December 27, 2011 — ImaCor Inc. announced that 25 leading hospitals in the United States, Canada and Europe are now using its hemodynamic transesophageal echocardiographic (hTEE) management devices. The ClariTEE probe and Zura imaging platform allow physicians to directly visualize cardiac size and function of high-risk anesthesiology patients during and after surgery.

December 27, 2011 – In a move to re-engineer the process of translating scientific discoveries into new drugs, diagnostics and devices, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has established the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). The action was made possible by Congress’ approval of a fiscal year 2012 spending bill and the president’s signing of the bill, which includes the establishment of NCATS with a budget of $575 million.

Diagnostic & Interventional Cardiology (DAIC) magazine is looking for readers' opinions about what they think are the most innovative cardiac technologies released in the past year. We also want readers to give us their opinions on what will be the hot trends in 2012.

December 22, 2011 — TriVascular Inc. announced the first Canadian patients treated with its Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft. The ultra-low profile (14F OD) system is designed to expand the patient population suitable for endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) by addressing a wider range of diseased anatomy. Cherrie Abraham, M.D., vascular surgery, McGill University, performed the first case in Canada at Montreal Jewish General Hospital (JGH). The second case, also performed at JGH, was performed by Daniel Obrand, M.D., chief of vascular surgery, JGH.

December 22 2011 — A recent United States study on the importance of measuring rates of rehospitalization following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has drawn the attention of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The research, published in the JACC Cardiovascular Interventions, represents one of the first studies to explore PCI readmissions. According to ESC, it highlights the need for similar studies to be initiated across Europe to improve patient care.

December 20, 2011 – Boston Scientific reported positive long-term data from the PERSEUS clinical program, which demonstrated favorable two-year safety and effectiveness outcomes for the Ion (Taxus Element) paclitaxel-eluting patinum chromium stent system versus prior-generation paclitaxel-eluting stents. Results were presented today by PERSEUS clinical program principal investigators Louis Cannon, M.D., of the Cardiac and Vascular Research Center of Northern Michigan in Petoskey, Mich., and Dean Kereiakes, M.D., medical director at The Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Center and The Lindner Research Center in Cincinnati, at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation's annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium in San Francisco.