Recent months have seen a host of important cardiology research breakthroughs related to new cardio devices and diagnostics, tissue engineering and the overall understanding of heart disease and its treatment. For example, a customizable robotic heart sleeve – developed at Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital – has demonstrated advantages over other heart assist devices […]
Cardiac Implants
Battery-free pacemaker successfully powers the heart
A wireless, battery-free pacemaker has shown success in powering the heart in pig models, according to researchers from Rice University and Texas Heart Institute. The pacemaker, designed by lead researcher Aydin Babakhani, gets its energy wirelessly from radio frequency radiation that gets transmitted wirelessly from an external battery pack from a few centimeters away. Get […]
Here is Boston Scientific’s plan to win in medtech
When it comes to Boston Scientific succeeding in the medical device industry, CEO Mike Mahoney says it is about “category leadership.” Health providers, especially in the U.S., are consolidating, so Boston Sci needs to persuade hospital system officials that its products are the best in particular areas. “Category leadership is everything. Hospitals – whether you’re in Korea […]
Abbott’s MitraClip can be implanted through the jugular vein, too
A Canadian cardiologist has successfully inserted Abbott Labs’s MitraClip through the jugular vein instead of the femoral vein, according to a recent report. Dr. Neil Fam inserted the Abbott Laboratories device into an 86-year old patient with severe mitral regurgitation. Because of the patient’s age, traditional surgery to repair her mitral valve was not an […]
Researchers find 8k cyber vulnerabilities in pacemakers
Researchers from the security research firm WhiteScope identified cyber vulnerabilities in file system encryption and in the storage of unencrypted patient data across major vendors of implantable cardiac devices, according to the team’s report. “The findings reveal consistency across all vendors, highlighting the inherent weaknesses in the ecosystem architecture,” the firm wrote. Previous research has revealed […]
This could be the battery-free solution for pacemakers
A new energy storage system charges itself using ions from inside the human body – providing an exciting alternative to traditional batteries used in pacemakers, according to researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Connecticut. Researchers at the universities developed a bio-friendly energy storage system called a biological supercapacitor; […]
ESOC 2017 Roundup: Gore touts lowered ischemic stroke, new brain infarcts in PFO Occluder test
W.L. Gore & Associates yesterday released results from the Reduce study of its Cardioform Septal Occluder devices used to close patent foramen ovale, touting a reduction in recurrent ischemic strokes and new brain infarcts. The Gore Cardioform Septal Occluder is designed to be inserted via catheter and is currently cleared by the FDA for closure […]
Boston Scientific touts 1-year stroke reduction results in Watchman non-valvular AF trial
Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) today released 1-year results from the Ewolution registry study of its Watchman left atrial appendage closure device, touting a high implant success rate and stroke reduction in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients. Data was presented today at the Heart Rhythm Society’s 39th Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago. “We are pleased to see that […]
Biotronik wins FDA nod for CRT-D Multi-Pole Pacing tech
Biotronik said today it won FDA approval for its MultiPole Pacing technology designed for its cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator systems. The MPP technology is designed to treat the 40% of heart failure patients who are initially non-responsive to CRT by enabling the left ventricle to be paced twice per cardiac cycle, the Berlin, Germany-based company […]
Venus Medtech wins Chinese FDA approval for Venus A-valve TAVR
Chinese heart valve maker Venus Medtech said today it won China FDA approval for its Venus A-valve device, touting it as the 1st transcatheter aortic valve implantation device to win CFDA approval. The Venus A-valve device offers a less invasive treatment solution for inoperable and high-risk patients, providing a solution to patients in the region that previously was unavailable, […]
Biotronik launches, touts smallest MRI-safe defib leads on market
Biotronik said today it launched its Plexa ProMRI 7.8 French MR conditional tachycardia lead in the US, touting it as the smallest lead of it’s kind on the market. The company said it won FDA approval for the leads in February 1, indicated for use with implantable cardioverter defibrillators and heart failure devices. “This is another […]