Interventional Cardiology

This cardiac subspecialty uses minimally invasive, catheter-based technologies in a cath lab to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease (CAD). The main focus in on percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) to revascularize patients with CAD that is causing blockages resulting in ischemia or myocardial infarction. PCI mainly consists of angioplasty and implanting stents. Interventional cardiology has greatly expanded in scope over recent years to include a number of transcatheter structural heart interventions.

Surgery outperforms PCI in NSTEMI patients with multivessel CAD
CABG was associated with a 41% lower risk of long-term mortality than PCI in a new study of more than 57,000 patients. The full analysis was published in European Heart Journal.
Boston Scientific enters IVL arms race with acquisition worth up to $664M
Boston Scientific has agreed to acquire Bolt Medical, a California-based medical device company focused on developing new intravascular lithotripsy technologies. The news comes less than one year after Johnson & Johnson acquired IVL pioneers Shockwave Medical for $13 billion.
FDA sees value in no-implant heart failure device
The new atrial shunt from Alleviant Medical was designed to treat heart failure without leaving a permanent implant behind. The FDA granted the technology its breakthrough device designation and approved additional research.
Radial secondary access during TAVR limits complications
Radial access is already the primary choice for many cardiologists performing PCI due to a lower risk of complications. The same appears to be true for secondary access during TAVR.
Medtronic’s Harmony TPVR system gains CE mark approval
The FDA-approved Harmony TPVR system is now available to patients across the EU. Nina Goodheart, president of Medtronic’s structural heart and aortic business, described the news as a "significant milestone."

FDA Grants Market Clearance to Ra Medical Systems for New Peripheral Artery Disease Treatment

In an effort to battle Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), the leading cause of limb amputations, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that it has granted market clearance to Ra Medical Systems, makers of excimer lasers and catheters for cardiovascular and dermatological diseases, for the Company’s groundbreaking DABRA System.

May 31, 2017

Medicare now covers non-invasive peripheral artery disease treatment

Medicare now covers a supervised exercise therapy for peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to CMS, a decision that will likely result in other insurers following this example.

May 30, 2017

Tennessee cardiologists concerned by surge in opioid-related endocarditis

A recent story in the Knoxville News Sentinel examined how the opioid crisis in the United States is putting cardiology departments in a difficult spot.

May 24, 2017

What 'crazy ideas' will impact the future of technology in cardiology?

An in-depth article from The Guardian in the United Kingdom investigates the development of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and artificial implants. A primer for those in cardiology, the piece examines just what lies ahead in terms of technological development. 3D printing, improvements in catheterization, farming transgenic pigs—cardiology will be impacted by ideas that were once thought to be the stuff of science fiction.

May 23, 2017

Three daily servings of fruits, vegetables could reduce chance of peripheral artery disease

In a massive study that included more than 3.7 million people, researchers found more evidence supporting what we already know: Fruits and vegetables are good for you. Furthermore, the work found they may help prevent peripheral artery disease (PAD).

May 19, 2017

Medtronic RESOLUTE ONYX 2 mm Clinical Study Meets Primary Endpoint in Extra-Small Vessels at One-Year

Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT) today announced that the Resolute Onyx(TM) Drug-Eluting Stent (DES) met its primary endpoint of Target Lesion Failure (TLF) at one year for the treatment of coronary artery disease in extra-small vessels. Results from the RESOLUTE ONYX 2.0 mm Clinical Study were presented today as a Hot Line/Late-Breaking Trial Session at the 2017 EuroPCR Annual Meeting and simultaneously published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC): Cardiovascular Intervention.

May 18, 2017

Boston Scientific’s TAVI system exceeds expectations in clinical trial

Boston Scientific’s transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) technology, the LOTUS Valve System, shows superiority to a similar platform made by a competitor in a new clinical trial.

May 17, 2017

SCAI 2017: TAVR outcomes depend on individual risk factors, not valve type

A late-breaking study, presented May 12 at the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions meeting in New Orleans, showed that factors related to individual patients—and not the specific type of valve used—determined 30-day outcomes for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

May 16, 2017

Around the web

Radiology Business

Key takeaways from RSNA 2024 for AI, CT, MRI and the radiology staffing shortage

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.

Health Imaging

Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

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

Interventional Cardiology

Surgery outperforms PCI in NSTEMI patients with multivessel CAD

Boston Scientific enters IVL arms race with acquisition worth up to $664M

FDA sees value in no-implant heart failure device

Radial secondary access during TAVR limits complications

Medtronic’s Harmony TPVR system gains CE mark approval

Around the web