December 22, 2014—Chelmsford, Mass.—ZOLL® Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Advanced Circulatory Systems, Inc., based in Roseville, Minn., which develops technologies to non-invasively increase circulation.

One third of cardiology departments have consolidated their cardiovascular information system (CVIS) vendors and 45 percent plan to do so, according to a recent survey.

Informatics and innovations sessions at ACR 2015™ can help radiology professionals overcome information technology (IT) challenges and support enterprise imaging initiatives as medicine moves from volume to value-based care. Early bird registration and abstract submission deadlines are approaching for ACR 2015™, the all-new American College of Radiology (ACR) annual meeting, May 17–21, 2015, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. 

iRhythm Technologies, Inc., a leading digital health care solutions company focusing on the advancement of cardiac care, today announced that it has secured a CE mark (Conformité Européenne) for the ZIO Service, enabling the company to market its long-term continuous heart monitoring solution in Europe. The company also announced its first international market entry through an exclusive agreement with CardioLogic Ltd, which will make the ZIO Service available to patients throughout the United Kingdom to improve the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (Afib) and other cardiac arrhythmias. Financial terms were not disclosed

Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. announced that its Dose Tracking System (DTS) was awarded the coveted Innovative Technology designation by Novation at its Innovative Technology Expo on Sept. 10, 2014, at the Irving Convention Center, Irving, Texas.

The American Heart Association today awarded its Basic Research Prize for 2014 to Ande Terzic, M.D., Ph.D., of the Mayo Clinic “for pioneering applications of emerging technologies to advance the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disorders.” Terzic received the prize during opening ceremonies of the AHA’s Scientific Sessions 2014 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Association President Elliott Antman of Boston presented the prize, a citation and $5,000 honorarium, recognizing outstanding achievement in basic cardiovascular science.

“I will be talking through the drone now. Please put down the phone.” Sounds like sci-fi, but a graduate student at Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands built an aerial “ambulance drone” that can transport a defibrillator to treat people in cardiac arrest. The drone’s communication system includes a web cam that emergency personnel use to instruct bystanders. See the drone and supporting cast here.    

The Department of Homeland Security is working with manufacturers of implantable cardioverter defibrillators, pacemakers and other devices to plug holes in coding that might make them vulnerable to hackers, according to Reuters.