Blood pressure monitoring might one day become as easy as taking a video selfie, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, an American Heart Association journal.

Cardiovascular Systems Inc. (CSI) has acquired the Wirion Embolic Protection System and related assets from Gardia Medical Ltd., a wholly owned Israeli subsidiary of Allium Medical Solutions Ltd.

A West Virginia-based rural medical outreach event showcased the use of point-of-care technology in an ambulatory setting and demonstrated that it can enhance clinical decision making. Physicians used new digital health technologies to diagnose acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases in a resource-limited area, and found that it improved their ability to diagnose common cardiac conditions such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Research findings on how this technology-based care impacts provider referral and downstream testing were presented during the 30th Annual American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) Scientific Sessions, June 21-25 in Portland, Ore.

Abbott is recalling the Ellipse Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) because electrical failures have been identified and determined to be due to a faulty manufacturing process, causing some aluminum wires to be partially exposed. ICDs which contain aluminum wires that are not fully insulated are prone to electrical shorting of the capacitor. The potential patient impact could be the inability to deliver high voltage therapy. There is currently no available method or procedure to determine which of these devices have this issue prior to failure.

B. Braun Interventional Systems Inc. (BIS) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Device Designation for the SeQuent Please ReX drug-coated PTCA balloon catheter for the treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Dassault Systèmes announced the five-year extension of its collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The 3DEXPERIENCE platform will be used to develop a new digital tool to enable more efficient regulatory review of cardiovascular and medical devices. Researchers hope the process will increase industry innovation and pave the way for an efficient path for patients to access safe, effective new treatments for the world’s leading cause of death – heart disease.