Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improved in patients with postinfarction heart failure (HF) who received a shock-wave facilitated infusion of bone marrow-derived cells in a small randomized clinical trial. The improvement at four months was modest but significant, according to CELLWAVE trial researchers.

Thomas Wang, M.D., has joined Vanderbilt as director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the physician-in-chief of the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute.

James Chen-tson Fang, M.D., has been named chief of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine and director of the cardiovascular service line at University of Utah Health Care.

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) today announced market release of the CardioGuide™ Implant System, a novel real-time navigation system for cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers and defibrillators (CRT-P and CRT-D), in the United States and Canada. The system helps physicians determine the most appropriate location for left-ventricular lead placement by generating 3-D images of the cardiac veins; enhanced software for the system will be commercially available later this year that also analyzes the motion of select cardiac vessels on the left side of the heart. Clinical studies have shown that appropriate left-ventricular lead placement may improve CRT response in heart failure patients (1,2,3).

scPharmaceuticals LLC today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership and product development agreement with Sensile Medical Holding AG of Zug, Switzerland to develop an innovative new therapeutic option for patients with heart failure.  The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The FDA issued an adverse event report describing the death of a patient whose HeartWare ventricular assist device lost power.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in early March urging the agency to consider a new coverage paradigm for Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs).

The FDA has approved two humanitarian use device (HUD) designations for Syncardia System’s 50cc Total Artificial Heart to be used for destination therapy and pediatric bridge to transplant.