AliveCor, Inc. announced today the launch of the latest version of the AliveECG app, with two new FDA-cleared and CE-marked automated detectors that allow patients and physicians to focus on the ECGs that matter most. The new mobile app instantly detects when an ECG is either Normal or unreadable.

Noninvasive anatomic imaging appears to be superior in detecting significant coronary artery disease over functional testing, maybe. A study suggests that CT angiography is more accurate, but it may have been missing key data.

HEART might offer a way to discharge low-risk chest pain patients early and reduce objective cardiac testing, according to findings published March 3. While early discharge with no increase in major adverse events would be a coup, some are not convinced that reducing cardiac testing rates overall is feasible.

A good picture may be worth a thousand words, but good image reporting helps cardiologists treat their patients optimally. A committee of European nuclear imaging and cardiovascular imaging professionals offered a series of recommendations on how to make that possible.

Measuring peak radiation skin dose during interventional procedures became a reality with Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.’s introduction of Dose Tracking System (DTS), which helps make exams safer for patients. To expand clinical applications, Toshiba is introducing enhancements to DTS for the entire Infinix product line, including the Elite, Select and Essential cardiovascular X-ray systems.

The strain from wearing protective lead aprons in the cath lab may be taking a greater toll on allied staff than on physicians. A survey on health hazards in interventional labs found incidence of work-related pain was highest among technicians and nurses.

Imaging appropriate use criteria (AUC) should reduce the number of less-appropriate tests, however, researchers have found that in some cases, the gray area may hold greater sway in how frequently rarely appropriate tests are performed.

The Prairie Heart Institute at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, has become the first cardiac catheterization laboratory in Illinois to achieve ACE accreditation. It is also one of the highest volume facilities to achieve this notable accomplishment.