February 17, 2011 – Abnormal heart rate turbulence is associated with an increased risk of heart disease death in otherwise low-risk older individuals, according to a study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study appears in the Feb. 15 edition of the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.

February 16, 2011 – To expand its portfolio of devices for lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD), Boston Scientific this week acquired two new technologies to treat chronic total occlusions (CTOs).

February 16, 2011 – Enrollment has been completed for a trial investigating a force-sensitive catheter during cardiac ablation. The EFFICAS study in intended to demonstrate that the TactiCath catheter, by Endosense, results in superior outcomes in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

February 8, 2011 — The only direct National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable dose calibrator source for Ga-68 and F-18 is now available in a 1 mCi (37 MBq) sealed source. This will help positron emission tomography (PET) manufacturers and end-users comply with all FDA, NRC, state regulations and with 21 CFR 212; cGMP for PET drugs.

February 14, 2011 – Acute ischemic stroke hospitalizations among middle-aged and older men and women fell between 1994 and 2007, but sharply increased among those under age 35 – including teens and children – according to research presented at the International Stroke Conference.?

February 14, 2011 – Cardiac surgeons now have a simple, noninvasive way to assess patients at risk for poor outcomes prior to surgery with the Invos Cerebral/Somatic Oximeter, from Covidien.