Death that results from catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation occurs in one in1,000 patients, according to a study in the May 12 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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.

CardioNet, a developer of wireless cardiac arrhythmia monitoring devices, saw an increase in both revenue and losses for its fiscal 2009 first quarter, which ended March 31.

As the products of radiologydiagnostic imaging data and reportsbecome more widely distributed across the healthcare enterprise, debate has arisen within the medical community over which group is best able to administer and maintain radiology IT systems: the radiology department or a centralized IT group.

Atritech's Watchman, a percutaneously implanted left atrial appendage occlusion device, won the recommendation of a FDA advisory panel on April 23, for its ability to protect against stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Data acquired in over 4,500 STEMI patients treated with primary PCI, provide novel and compelling evidence about the importance of a Q-wave on the baseline ECG as an independent prognostic marker of clinical outcome, according to a study in the April 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

St. Jude Medical received a warning letter dated April 17 from the FDA related to its atrial fibrillation (AF) division manufacturing facility in Minnetonka, Minn., which makes Safire ablation catheters.

St. Jude Medical has reported a 16 percent uptick in net earnings, to $201 million from $177 million, for its fiscal 2009 first quarter, which ended April 4.