The use of Apica's innovative transapical access technology was successfully demonstrated for the first time at the 27th European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) congress in Vienna. EACTS is one of the largest cardiac congress in the world, with around 6,500 participants.

George J. Magovern, MD, a pioneering cardiac surgeon who co-developed the sutureless Magovern-Cromie Heart Valve, died Nov. 4 at the age of 89. His obituary was published on Pittsburgh’s post-gazette.com website.

Acusphere, Inc. (ACUSD.PK) today announced that William I. Ramage, D. Phil., has been appointed Chief Development Officer of the Company. Acusphere is focused on the development of Imagify™ (Perflubutane Polymer Microspheres for Injectable Suspension), which if approved for sale, will be a novel cardiovascular drug for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of death in the United States and Europe.

A healthy weight is the key to a healthy heart, and yet an estimated 1 out of 3 children is either overweight or obese in the U.S. During a special symposium Oct. 27 at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, pediatricians discussed obesity and cardiovascular risk factors, public health policy, and how physicians can partner with families to improve children's weight.

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) has received CE Mark for the Lotus™ Valve System, the company's advanced transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) technology.  This key approval offers a unique and effective new treatment alternative for patients with severe aortic stenosis at high risk with surgical valve replacement.

NBC News reported on a study in Genome Biology in which researchers studied aging of cells. The scientists proposed that some cells age more slowly than others, with cardiac cells clocking in as relative youngsters and tumor cells being the oldest of all. 

Cleveland Clinic today announced its eighth annual list of Top 10 Medical Innovations that will have a major impact on improving patient care within the next year. The list includes a bionic eye, a neurostimulator for epilepsy and fecal transplantation.

Medicure Inc. ("Medicure" or the "Company") (TSXV:MPH, OTC:MCUJF.PK), is pleased to announce that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the AGGRASTAT (tirofiban HCl) high-dose bolus (HDB) regimen, as requested under Medicure's supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA). The AGGRASTAT HDB regimen (25 mcg/kg over 3 minutes, followed by 0.15 mcg/kg/min) now becomes the recommended dosing for the reduction of thrombotic cardiovascular events in patients with non-ST elevated acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).