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.

A quarter century ago, stents were on the periphery as planners for the first Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference put together their inaugural program. Now third-generation stents share the stage with transcatheter aortic valve replacement devices.

The FDA has issued a Class 1 recall of the TorFlex Transseptal Guiding Sheath Kit, a device used in cardiac catheterization procedures.

Mortality rates for patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) were significantly higher than for patients with mild or no mitral regurgitation in an analysis of multicenter registry data.

Neovasc Inc. (TSXV: NVC) today reported topline results for its COSIRA trial assessing the efficacy and safety of the Neovasc ReducerTM, a novel percutaneous device for the treatment of refractory angina. The data shows that the Reducer achieved its primary endpoint, significantly improving the symptoms and functioning of patients disabled by previously untreatable refractory angina. The COSIRA trial also confirmed that the Reducer is safe and well-tolerated, with no reports of device-related serious adverse events. The safety and efficacy data from the randomized, controlled COSIRA trial is consistent with results seen in previous non-randomized pilot studies of the Reducer.

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.

Senior nurse for speciality medicine Audrey Kirby was named Nurse Leader of the Year and the heart failure team came home with the Cardiovascular Service Award.

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) allowing the company to initiate SYMPLICITY HTN-4, the first randomized trial to investigate renal denervation for the treatment of moderate uncontrolled hypertension in U.S. patients.