October 20, 2008 – At TCT last week Abbott announced two-year data from 30 patients in its ABSORB clinical trial, demonstrating its bioabsorbable drug eluting stent successfully treated coronary artery disease and was absorbed into the walls of treated arteries within two years, leaving behind blood vessels that appeared to move and function similar to unstented arteries.

October 20, 2008 - Concentric Medical Inc. today launched the Merci Distal Access Catheter, or DAC, which provides neurointerventionalists easier distal access and enhanced support during minimally invasive procedures in the brain.

The company said it is also a valuable tool when using the Merci Retrieval System to remove thrombus in patients suffering an ischemic stroke.

October 20, 2008 - Cardiac Science launched Quinton Q-Tel RMS 3.1, a new and simpler electronic reporting system that reportedly allows caregivers to focus more time on patients.

The system is said to reduce the amount of paperwork common to cardiac rehabilitation programs and makes data transfer to hospital information systems (HIS) and electronic medical record (EMR) systems easy.

At TCT 2008, Datascope Corp. highlighted its Sensation 7 Fr. inter-aortic balloon catheter and the CS300 IABP with IntelliSense, which combine fiber-optic speed with automatic in vivo calibration for faster time to therapy, faster signal acquisition, and faster adaptation to rate and rhythm changes.

At TCT 2008 AGA Medical Corp. highlighted its self-expanding AMPLATZER Muscular VSD Occluder for complex ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair in patients considered to be high-risk for standard transatrial or transarterial surgical repair.

FlowCardia Inc., a medical device company developing a portfolio of endovascular devices for the treatment of coronary and peripheral chronic total occlusions (CTOs), highlighted its CROSSER 14P, CROSSER 14S and CROSSER 18 CTO Recanalization Catheters at TCT 2008.

Vascular Solutions' Jiffy Wire, an 80 cm 0.035-inch specialty guide wire, was launched in July 2008 and was featured at TCT 2008.

The Jiffy Wire offers the benefits of both a straight floppy tip and a 3 mm J-tip in one double-ended guide wire. The 80 cm working length and stiff shaft of the Jiffy Wire provides control and eases wire manipulation for access procedures, while the 10 cm graduated transition tips facilitate atraumatic access and device placement, the company said. The coils of the Jiffy Wire are pre-coated with a smooth PTFE coating.

October 2008

The Cordis Aquatrack Hydrophilic Guide Wire is designed to facilitate access to the most tortuous anatomy.

The Ostial Pro Stent Positioning System is designed to facilitate precise stent implantation in coronary and renal aorto-ostial lesions, eliminating the guesswork when deploying a stent at the “true” ostium of the vessel.

Morris Innovative offers the FISH (Femoral Introducer Sheath and Hemostasis) Device that combines one sheath as both an introducer and closure device.

Subscribe Now