Heart Rhythm

Hearts should have normal rhythm to their beats, but when these beats are out of synch, it causes inefficient pumping of blood. Irregular heart arrhythmias occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's beats do not work properly. This can cause beats that are too fast (tachycardia), or too slow (bradycardia). Tachycardias include atrial fibrillation (AFib), supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Bradycardias include sick sinus syndrome and conduction block. Electrophysiology arrhythmia treatments include medications, life style changes, and the EP lab interventions of catheter ablation, and implantable pacemakers or defibrillators.

BAFS: Boston Sci highlights two catheter upgrades

Boston Scientific presented new versions of its ablation and diagnostic catheters at the 15th annual Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium last week.

BAFS: Hansen features upgraded robotic catheter system

Hansen Medical highlighted its Sensei X robotic catheter system, which includes the Artisan Extend 3D catheter control and the CoHesion 3D visualization module, at the 15th annual Boston Atrial Fibrillation Symposium (BAFS) last week.Video: Virtual booth tour of Hansen Medical at BAFS

Q&A: Standards are key to wider information exchange, HIE exec says

System integration via interoperability is essential to achieve outcomes required for meaningful use, Todd Rowland, executive director of HealthLINC, a health information exchange (HIE) formed by Bloomington Hospital and the physician community in Southern Indiana told CMIO.

HIMSS 2010 Interoperability Showcase will spotlight HIE activities

As a core component of myriad health IT initiatives, interoperability will be a large part of the HIMSS 2010 in Atlanta. The 2010 HIMSS Interoperability Showcase, which will operate March 1-3, will offer educational sessions on Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) and health information exchange (HIE) activities, federal agency interoperability initiatives and global standards development initiatives, says JoAnn Klinedinst, CPHIMS, vice president of education at HIMSS.

CardioNet taps new CFO

CardioNet, a wireless medical technology company focused on cardiac arrhythmias, has appointed Heather C. Getz to the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), effective Jan. 15.

Biotronik, Endosense form distribution agreement

Biotronik, a manufacturer of implantable cardiac devices and wireless remote monitoring technologies, and Endosense, a Geneva-based medical technology company, have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for Endosenses force-sensing ablation catheter, the TactiCath.

Bioniche Pharma launches generic antiarrhythmic agent

Bioniche Pharma, a developer of injectable pharmaceuticals, has launched ibutilide fumarate injection, the generic equivalent of Pfizer's antiarrhythmic drug Corvert .

Joint Commission: More hospitals achieving evidence-based care

The Joint Commission, in its fourth annual report, found continual improvement on 12 quality measures reflecting the best evidence-based treatments and practices leading to the best outcomes in American hospitals.

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.