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.

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JAMA: Patients have better outcomes when electrophysiologists implant ICDs

Patients whose implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are implanted by non-electrophysiologists are at increased risk of complications and are less likely to receive a specific type of ICD when clinically indicated, according to a study published in the April 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Oracle steps in to buy Sun for $7.4B

Oracle has crafted an agreement to buy server vendor Sun Microsystems for approximately $7.4 billion, or $5.6 billion net of Sun's cash and debt.

Remotely Navigating the Heart with Water-Cooled Catheters

The FDA in February approved the NaviStar ThermoCool Catheter (Biosense Webster) to treat atrial fibrillation (AF), the first ablation catheter in the U.S. to be approved to treat AF.

Cardiome could get $600M from Merck in a-fib drug deal

Merck and Cardiome have formed a collaboration and license agreement for the development and commercialization of vernakalant, an investigational candidate for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

IBM withdraws $7B bid for Sun Microsystems

IBM has withdrawn its $7 billion bid for Sun Microsystems, after Sun's board of directors rejected the offer as being too low.

Atritech nets $30M to complete FDA review of Watchman device

Atritech, a clinical-stage medical device company, has completed a $30 million round of financing, led by Thomas, McNerney & Partners along with an investment from Split Rock Partners and insider investments from Prism Ventures, Tullis-Dickerson and Vector Group.

Implantable device may replace drugs in AF patients with stroke risk

ORLANDO, Fla.A device percutaneously implanted in the left atrial appendage may replace anti-thrombotic drugs for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), according to research presented during the i2 Summit at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 58th annual scientific sessions.

Anticoagulation therapy is subpar for a-fib patients, regardless of provider

ORLANDO, Fla.Suboptimal oral anticoagulant therapy (OAC), which varies in event rates across institutions, indicates the need for improved management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) to prevent stroke in clinical practice, according to a poster study presented on Sunday at the 58th annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific sessions.

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