Cardiovascular care does not occur in a single hospital setting; more often than not patients undergo a variety of tests at different locations. In order to provide the best care possible, physicians need immediate access to all patient information, no matter where, when or how it was obtained.


There is considerable interest in being able to clearly identify vulnerable plaque (VP) and research efforts are intensifying. Several invasive imaging technologies claim to detect VP, and while the link between VP identification, plaque rupture and clinical events has yet to be firmly established, progress is being made in the research.

Going into 2009, proponents of coronary CT angiography (CTA) are confident that the scan’s ever-increasing acceptance will lead to it becoming the gold standard in imaging for patients with low or intermediate risk of coronary artery disease. From a business perspective, the CTA remains a driving force in the cardiac CT market.


"Potential” can be a loaded word, especially in healthcare. Many clinicians have tagged coronary MR angiography (MRA) with the “potential” label. Despite the scan’s reported safety advantages over coronary CT angiography (CTA), as well as its superior physiologic information, coronary MRA has not gained the widespread acceptance of coronary CTA.


This summer we asked readers of Diagnostic & Invasive Cardiology to submit the names and feats of the most innovative heart hospitals in the U.S. Two of those submissions are highlighted here to explain how one significantly decreased its door-to-balloon time and how the other is separating itself from competing hospitals with outstanding customer service.

Cutting Door-to-Balloon Time

October 31, 2008 - Corgenix Medical Corp. recently said new CHARISMA trial findings published in Circulation confirm elevated urinary levels of the biomarker 11-dehydro thromboxane B2 (11dhTxB2) indicate an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiac death.

The AspirinWorks Test by Corgenix is the only FDA-cleared test that measures urinary 11dhTxB2 to accurately determine aspirin effect in apparently healthy individuals. 11dhTxB2 is a metabolite of thromboxane, the target of aspirin therapy.

October 31, 2008 - TCT India Live is a three-day symposium designed for interventional cardiologists, clinical cardiologists, vascular medicine specialists, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals from around the world who have special interests in the field of interventional and vascular medicine.

October 30, 2008 - Medtronic Inc. said today it plans to launch its portfolio of angioplasty products in the U.S. on the rapid exchange (RX) delivery system, including the Endeavor drug-eluting stent (DES), the Driver and MicroDriver bare-metal stents, and the NC (non-compliant) Sprinter balloon catheter systems.

October 31, 2008 - Surface modification and drug delivery technologies company SurModics Inc. said today it is providing advanced hydrophilic coating technology for Elixir Medical Corp’s drug-eluting and bare metal stent systems, which are designed to optimize vessel scaffolding and localized drug delivery to provide a safe and effective treatment for cardiovascular patients.

Just ahead of the expected release of clinical practice guidelines on Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) by the influential National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), Tepnel Life Sciences PLC launched a DNA test for the early detection of FH, a genetic condition that predisposes individuals to high blood cholesterol levels and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

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