January 15, 2010 – The FDA has approved a trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Diamondback 360º atherectomy system in treating calcified coronary lesions.

January 15, 2010 – The U.S. Patent Office this week issued a patent for the wireless transmission system used by the CardioBip remote monitor, which generates recordings equivalent in quality with standard 12-lead ECGs.

January 13, 2010 – The January issue of the Harvard Heart Letter says assessing a patient’s “artery age” can help predict the person’s chances for vascular diseases, including heart disease. The article also offers a survey to help judge artery age.

January 13, 2010 – A study evaluating the effectiveness of the Clir-Path laser atherectomy system met its primary endpoint by reducing the diameter of stenosis. Results from the CELLO (CLiRpath Excimer Laser System to Enlarge Lumen Openings) study were published in the December issue of the Journal of Endovascular Therapy.

January 13, 2010 – Transcatheter heart valve development company CardiAQ Valve Technologies (CVT) closed a $6.5 million funding deal to clinically validate its technology and carry the company through initial first-in-man studies.

January 11, 2010 – A hypertension drug using a combination of telmisartan/amlodipine, which requires less-frequent dosing than Novartis's Diovan/Tareg (valsartan), may earn 30 percent patient share according to surveyed U.S. cardiologists. Similarly, in Europe, the agent would earn comparable patient share of 25 percent according to surveyed European cardiologists.