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.

January 24, 2011 – The first U.S. clinical implant of a device designed to restore more natural breathing patterns in patients with central sleep apnea was made last week at The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus.

January 21, 2011 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week unveiled a plan containing 25 actions it intends to implement during 2011 to improve its 510(k) review of medical technology, the most common path to market for medical devices.

January 20, 2011 – European CE mark approval was granted to expand the indication of Abbott’s Xience Prime everolimus-eluting coronary stent for the treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI) or severe claudication (pain) of the lower leg. CLI is the most advanced form of peripheral artery disease (PAD) that can ultimately lead to limb amputation.

January 20, 2011 – Results from a large, worldwide, clinical trial show evidence that a first-of-its-kind pacemaker system is safe and effective to use during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During the trial, no MRI-related complications were reported in patients with the pacemaker system before, during, or after an MRI examination.

January 19, 2011 – The patient support group Mended Hearts, in partnership with Daiichi Sankyo Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company, this week launched the Stent Hub – an online patient and caregiver resource for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients who were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).