December 7, 2010 – A study comparing a transcatheter ventricular assist device (VAD) to intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP) has been completed after interim analysis determined the primary endpoint was likely. The Impella, by Abiomed, significantly reduced major adverse events out of hospital.

December 7, 2010 – A new bioresorbable stent scaffold can be overinflated by more than 25 percent without cracking or crazing. New data from Arterial Remodeling Technologies (ART) show that its bioresorbable polylactic acid (PLA) stent platform is designed to avoid malapposition.


Transcatheter valve replacement, especially transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), took center stage at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2010 symposium this fall in Washington, D.C. This highlights the fact the event has significantly evolved from an angioplasty meeting of 250 interventional cardiologists in the late 1980s.

Technology in the field of nuclear cardiac imaging — single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) — has been somewhat stagnant over the past decade. However, there are some recent advancements in both radiotracers and hardware that could change this field of imaging.

As production of molybdenum-99 returns to normal with the Canadian Chalk River Laboratories reactor back online and the supply of 99m-technetium stabilizes, the nuclear cardiology community is anxiously waiting to see if procedure volumes will rebound.

December 6, 2010 – A new, alcohol free disinfectant wipe is safe for use on ultrasound transducers and probes, mammography compressor plates and other non-surgical surfaces. The Protex Disinfectant Wipe, by Parker Laboratories, eliminates bacteria, viruses and fungi with just one wipe.

December 6, 2010 - A European court has struck a blow to Boston Scientific's alleged patent infringement case against OrbusNeich. The case is viewed by OrbusNeich as an unsuccessful retaliatory litigation effort to distract the marketplace from OrbusNeich's pending patent infringement and theft of trade secret case against Boston Scientific in the United States.

December 6, 2010 – A new sleep study investigating the link between sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease will use the Somte PSG portable sleep-testing system, by Compumedics. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Sleep Study will focus on various ethnic and racial populations.

December 6, 2010 – A Windows 7-compatible version of an ECG management software system will be available in the second quarter of 2011. The Global ECG Management Software (GEMS 4.0) software, by CardioComm Solutions, will encompass the full line of arrhythmia monitoring modules.

It will also have multiple report-sending options, along with easy-to-use, customizable workflow features.

December 6, 2010 – Cordis Corp. has entered into a distribution agreement with Ostial Solutions for the worldwide distribution of the Ostial Pro Stent Positioning System.

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