nContact Surgical, a cardiac solution company, will embark on a clinical trial to probe whether a convergent ablation procedure -- combining endoscopic with catherter ablation -- can effectively treat patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

The FDA has sent Medtronic a warning letter, regarding the inspection of the companys cardiac rhythm disease management facility in Mounds View, Minn., which was completed in August.

Although there has been a rapid pace for the evolution of medical imaging technologies, radiology reporting has failed to follow suit, according to an article published online Oct. 9 in the Journal of Digital Imaging.

A query-based algorithm that was created as part of an automated method to identify radiology reports containing non-routine communication of critical or significant results proved to be 97 percent effective, according to research published online Oct. 14 in the Journal of Digital Imaging.

To better study treatments and patient outcomes linked to atrial fibrillation, the Duke Clinical Research Institute has initiated the Outcomes Registry for Better informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation.

New findings shed light on the burden of sudden cardiac arrest among children and suggest additional research may lead to better prediction and prevention of sudden death, according to a study published in the November edition of HeartRhythm Journal.

AtriCure, a developer of cardiac surgical ablation systems, has reported a rise in net losses and a lowering of revenues for the 2009 third quarter compared with the previous year-ago quarter.

The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, representing investors of Hansen Medical, has filed a class action lawsuit against the medical robotics developer in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased the securities of Hansen between May 1, 2008, and Oct. 18, 2009.