February 24, 2011 – A percutaneous microwave tissue ablation (pMTA) system will be unveiled at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) in Vienna, Austria, March 4-7. The Accu2i pMTA system, from Microsulis Medical is cleared for use in Europe, the United States and Canada.

Alongside the Accu2i, Microsulis will feature case studies from key centers using the system.

February 22, 2011 – More than 29 IHE Integration profiles were successfully certified at the IHE North American Connectathon in Chicago. The announcement from Medweb came at the 2011 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMMS).

February 21, 2011 – A cardiac computed tomography (CT) report engine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to save physicians' time, to present instant feedback on their interpretation and to vastly reduce time to diagnosis.

The C saves physicians time, presents instant feedback on their interpretation and vastly reduces time to diagnosis.

February 21, 2011 – Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center in Arizona is the first hospital in the southwestern United States to implant a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-safe pacemaker. This represents a major technological breakthrough for patients who need MRI diagnostic scans, which can damage older style pacemakers or cause serious health complications.

February 21, 2011 – Two drug-eluting coronary stent systems have been launched in India. Boston Scientific’s Promus Element everolimus-eluting stent system and Taxus Element paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system incorporate the same novel platinum chromium (PtCr) alloy.

They also have the same stent design and advanced catheter delivery system.

February 21, 2011 – The first patient has been enrolled the DESSOLVE II study to support CE mark for a coronary stent that uses a bioresorbable drug polymer. The MiStent drug-eluting coronary stent system (MiStent DES), by Micell Technologies.

February 21, 2011 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an endoprosthesis device for use on a lower profile delivery system. The Gore Viabahn Endoprosthesis with Heparin Bioactive Surface, from W.L. Gore and Associates, is designed to percutaneously treat peripheral artery disease by relining the native vessel.


In the world of endovascular devices, the rule is no longer one size fits all. The recent increase in the variety of stents for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) offers the physician of a patient with coronary artery disease (CAD) the ability to tailor treatment to the individual, rather than tailor the patient to the therapy.



Recent advances in electrocardiogram (ECG) stress testing systems include better waveform analysis algorithms, improved connectivity with electronic medical records and wireless lead systems to untether patients from the machines. In addition, Web-based software and ECG management systems are making it possible to access ECG stress reports and waveforms from anywhere at any time.



Computed tomography (CT) offers a very important, noninvasive diagnostic tool, but the price of high image quality sometimes comes with a cost of high radiation dose. This is especially true of CT angiography (CTA), which may require imaging several cardiac cycles.


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