Abbott announced that it has received CE Mark for the latest advancement of its Absorb stent system, called Absorb GT1. Absorb GT1 combines a fully dissolving stent with a next-generation delivery catheter to help doctors treat people with heart disease. Built upon three generations of delivery catheter innovations, Absorb GT1 refers to the GlideTrack catheter, Abbott’s advanced stent delivery system, which is designed to make it easier for doctors to access and treat diseased vessels in people with coronary artery disease (CAD). The GlideTrack catheter incorporates several design and technology changes that have the potential to improve deliverability and performance.

A new service called MyChoiceMD is preparing to launch in Colorado that aims to revolutionize the way patients find, pay for, schedule and track their routine medical care. The service has been incubating in Northern Colorado and has completed a 10-month pilot in Cheyenne under the name Galen. It is targeted at the large population of self-pay patients that includes both insured and uninsured patients.

New research reports significant differences between men and women with atrial fibrillation (AF) and the safety of intense physical activity. The study found that both moderate and vigorous levels of exercise are safe for women living with AF. However, vigorous levels of exercise are associated with an increased risk of AF in men. The research, analyzing data from a large-scale or robust patient population of nearly 380,000 patients, was presented at Heart Rhythm 2015, the Heart Rhythm Society’s 36th annual scientific sessions.

A largest-of-its kind study has found that women who experience menopause at a younger age are at a decreased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). The study followed nearly 18,000 women and revealed that women experiencing menopause younger than 44 years had a significantly lower risk of AF than women entering menopause between the ages of 44-50. The research was presented at Heart Rhythm 2015, the Heart Rhythm Society’s 36th annual scientific sessions.

Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE) has just released the first-ever electrophysiology (EP) and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) standards for accreditation. Driven by the latest available clinical evidence, the EP and ICD standards are a comprehensive review of interventional procedures in patients and adults with heart rhythm disorders.

Combining statins for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and calcium channel antagonists for blood pressure reduces harmful coronary plaque, according to a study presented at the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2015 Scientific Sessions in San Diego. The study, presented as a late-breaking clinical trial, found aggressive medication therapy does not provide additional benefit compared to standard cholesterol and blood pressure-lowering therapy.