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The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is reporting that a virtual reality simulator is a good way for physicians to learn how to perform risky catheter procedures such as carotid angiography. The study, to be published in the May 2, 2006, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, investigated how a virtual reality simulator, the Procedicus Vascular Interventional System Trainer (VIST), a product of Mentice AB of Gothenburg, Sweden, influenced clinical performance of twenty clinicians. According to the press release, “cardiologists committed fewer catheter errors, while performing the virtual procedure in less time, and subjecting the virtual patient to less X-ray imaging and smaller injections of contrast agent during the final run compared to the first one.”

The American College of Cardiology press release…

The system homepage at Mentice…

The product brochure (.pdf)…

via MedGadget

After 75 years of invasive and over 50 years of interventional cardiology, cardiac catheter-based procedures have become the most frequently used interventions of modern medicine. Patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outnumber those with coronary artery bypass surgery by a factor of 2 to 4. The default approach to PCI is the implantation of a (drug-eluting) stent, in spite of the fact that it improves the results of balloon angioplasty only in about 25% of cases.

Abstract

The success of angioplasty depends on a balance between two conflicting objectives: maximization of artery lumen patency and minimization of mechanical damage. A finite element model for the patient-specific prediction of angioplasty is proposed as a potential tool to assist clinicians. This paper describes the general methodology and the algorithm that computes device/artery friction work during balloon insertion and deployment. The potential of the model is demonstrated with examples that include artery model reconstruction and prediction of friction on the arterial wall during balloon insertion and deployment.

Article

Between April 2002 and September 2005, data were collected on 15,157 patients who underwent implantation of > or =1 SES at 279 medical centers from 41 countries. An independent endpoint review committee adjudicated all reported major adverse cardiovascular events, stent thromboses, and target-vessel revascularizations. Data were managed and analyzed by independent organizations.

Abstract

Abbott Laboratories said Friday it has completed acquisition of Guidant Corp.’s vascular business for $4.1 billion.

Full news

Clopidogrel, in combination wih aspirin, is currently the drug of choice to prevent thrombosis after coronary stent implantation. Currently, clopidogrel is administered to the vast majority of patients without any assessment of platelet inhibition. Response variability and resistance, however, definitely occur to clopidogrel treatment. Preliminary data support the hypothesis that patients with reactive or clopidogrel nonresponsive platelets are at risk for thrombotic events.

Abstract

Bifurcation lesions have been recognized as one of the most important challenges facing the interventional cardiologist since the beginnings of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The potential of periprocedural occlusion of the side branch was discovered to be significant, leading to early attempts at protecting the side branch with a second guide wire and kissing balloon inflation in order to minimize this risk and thus improve the procedural and short-term success of the procedure.

Abstract

Controversy exists regarding the diagnostic accuracy, optimal technique, and timing of exercise testing after percutaneous coronary intervention. The objectives of the present study were to analyze variables and the power of exercise testing to predict restenosis or a new lesion, 6 months after the procedure. Eight-four coronary multi-artery diseased patients with preserved ventricular function were studied (66 males, mean age of all patients: 59 +/- 10 years). All underwent coronary angiography and exercise testing with the Bruce protocol, before and 6 months after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Full text

Ten patients underwent rescue percutaneous coronary intervention for myocardial infarction or ischemia soon after coronary artery bypass grafting, and 6 received drug-eluting stents (DESs). Outcomes were limited primarily by bleeding events.

Pubmed abstract

Proposed government changes that would cut federal Medicare reimbursements to hospitals for costly heart implants sent shares of device makers tumbling in Thursday trading.

The move weighed on shares of major coronary device manufacturers, with stent maker Boston Scientific Corp. down 64 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $21.52. Guidant Corp., which is being acquired by Boston Scientific, was also 89 cents lower at $77.88.

Mechanical heart valve maker Saint Jude Medical Inc. dropped $1.20, or 3.3 percent, to $35.65, and defibrillator and pacemaker firm Medtronic Inc. lost $1.03, or 2 percent, to $50.01. Johnson & Johnson, which also makes stents, slipped 4 cents to $57.83.

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AngioScore, Inc. was founded in 2003 with the mission of developing, making and selling leading edge tools for endovascular therapy. The company’s senior management team has built and led successful companies in interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery and diabetes treatment. Our Medical Advisory Board is made up of thought leaders in interventional cardiology practice and research.

The AngioSculpt Scoring Balloon Catheter is AngioScore’s first product. There were 2.2 million coronary angioplasty procedures worldwide in 2004 representing an estimated $855 million in sales of balloon angioplasty catheters.

The AngioSculpt scoring balloon catheter is CE mark approved for routine use in coronary arteries as an alternative to traditional angioplasty balloons. Traditional balloon angioplasty catheters have evolved little over the past 15 years ago and have many limitations. The innovative design of the AngioSculpt Scoring Balloon Catheter and its superb clinical performance provides interventional cardiologists with a long-needed improvement over traditional angioplasty balloons, particularly in patients with complex lesions.

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AngioScore Inc. announced the successful completion of a $30 million private equity financing. The Series D round was led by Telegraph Hill Partners. QuestMark Partners L.P. also participated as a new institutional investor in this round. The company’s existing institutional investors, all of whom participated in this round, include Psilos Group Management, UV Partners, California Technology Ventures and Innomed Ventures.

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OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to compare the stent strut distribution between Cypher and Taxus stents by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in a phantom model.

Link

The evolution of minimally invasive endovascular technology has initiated a significant paradigm shift in the treatment of vascular disease. A fundamental understanding of the science and engineering behind the technology of endovascular stents is a key to their appropriate implementation in practice.

Pubmed