January 27, 2011 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) Supplement allowing more patients to participate in the ADVANCE trial. The bridge-to-transplant will let a third allotment of 94 more patients under a Continued Access Protocol (CAP).

January 27, 2011 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Circulatory System Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee agreed this week that carotid stenting was safe for patients at standard surgical risk.

January 27, 2011 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted conditional investigational device exemption (IDE) approval to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a cath lab robotic navigation system to direct guidewires and place coronary stents.

January 26, 2011 – Patient enrollment has begun in China for a trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a next-generation stent. The PLATINUM China clinical trial will look at the Promus Element Everolimus-Eluting Platinum Chromium Coronary Stent, by Boston Scientific, for treating patients with a single de novo atherosclerotic lesion.

January 25, 2011 – The cost to treat heart disease in the United States will triple by 2030, according to a policy statement published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

January 24, 2011 – Boston Scientific has reached an agreement with Fukuda Denshi to market and sell its cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices and accessories throughout Japan. Fukuda Denshi will begin distributing the CRM products this quarter. Fukuda Denshi has been operating in Japan for more than 70 years. For more information: www.bostonscientific.com

January 24, 2011 – A new device for treating peripheral artery disease (PAD) is now available in Europe. W.L. Gore and Associates announced the availability of its Viabahn Endoprosthesis on a lower profile delivery system at the Leipzig Interventional Course in Germany.