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Researchers at the University of Florida (UF; Gainesville) says they have identified a drug compound that they say "dramatically" works to lower blood pressure (BP), improves heart function and prevents damage to the heart and kidneys in rats with persistent hypertension.The latter of these findings they term "remarkable."
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last month issued a decision granting positive National Coverage Determination (NCD) status for artificial hearts. This decision marks the first positive coverage position that CMS has taken since a non-coverage determination for artificial hearts issued by the agency a little more than two decades ago.
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Last month's approval of the advanced generation ventricular assist device (VAD) from Thoratec (Pleasanton, California) the HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System (LVAS) is leading the way in heart pump devices that are smaller, and touted as more efficient, and thus more available for implantation in smaller bodies: women, smaller men and younger people.
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Proteus Biomedical (Redwood City, California) certainly is not the only company looking at how to improve the measurement of cardiac performance in heart failure patients. But, according to Andrew Thompson, CEO and co-founder of Proteus, "everybody else" has come up with a new lead and/or a new procedure."
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CoreValve; HeartWare Limited; Medtronic; Tryton Medical
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Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (Philadelphia) have concluded that the cost of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) for prevention of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and death in elderly patients, though considerable, nonetheless provides "real value" to the U.S. healthcare system.
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CryoLife; Medafor; diaDexus; Fisher HealthCare; Micrus Endovascular; Chemence Medical Products; Naval Medical Research Center; St. Jude Medical; Microsoft Health Solutions Group
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Boston Scientific; CryoCor; Surgi-Vision; Bovie Medical; Opto Circuits; Criticare Systems; Pediatrix Medical Group
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Long considered a problem only for high-income countries, now 80% of deaths connected to high blood pressure (BP) occur in the developing world, according to an article in a recent edition of The Lancet. The report says that cardiovascular disease is now endemic, worldwide, and no longer limited only to developed countries.
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Robotic-assisted, minimally invasive cardiac procedures avoid the drawbacks of traditional heart surgery, such as the blood loss, pain and scarring that typically results from cutting through the breastbone or opening the ribs.
