Meta-analysis: DES reduced long-term target vessel revascularization

Drug-eluting stents are associated with significant reductions in target vessel revascularization at long-term follow-up as compared with bare metal stents implanted in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, according to results of a meta-analysis.

Un estudio sugiere que se realizarían demasiadas angioplastias

Un estudio realizado en Estados Unidos revela que uno de cada siete pacientes tratados con una angioplastia programada para eliminar una obstrucción en las arterias cardíacas no reunía los criterios para realizar la cirugía. Los investigadores señalaron que, de acuerdo con las guías, la indicación sería incierta en la mitad de los pacientes.

Boston Scientific Announces Positive Data From Lotus(TM) Transcatheter Aortic Valve Trial

Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) announces results from the REPRISE I feasibility trial, which evaluated the acute safety of the Lotus™ Aortic Valve System in patients with severe aortic valve disease. The Lotus Aortic Valve System is the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device of its kind that is designed to minimize aortic regurgitation (leaking) and is both fully repositionable and retrievable prior to release. Data presented today at the annual EuroPCR Scientific Program in Paris demonstrated successful deployment of the valve in all patients with virtually no paravalvular regurgitation after valve placement or at discharge.

Abbott Vascular (ABT) XIENCE PRIME™ and XIENCE V® Drug Eluting Stents Receive Indication in Europe for Minimum Three-Month Duration of Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced that the XIENCE PRIME and the XIENCE V® Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent Systems have received CE Mark in Europe for the use of dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) for at least three months after stent implantation in patients with coronary artery disease. This is the shortest duration of DAPT for any major drug eluting stent (DES) in Europe.

Volcano Corporation to Highlight its Leadership in Precision Guided Therapy at EuroPCR 2012

Volcano Corporation (NASDAQ: VOLC) today announced its plans to highlight its extensive product portfolio, strong product pipeline, and presentations on Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) and Instant Wave-Free Ratio Functionality (iFR) at EuroPCR 2012, a major cardiology meeting being held in Paris from May 15 18.

St. Jude Medical Continues Strong Show of PCI Optimization Technologies at EuroPCR

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ ), a global medical device company, today announced it will display a number of technologies from the company s wide array of clinical solutions and launch its next-generation PressureWire™ Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) assessment guidewire at EuroPCR 2012. There will also be a number of St. Jude Medical-sponsored percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) optimization symposia and a late-breaking clinical trial session on the FAME II trial.

Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) and Royal Phillips Electronics Announce Collaboration to Enhance Imaging Equipment Offering

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) and Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) announced a collaboration enabling Philips to sell Boston Scientific Imaging equipment in connection with its Allura Xper catheterization (cath) lab systems in territories throughout the world.

Study of First-in-Class WATCHMAN(R) Device Shows 75 Percent Reduction in Stroke Risk in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Not Eligible for Oral Anticoagulation Therapy

Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) announces results from the ASA Plavix (ASAP) Study, which studied the WATCHMAN® Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) device. The data showed a reduction in the risk of ischemic stroke by 75 percent in patients with atrial fibrillation who have a contraindication to oral anticoagulants such as warfarin. Vivek Reddy, M.D., Director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and Coordinating Investigator of the study presented results today during a late-breaking session at the Heart Rhythm Society s 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions in Boston.

St. Jude Medical Announces Results of SCD-HeFT 10-Year Follow-up Study

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, today announced results of the SCD-HeFT (Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial) 10-Year Follow-up Study at Heart Rhythm 2012, the Heart Rhythm Society s 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions in Boston. The study demonstrated implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy significantly reduces mortality for at least 11 years in patients with moderate heart failure (HF).

St. Jude Medical (STJ) Announces FDA Approval of Smaller ICD with Physician Inspired Shape

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ - News), a global medical device company, today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its Ellipse™ implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Designed with feedback from more than 200 physicians from around the world, the Ellipse ICD offers physicians unique design advancements, resulting in the industry’s smallest high-energy ICD.

St. Jude Medical (STJ) Says FDA Clears Assura Implantable Defibrillators

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ - News), a global medical device company, today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its Assura™ portfolio of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds). The new implantable defibrillators feature SecureSense™ RV Lead Noise Discrimination, an algorithm that expands the St. Jude Medical ShockGuard®Technology and offers advanced sensing options designed to reduce the incidence of inappropriate shocks for patients with these devices.

St. Jude Medical Updates Optim Lead Registry Data and Status of Riata Leads Study in Bi-Annual Product Performance Report

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, today released its bi-annual product performance report (PPR) on its website, sjmprofessional.com. The PPR updates the performance of all the company’s cardiac rhythm management devices, including actively-monitored registry data that supports the safety and reliability of the current-generation Durata® lead with Optim® insulation. The report also provides a new, expanded analysis specifically addressing the performance of the company’s high-voltage leads.

J&J New CEO’s Takeover Watch Spans Edwards to St. Jude: Real M&A

A year after J&J announced the biggest acquisition in its 126-year history, newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Alex Gorsky is now looking to takeovers to bolster the medical-device unit with products such as heart valves, according to an interview last week with Bloomberg News. J&J’s own cardiovascular sales have fallen for five straight years, the only business in its medical device division to shrink.

Lower MI Death Risk Linked to Five Strategies

CardioSource

TAVR: transforming the traetment of Aortic Stenosis