Laser sheaths used for EP device lead extraction.
Spectranetics laser sheath being used for EP device lead extraction.

Cardiac rhythm device reliability and the approach to managing complications associated with these devices have recently been the topic of numerous medical and nonmedical publications.

July 21, 2010 – The Advancing Patient Safety Coalition sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this month, urging the agency to immediately issue rules on unique device identification (UDI), which have been three years in the making.


In addition to the FDA-cleared Gore Helex and the AGA Amplatzer transcatheter devices for atrial septal defects (ASDs), there are several others in development or already cleared for use outside the United States.

July 20, 2010 – The final results of the landmark TRUST Trial (Lumax-T/Lumos-T Safely RedUceS RouTine Office Device Follow-up), which show wireless remote monitoring of implantable cardiac devices offers earlier detection of potenial cardiac problems, were published in the July 27 issue of Circulation.

The Amplatzer transcatheter occluder can help seal holes in heart.
Cardioform Septal Occluder, PFO closure, PFO, ASD occlusion, hole in heart
The Gore Helex can help seal a hole in heart.

Transcatheter structural heart repair devices deployed in the cath lab have largely replaced open-heart surgery as the therapy of choice. Percutaneously deployed septal occluders make it possible to repair atrial septal defects with better outcomes, fewer complications, faster patient recovery and lower health care costs.

July 20, 2010 — A $5 million loan was granted for the development of a new percutaneous mitral valve repair device.


There is no consensus about whether atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis should be stented or treated medically. There are strong opinions on both sides and clinical data up to now is heavily debated. Many see the trials that could have answered this question as flawed.

Outside the United States, transradial artery access is used in 50-90 percent of percutaneous interventions over femoral access, while U.S. usage rates are less than 5 percent. However, a patient safety advocacy organization is attempting to accelerate radial access adoption through education and speaking with lawmakers in Washington.

July 20, 2010 – Rcadia Medical Imaging recently presented five studies demonstrating the potential of its COR Analyzer System to help rule out significant coronary artery stenosis in patients at low to intermediate risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing coronary computer tomography angiography (CTA).

July 20, 2010 – New dual source CT technology allows a radiation dose of as low as one millisievert (mSv) for computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans, Siemens announced last week at the 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) in Las Vegas.

Subscribe to
© Copyright Wainscot Media. All Rights Reserved.
Subscribe Now