Electrophysiology (EP), as a subspecialty, is coming into its own. Electrophysiologists have access to more capital than in the past, and with a 10 to 15 percent annual market growth, it is one of the fastest growing sectors within cardiology. Vendors have taken notice and are focusing on technology and designs that cater specifically to EP docs.

The medical and commercial communities have issued strong objections to a provision calling for the use of radiology benefit managers (RBMs) as gatekeepers to unnecessary imaging in a budget signed by President Barack Obama. The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) has called RBMs an ineffective model that undermines the doctor-patient relationship in making healthcare decisions. GE Healthcare and Siemens Healthcare have pledged to fight the use of RBMs, saying that such a measure could negatively impact sales, add administrative costs and restrict access.

Specialized, coordinated emergency networks dramatically reduce time-to-treatment for patients with STEMI, according to a pooled analysis published in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Ziosoft, a provider of advanced visualization and analysis software for medical imaging, has received 510(k) clearance from the FDA to market two additional applications for use with its Ziostation thin-client system.

Epix Pharmaceuticals has sold the U.S., Canadian and Australian rights for its blood pool MR angiography (MRA) agent, Vasovist, to Lantheus Medical Imaging for aggregate gross cash proceeds of $28 million. In addition, if Epix is unable to exchange all of its $100 million aggregate principal of 3 percent of convertible senior notes, it may be forced to file bankruptcy.

ORLANDO, Fla.In-hospital initiation of the antiarrhythmic therapies sotalol and dofetilide for atrial fibrillation (AF) represent an economic burden in the U.S., costing $3,389 per patient for the hospital stay during which therapy is initiated, according to a poster study presented Monday at the 58th annual American College of Cardiology scientific sessions.

Lantheus Medical Imaging has made a series of new hires to support its core business functions including regulatory affairs and quality operations.

IBM is working with Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston to create a virtual Radiology Theatre, where teams of medical experts can simultaneously discuss and review patients' medical data using a secure web browser.