Medtronic Inc. announced new data demonstrating that simultaneously pacing the lower chambers of the heart, or biventricular (BiV) pacing with a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device, significantly improves heart failure symptoms and quality of life in a subset of heart failure patients.

Led by the launch of the Aplio 500 and Aplio 300 ultrasound systems, Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. saw a 28 percent U.S. ultrasound business growth in 2012, far exceeding the industry’s 3 percent, according to Klein Biomedical Consultants Inc.’s industry report published in April 2013.


Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a procedure traditionally used during cardiac surgeries and in the intensive care unit (ICU) that functions as an artificial replacement for a patient's heart and lungs, has also been used to resuscitate cardiac arrest victims in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Now, a novel study of this technique in the United States has been completed by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, indicating a potential role for this intervention to save patients who are unable to be resuscitated through conventional measures.
The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) 2013 scientific sessions covered the latest research and technology in electrophysiology (EP). Here are a few trends and innovative new technologies I wanted to highlight from the meeting.
 
One of the most innovative technologies discussed at the meeting was the Nanostim leadless pacemaker.

GE Healthcare has announced that all of its new computed tomography (CT) products meet the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) smart dose standard that raises the bar for CT dose management.

Data presented at Heart Rhythm 2013 show that Medtronic Inc. Lead Integrity Alert (LIA) software detected pace/sense lead issues in non-Medtronic leads at a greater rate than standard impedance monitoring alone (impedance monitoring measures the electrical continuity of a lead four times per day). The retrospective analysis, which focused on Endotak leads (Boston Scientific) and was presented by Kenneth Ellenbogen, M.D., shows that for every one Endotak pace/sense lead issue detected by impedance monitoring, the LIA software detected four cases that impedance monitoring alone missed. LIA is not currently FDA approved for use with non-Medtronic leads.

Boston Scientific Corporation reported interim data from the REDUCE-HTN clinical program, which demonstrated a significant and sustained reduction in the blood pressure of patients treated with the Vessix Renal Denervation System. Data on the first 41 subjects enrolled in the REDUCE-HTN clinical program were presented today at the annual EuroPCR Scientific Program in Paris by Joachim Schofer, M.D., of the Hamburg University Cardiovascular Center.

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association released an expanded clinical practice guideline for the management of patients with heart failure, updating definitions and classifications for heart failure and increasing emphasis on patient-centric outcomes such as quality of life, shared decision making, care coordination, transitions and palliative care.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the nation’s medical research agency and the leading supporter of biomedical research in the world, said all of its clinical programs will be effected by $1.55 billion in NIH budget cuts due to sequestration. On March 1, 2013, as required by statute, President Obama signed an order initiating sequestration. This requires NIH to cut 5 percent, or $1.55 billion, of its fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget. NIH must apply the cut evenly across all programs, projects and activities (PPAs), which are primarily NIH institutes and centers. 
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