Cath Lab

The cardiac catheterization laboratory is used for diagnostic angiograms and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Cath labs have also seen expanding use in recent years for transcatheter structural heart procedures. Some hospitals also share these labs with other subspecialties for catheter-based procedures in electrophysiology (EP), interventional radiology, peripheral artery disease (PAD), carotid and neuro interventional procedures and vascular surgery.

Medical device company raises $87M to study new-look scaffolds for BTK PAD
R3 Vascular also announced that Christopher M. Owens, a veteran of the medical device industry, is its new president and CEO.
Radial vs. femoral access during PCI: Real-world data show proof of a ‘sea change’ in cardiology
The use of radial access during PCI procedures is increasing throughout the United States, and new data presented at the SCAI's annual meeting suggest that could be beneficial for patients.
FDA approves Abbott’s resorbable stent for BTK arteries
The bioresorbable stent, examined at length for the LIFE-BTK clinical trial, stays in place for up to three years before completely dissolving.
FDA clears new catheter for peripheral blood clots
The new-look catheter came out of a medical device incubator started by entrepreneur Eitan Konstantino, PhD, who has years of experience in the vascular space.
Cardiologists make history, perform first-ever transcaval TAVR for pure aortic regurgitation
The 65-year-old male patient presented with a long medical history and many comorbidities, making surgery too risky.

Thoratec receives conditional FDA approval for the Shield II U.S. clinical trial for HeartMate PHP

Thoratec Corporation, a world leader in mechanical circulatory support therapies to save, support and restore failing hearts, announced that the FDA has granted conditional approval for a U.S. IDE clinical trial to investigate use of the HeartMate PHP acute catheter-based heart pump in patients undergoing a high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention.

May 27, 2015

TAVR in low-risk patients holds steady at 2 years

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) continued to hold its own against surgery in low-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis, based on two-year results presented May 19 at EuroPCR in Paris.

May 19, 2015

Get ready for SCAI, HRS

This is the month for subspecialty cardiology conferences in the U.S., with two major meetings setting anchors on each coast.

May 1, 2015

Prairie Heart Institute breaks a record: First cath lab in Illinois to achieve ACE accreditation

The Prairie Heart Institute at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, has become the first cardiac catheterization laboratory in Illinois to achieve ACE accreditation. It is also one of the highest volume facilities to achieve this notable accomplishment.

February 21, 2015

Researchers said they were surprised to learn that "no pain, no gain" was so accurate for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). A news study found patients should push past the pain because it improves outcomes.

VIVA.14: Promising 1-year results for drug-coated balloons in diabetics

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and diabetes who underwent treatment with a drug-coated balloon fared better than counterparts who received standard care, according to a subanalysis of the IN.PACT SFA trial.

November 10, 2014

VIVA.14: Zilver PTX holds strong at five years

At five years, the Zilver PTX stent proved to be a durable treatment for peripheral artery disease with sustained benefit, results presented Nov. 4 at the 2014 Vascular Interventional Advances (VIVA) meeting showed.

November 7, 2014

VIVA.14: DISRUPT PAD brings lithoplasty technique to peripheral lesions

Shockwaves appear to have early success in breaking up calcified lesions safely. In research presented Nov. 5 at the 2014 Vascular Interventional Advances (VIVA) meeting in Las Vegas, a lithotripsy-with-balloon technique used on peripheral artery lesions resulted in all patients achieving less than 50 percent stenosis.

November 6, 2014

Covidien announces 12-month DEFINITIVE AR results at VIVA 2014

Covidien announced 12-month results of the DEFINITIVE AR study, the first randomized study designed to identify the clinical benefits of plaque removal using directional atherectomy followed by drug coated balloon. The results were presented by Professor Thomas Zeller of the Universitaets-Herzzentrum, Bad Krozingen, Germany at the Vascular Interventional Advances (VIVA) 2014 conference in Las Vegas, Nev.

November 6, 2014

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Cath Lab

Medical device company raises $87M to study new-look scaffolds for BTK PAD

Radial vs. femoral access during PCI: Real-world data show proof of a ‘sea change’ in cardiology

FDA approves Abbott’s resorbable stent for BTK arteries

FDA clears new catheter for peripheral blood clots

Cardiologists make history, perform first-ever transcaval TAVR for pure aortic regurgitation

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