+ Part of the HMP Communications
Cardiovascular Network
First Patient Treated in CardioFocus HeartLight EAS Pivotal Trial
Up to 25 U.S. Centers to Investigate First Visually-Guided Catheter Ablation System for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
CardioFocus, Inc., developer of the HeartLight® Endoscopic Ablation System (EAS) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), announces the first patient has been enrolled and treated in the HeartLight EAS U.S. pivotal trial, designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the technology in treating symptomatic AF. The 48-year-old patient, one of the nearly three million Americans with AF,[i] had suffered paroxysmal AF for three years and underwent successful pulmonary vein (PV) isolation at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, NY. All four PVs were isolated on the very first attempt using only visual guidance during the approximate two-hour procedure.
SICP’s Signature RCIS & RCES Review Course - New Cardiovascular Horizons 13th Annual Conference
SICP’s Signature RCES Review Course
SICP’s Signature RCIS Review Course
SICP's Signature RCIS & RCES Review Course
Cardiac MR in ICD Patients: How to Start a Program
The Arrhythmia and Cardiology Imaging Group (MACIG) at the University of Maryland was started in 2005 to perform cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) studies in patients with ICDs undergoing ablation of ventricular tachycardia. Today, patients routinely undergo MR imaging in the two weeks prior to the scheduled ablation. This allows a detailed three-dimensional reconstruction of the cardiac anatomic and scar morphology. Careful screening and adherence to exclusion criteria are important to guarantee the highest level of patient safety. Current contraindications for cardiac MR scanning include epicardial/abandoned leads, creatinine clearance <30 mg/dl, time since implant <6 weeks, MRI sequences with specific absorption rates of >2 W/kg, or need for 3T MRI scanner.
HHS Announces Intent to Delay ICD-10 Compliance Date
As part of President Obama’s commitment to reducing regulatory burden, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius today announced that HHS will initiate a process to postpone the date by which certain health care entities have to comply with International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedure codes (ICD-10).
The final rule adopting ICD-10 as a standard was published in January 2009 and set a compliance date of October 1, 2013 – a delay of two years from the compliance date initially specified in the 2008 proposed rule. HHS will announce a new compliance date moving forward.
Heart Health Matters: New Research Shows Majority of Americans in the Dark About Severity of Heart Rhythm Disorders
The Heart Rhythm Society Offers Patient Tips + Tools during Heart Health Month
According to a new survey issued by the Heart Rhythm Society, the majority of Americans are unaware of two serious and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorders, atrial fibrillation (AF) and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). In fact, only one in three Americans have ever heard of AF or recognize the number of lives claimed each year from SCA. Throughout February, Heart Health Month, the Heart Rhythm Society spotlights the need for public education on heart rhythm disorders affecting millions of people, and the specialists best suited to treat them – electrophysiologists.
ACC's CardioSmart Launches Nation's First Free Cardiovascular Texting Program
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) launched CardioSmartTXT™, the nation's first free texting program to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease. CardioSmartTXT will provide support, information, advice and tips on heart disease prevention as well as disease-specific states.
The ACC introduced two texting channels in the program's launch – CardioSmartTXT PREVENT and CardioSmartTXT QUIT. CardioSmartTXT PREVENT is a six-month program aimed at the proactive prevention of cardiovascular disease and general heart health and wellness. CardioSmartTXT QUIT is an intensive smoking cessation support program to help users achieve smoking cessation goals.
Users can sign-up for CardioSmartTXT PREVENT or CardioSmartTXT QUIT at www.CardioSmart.org. Additional texting channels will be launched throughout 2012.
Medical Design & Manufacturing Conference to be Launched in Texas in March 2012
Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) is announcing a new launch in Fort Worth, Texas on March 14-15, 2012. In league with the flagship events MD&M West (Anaheim, CA) and MD&M East (Philadelphia, PA), MD&M Texas Conference is designed to provide an innovative, holistic approach to medical device design and development presented by experienced medtech industry experts.
"Texas has enormous potential to become one of the leading centers for medical innovation. With its wealth of resources including academic and commercial, this region is uniquely positioned to influence the future of healthcare, and specifically the medical devices market. MD&M Texas is a great example of an event that brings together insights from a diverse group of thought leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs to address some of the most fundamental issues facing medical device developers and manufacturers today," states speaker, Mir Imran, President, InCube Labs.
Perminova Names Medical Technology Entrepreneur Michael Perry to Board of Advisors
Perminova, developer of web-based software for the nation’s leading cardiology centers, announced that Michael K. Perry has joined the Perminova Board of Advisors.
With over 25 years of leadership experience in the medical technology industry, Perry is currently Chief Executive Officer and Director of CRISI Medical Systems, a San Diego-based medical technology company that develops innovative medication management products designed to make the delivery of intravenous drugs safer, more accurate and more cost-effective.
“Mike is a very innovative entrepreneur in medical technology industries, with particular insight in the field of cardiology,” said Perminova President and CEO Craig Collins. “His experiences in leading companies from start-up to success will provide invaluable help to Perminova as a high-growth technology company.”
Crowdsourcing Experts Team Up to Accelerate Cardiac Response
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Masdar Institute, and the University of Southampton are collaborating to tackle the MyHeartMap Challenge, using social networks and crowdsourcing.
Launched by the University of Pennsylvania, MyHeartMap Challenge invites members of the public to participate by submitting geo-tagged pictures of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) they see around Philadelphia, to create an effective location database of AEDs.
It is estimated that around 300,000 people die every year in the US from sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, some of which could be prevented through the timely use of a defibrillator. The University of Pennsylvania has observed that the inability to locate AEDs in such emergency situations greatly reduces their lifesaving potential.
Children's Hospital of Michigan Cardiovascular Surgeon Testifies on Berlin Heart, now Approved by the FDA
Few hospitals have as much experience with the Berlin Heart as DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan. This is why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was eager to hear testimony from Henry L. Walters III, MD, chief of cardiovascular surgery at DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan. Dr. Walters provided testimony about the device at a recent public hearing. After reviewing the clinical trial data and hearing testimony from Dr. Walters and others, the device has now been approved.
The Berlin Heart is the first ventricular assist device made specifically for pediatric patients. Ventricular assist devices are common in adults. But, until recently, they weren't manufactured in pediatric sizes.
Ventricular assist devices are used when a patient needs a heart transplant, but can't wait for a donor heart to become available. The Berlin Heart assists the failing heart until an appropriate donor heart can be found.
Stereotaxis Announces European Adoption Milestone and Health Canada Market Clearance for Vdrive™ System
Stereotaxis, Inc. announced that its Vdrive™ Robotic Navigation System, which provides physicians the ability to remotely manipulate traditionally non-robotic catheters, is growing in popularity and is expected to surpass 500 clinical procedures in Europe in February. The company also announced it has received regulatory clearance from Health Canada to commercially market the device in Canada.
Since the initial product release in Europe in 2011, the Vdrive system has been installed in nine centers, with units scheduled to be installed in additional centers during the first quarter of 2012. The initial nine centers have performed 473 clinical cases with approximately 80% being completed in the left atrium of the heart.
More than 20,000 Physicians, 50 Hospitals Now Using PerfectServe
Clinical communication platform connects physicians and nurses, improves coordination of care
PerfectServe, the leading clinical communications provider announced that it connects more than 20,000 physicians through its platform across 154 U.S. healthcare markets and 50 hospitals in health systems including Advocate Health, Orlando Health, St. Joseph Health System and Dignity Health.
The platform is processing more than 35 million clinical communication transactions per year, enabling health systems to simplify and streamline nurse-to-physician and physician-to-physician communication while allowing doctors to selectively filter and control the communications they receive.
Impulse Dynamics Coordinates Cardiac Contractility Modulation (CCM) Certification Training Program
According to Impulse Dynamics, a growing number of cardiologists are employing Cardiac Contractility Modulation (CCM) to bolster their therapeutic armamentarium for patients with chronic heart failure. CCM leads to a long-term increase of cardiac contractility. At a meeting in Berlin, expert speakers addressed three of the underlying reasons for this development: (1) For large patient populations, CCM therapy is currently the only available device-based treatment alternative to pharmacologic management, (2) recent clinical results are consistently favorable, (3) the benefits are clearly corroborated by a completed clinical study as well as by additional trials in progress.
Mentoring: Our Professional Responsibility
Blog by: Melanie T. Gura, RN, MSN, CNS, CCDS, FHRS, FAHA, AACC
Director, Pacemaker & Arrhythmia Services
Northeast Ohio Cardiovascular Specialists
Summa Cardiovascular Institute
Summa Health System
Nurses are traditionally viewed as a caring group. We care for patients, their families, friends, and our communities. However, we must also care for each other, our fellow nurses and colleagues.
Those new to our specialty require guidance, encouragement, and mentoring. Those of us who have more experience must come to believe that mentoring is our professional responsibility, as well as an opportunity for growth. In order for us to go forward as a flourishing profession, each of us will need to play the role of both mentor and mentee throughout our professional careers.
Vascular Solutions Launches Reprocessing Service for ClosureFAST® Vein Catheters
Collaboration with Northeast Scientific Designed to Reduce Medical Waste and Lower Customer Costs
Vascular Solutions, Inc. announced that it is marketing a reprocessing service for the ClosureFAST radiofrequency ablation catheter in the United States. The ClosureFAST catheter, which is manufactured and marketed by VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. division of Covidien, is widely used for performing endovenous therapy for the treatment of varicose veins. Vascular Solutions’ reprocessing service is designed to help physicians reduce medical waste and lower their costs.
Vascular Solutions is offering the reprocessing service under contract with Northeast Scientific, Inc. (NES), an established third-party reprocessor of medical devices. NES received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on November 30, 2011 for reprocessing the ClosureFAST catheter.
Medtronic Announces First Patient Enrollment in Clinical Trial Assessing Guideline-Based Heart Failure Management in Primary Care Setting
Medtronic, Inc. announced the initiation and first patient enrollment in a clinical study that will evaluate gaps in the implementation of evidence-based treatment guidelines among chronic heart failure patients post-hospital discharge. The IMPROVE HF Bridge Study will analyze approximately 120 patients from four different centers in the United States for a period of six months following their initial hospital stay. Patients will be cared for in the outpatient setting by either a primary care physician alone, or by both a heart failure specialist and primary care physician throughout the study.
Speak Up: What You Should Know About Stroke; Joint Commission campaign provides advice about the early signs and risks of stroke
Knowing the early signs and risk factors for stroke and understanding that a stroke is a “brain attack” requiring immediate action can significantly improve a patient’s recovery and prevent future strokes, according to The Joint Commission’s new Speak Up™: “What You Should Know About Stroke” educational campaign. The Joint Commission is launching this campaign, which coincides with the International Stroke Conference 2012 (February 1-3), to help Americans understand the importance of preventing strokes and seeking immediate treatment when they occur. The campaign was developed in collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, National Stroke Association and NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.