Merge Healthcare claimed four awards—including the distinction of Category Leader in cardiology—in the Best in KLAS 2015/2016 honors.

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. and INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted a supplemental New Drug Application for Jardiance® (empagliflozin) based on cardiovascular risk reduction data from the landmark EMPA-REG OUTCOME® trial. Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) expect to receive a decision from the FDA within the standard review time frame.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, Inc. ("ACT"), a developer and manufacturer of a proprietary and unique open-irrigated radio frequency ("RF") ablation technology, announced today that its technology has been successfully used to treat 12 patients suffering from Atrial Fibrillation ("AFIB") in Prague, Czech Republic.  The ACT first-in-man study was designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the ACT system.  The patients were treated by the study's principal investigator, Dr. Vivek Reddy, Director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Services at Mount Sinai Hospital.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American College of Radiology (ACR) released guidelines on Jan. 22 regarding the appropriate use of imaging for patients who come to the emergency department with chest pain.

An analysis of Medicare Part B databases found that the use of radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), stress echocardiography and coronary CT angiography for suspected coronary artery disease declined in recent years. Although studies have shown the value of coronary CT angiography, it is still being used much less frequently than the other two noninvasive imaging techniques.

Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT) today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance and U.S. launch of the OsteoCool(TM) RF Ablation System.

Months after the U.S. FDA approved a device with the potential to close the source of many atrial fibrillation-related strokes, hospitals, cardiologists and patients find themselves in a holding pattern increasingly common for newly emerging therapies: They are waiting for the CMS to issue a national coverage determination for LAA occlusion.

Making the change to structured reporting in the cath lab is not easy, simple, fast or fun. But it can be done, according to interventional cardiologists who have taken the challenge and succeeded.