Covidien announced 12-month results of the DEFINITIVE AR study, the first randomized study designed to identify the clinical benefits of plaque removal using directional atherectomy followed by drug coated balloon. The results were presented by Professor Thomas Zeller of the Universitaets-Herzzentrum, Bad Krozingen, Germany at the Vascular Interventional Advances (VIVA) 2014 conference in Las Vegas, Nev.

Boston Scientific Corporation has initiated full commercial launch of the new POLARIS Imaging System.  This system will support the Boston Scientific family of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheters, including coronary, peripheral and intra-cardiac echo products.  The POLARIS System offers enhanced ease-of-use and more powerful processing capabilities.  Its modular design would also support the planned release of new Boston Scientific imaging products including a fractional flow reserve (FFR) wire, a new family of IVUS catheters, enhanced software features and better system control tools.

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) has received CE Mark and begun the European commercial launch of its new 25 mm Lotus Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) System, complementing the currently available 23 mm and 27 mm valve sizes.

Moving toward U.S. market introduction of its novel medical device to treat peripheral artery disease, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) today announced that it recently submitted the final module of its pre-market approval (PMA) application for the IN.PACT Admiral drug-coated balloon to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The application includes data that demonstrates superior clinical outcomes compared with conventional angioplasty, with the lowest rates of repeat procedures (target lesion revascularization) and the highest rate of uninterrupted blood flow (primary patency) at 12 months ever reported for the interventional treatment of peripheral artery disease.

Covidien today announced nine-month data from the VISIBILITY Iliac study, which confirms the safety and effectiveness of the treatment of lesions of the common and external iliac arteries with the Visi-Pro(tm) balloon-expandable stent system. Results were presented by co-National Principal Investigator John Rundback, MD, Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck, N.J., during an oral presentation this week at EuroPCR Scientific Congress in Paris.

Further validating its advanced transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) technology, the Boston Scientific Corporation Lotus Valve System continued to demonstrate impressive performance at six months, according to new data presented at EuroPCR 2014 in Paris.

Medtronic, Inc. today revealed new data showing that patients treated with the CoreValve System experienced positive clinical outcomes in the rigorous "real world" Medtronic CoreValve ADVANCE Study. Presented at EuroPCR 2014, the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) study revealed low rates of mortality and stroke, and showed exceptional valve performance through two years.

Continuing its commitment to bringing advanced and clinically relevant interventional technologies to market, Medtronic, Inc. today announced CE (Conformité Européene) mark and launch of the NC Euphora(TM) Noncompliant Balloon Dilatation Catheter. The NC Euphora Balloon Catheter is now available in Europe and other countries outside of the United States that recognize the CE mark. It is not yet available in the United States.