AccessClosure, Inc., the market leader in extravascular closure devices, announced today an exclusive agreement with Ostial Corporation to distribute the Flash Ostial System Dual Balloon Angioplasty Catheter in the United States. The Flash Ostial System is designed to help overcome the challenges of aorto-ostial stenting and compliments the Mynx® Product Family of Vascular Closure Devices to expand AccessClosure’s portfolio.

Data from a study led by researchers at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute<http://globalmessaging1.prnewswire.com/clickthrough/servlet/clickthrough?msg_id=7563978&adr_order=59&url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zYWludGx1a2VzaGVhbHRoc3lzdGVtLm9yZy9zZXJ2aWNlcy9oZWFydC1hbmQt%0AdmFzY3VsYXItY2FyZGlvdmFzY3VsYXItc2VydmljZXM%3D> showed marked, long-term improvement in health status in patients suffering from peripheral artery disease treated with the S.M.A.R.T. Nitinol Self-Expandable Stent. The study was sponsored by Cordis Corporation, (Fremont, Calif.), manufacturer of the S.M.A.R.T. Stent.

Today, members of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) are visiting 35 congressional offices on Capitol Hill to raise visibility and support for two proposals: the “Medicare Program Integrity Improvement and Education Act” and the “Teaching Children to Save Lives Act.” HRS is advocating for the support of these two bills because both intend to deliver outcomes aligned with the Society’s mission to improve the care of patients by advancing research, education and optimal health care policies and standards. 

Agfa HealthCare announces today that it will highlight its comprehensive IMPAX Cardiovascular suite of products at the EuroPCR congress, the official congress of the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), from May 21-24, in Paris, France.

Hugh Calkins, MD, FHRS, CCDS, was named the president of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) during the 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, held in Denver last week.  Announced during the Presidents’ Reception on Friday, May 10th, Dr. Calkins now serves as the 35th president of HRS, making Anne M. Gillis, MD, FHRS, the immediate past president. Dr. Calkins is currently a Nicholas J. Fortuin Professor of Cardiology and Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.  

Seven percent of patients implanted with subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICDs) experienced inappropriate shocks, according to an analysis of registry data presented May 9 at the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) scientific sessions in Denver.

The Watchman wait may be over. An analysis of long-term data found the Watchman left atrial appendage closure device to be superior to warfarin for primary efficacy and mortality.

Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) were less likely to receive guideline recommended anticoagulation therapy compared with persistent AF patients. The analysis presented May 8 at the Heart Rhythm Society scientific sessions in Denver included registry data on more than 62,000 patients.