June 1, 2012 — Miracor Medical Systems GmbH announced that it has been granted three new U.S. patents covering a unique dual balloon method and the new “Wien Algorithm” of its novel PICSO (Pressure-Controlled Intermittent Coronary Sinus Occlusion) system that ensures a stable and repeatable PICSO treatment designed to improve myocardial perfusion following primary PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention, or angioplasty).

June 1, 2012 — When opening a new hospital or medical center, partnering with the right diagnostic imaging vendor with patient-focused technology and a trusted, responsive service and support team is critical to meet the tight deadlines of bringing a new facility online. As part of its new Gates Vascular Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., Kaleida Health selected Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. to install 14 Infinix-i vascular X-ray systems, which will be used for all cardiovascular, neuro, vascular and electrophysiology (EP) procedures. Toshiba and Kaleida Health worked closely together to install all 14 systems within three months, ensuring the vascular labs were ready when the new facility’s doors opened.

May 31, 2012 —Occlutech GmbH, the leading European developer of minimally invasive implants for the treatment of structural heart disease, announced receiving a favorable Supreme Court ruling from The Hague in The Netherlands in the ongoing patent litigation with AGA/St. Jude Medical. A first instance court ruling obtained in favour of Occlutech had been appealed by AGA in 2008, as had the favorable appeal court decision obtained in 2010.

May 30, 2012 - According to study results to be featured in the late-breaking clinical trials session at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 21st Annual Scientific and Clinical Congress in Philadelphia, the Resolute drug-eluting stent (DES) from Medtronic Inc. yields strong performance in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients both with and without diabetes through two years of follow-up.

May 30, 2012 — Leroy Chiao, Ph.D., a former NASA astronaut, will share his experiences in performing and transmitting echocardiograms from outer space during a special presentation during the American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) 23rd Annual Scientific Sessions in National Harbor, Md., June 30-July 3. The session, “Hearts in Space”, planned for July 3 from 12:00-1:15 p.m., will give attendees insight into the medical aspects of the U.S. space program as well as the short- and long-term impact of weightlessness on cardiovascular function. The session will inform attendee’s clinical practice by relating remote diagnosis from space to terrestrial telemedicine.

May 30, 2012 — At the European Stroke Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, Stryker announced the results of the TREVO 2 clinical trial. The study met the primary effectiveness endpoint, with the Trevo Retriever achieving significantly better post-device revascularization than the Merci Retriever (86.4 percent in the Trevo Retriever arm compared to 60 percent in the Merci Retriever arm).