to use expensive imaging studies can help reduce the ordering of unnecessary tests, but implementation in real-world settings has many challenges, according to a new RAND Corp. study.

The Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE) is the exclusive international provider of interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, congenital heart disease and endovascular catheterization lab accreditation, and a valuable resource for asserting a commitment to the highest standards of care in invasive cardiology. Since 2011, (ACE) has reviewed the structure, internal processes, patient safety practices, and clinical outcomes of cardiac catheterization laboratories. To achieve ACE accreditation, facilities must demonstrate compliance with rigorous ACE quality standards that are based on published guidelines, expert consensus documents, and scientific data.

According to a new report from BCC Research, the global market for disposable medical sensors grew to $4.2 billion in 2014 from $3.8 billion in 2013. The market is expected to grow at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2 percent from 2014 to 2019, reaching $6.8 billion in 2019.