October 30, 2014 - GreatCall, Inc., the leader in creating mobile health and safety solutions for active aging, is bringing the ability to affordably track heart health anywhere, anytime to its Touch3 smartphone as a pilot program. The AliveCor® Heart Monitor is now available as a Touch3 accessory, enabling those with suspected or diagnosed heart conditions as well as those at risk of heart conditions to fully participate in their own cardiac health.

French cardiac surgeons raised a red flag about the 12A/LX models of the Mitroflow valve, warning of a potential epidemic of structural valve deterioration and valve-related deaths in patients implanted with the devices.

Elderly patients given upper doses of the anticoagulant dabigatran had reduced risk for stroke, intracranial hemorrhage and mortality compared with warfarin, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in Circulation. However, dabigatran had an increased risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding. 

Victorian Hospitals will be better equipped to measure the quality of care for their cardiac patients, under a new project that collects and compares data on coronary angioplasty practice.

An FDA advisory panel voted 9-1 in favor of approval of the anticoagulant edoxaban to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

When a patient’s peripheral artery disease (PAD) is in the middle of two extremes, which is the best method of treatment: open bypass or angioplasty and stenting? A randomized trial is under way to compare treatment outcomes for patients with the middle two tiers of PAD in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). 

An FDA advisory panel meets today to discuss the safety and efficacy of yet another novel oral anticoagulant. The standards for approval may be shifting, though.

Abbott will buy two companies that develop electrophysiology products in a move designed to make Abbott a player in the catheter-based electrophysiology market. It also named a chief to lead the business.