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SAN FRANCISCO, California The field of electrophysiology has changed dramatically over the past three decades, as the management of arrhythmias, or irregular heart rhythms, has evolved from simple pacemakers in the early 1970s to highly sophisticated implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) that can swiftly halt a sudden cardiac death episode, to biventricular pacers that provide significant relief from congestive heart failure.
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The UK Department of Health has launched a consultation on a new chapter of the National Service Framework (NSF) on Coronary Heart Disease. The new area will cover heart arrhythmias, which will form an important part of the heart disease agenda. Cardiac arrhythmia covers a range of conditions from a transient loss of consciousness and reflex anoxic seizures to cardiomyopathy and sudden adult death syndrome (SADS).
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Microtek Medical Holdings (Microtek; Columbus, Mississippi) said that its newly formed Netherlands-based subsidiary, Microtek Medical BV, has acquired International Medical Products BV (IMP) and its affiliates, from Cardinal Health (Dublin, Ohio).
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Continuing its growth beyond its core arena of interventional cardiology, Boston Scientific (Natick, Massachusetts) early this month said it would buy neurostimulation specialist Advanced Bionics (Valencia, California), through the purchase of 100% of its stock for $740 million in cash, plus future milestone payments.
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Endocardial Solutions(ESI; St. Paul, Minnesota) reached an agreement with the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (Rochester, Minnesota) for the development and license of an automated 3-D cardiac segmentation and modeling software product.
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CryoCath Technologies (Montreal, Quebec) received 510(k) regulatory clearance from the FDA in May for FrostByte, a clamp ablation device to be used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. The company said it expected to receive CE mark approval shortly and launch the product this month.
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SAN FRANCISCO, California Electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters and QRS durations (ventricular activity shown in an electrocardiogram) are not specific enough to either include or exclude patients to receive implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy, according to a new sub-study analysis of the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT) presented at the Heart Rhythm Societys (HRS; Natick, Massachusetts) 25th annual scientific sessions.
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Data from two significant heart failure trials COMPANION and DEFINITE was published in the May 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), and both trials also were the subject of presentations at the Heart Rhythm Societys (formerly the North American Society for Pacing and Electrophysiology; Natick, Massachusetts) annual scientific sessions, in San Francisco, California.
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Cardiovasular device powerhouse Guidant (Indianapolis, Indiana) reported on May 18 that Ronald Dollens, the companys president and chief executive officer and a guiding force for the company since its founding, will retire on Dec. 31. The announcement came as a surprise to most industry watchers.
