Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., announces the first patient enrollment in its prospective, randomized CALCIUM 360° clinical trial, part of the company’s 360° Clinical Series. The CALCIUM 360° study will evaluate the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) behind and below the knee using CSI’s Diamondback 360® PAD System, a minimally invasive catheter for treating PAD anywhere in the leg. [More]

Smoking cigarettes not only contributes to lung cancer and emphysema, it also leads to back pain and spine problems, according to recent studies and observations from leading neurosurgeons in Chicago. [More]

The Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona today announced the availability of Corus(TM) CAD, the first and only gene expression test to quantify the likelihood of obstructive(i) coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with stable chest pain. [More]

Aterovax SA, a company developing innovative products for atherosclerosis, today announced data demonstrating that its blood test for secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) activity significantly improves cardiovascular risk prediction in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) over a 5 year period, independent of established risk markers, including C-reactive protein. [More]

Fear about the risk of surgery is among the reasons half of eligible patients are not getting aortic valve replacement surgery, according to a study by physicians at the University of Michigan Health System. [More]

Hospital for Special Surgery today announced the establishment of one of the most comprehensive centers of excellence in the country for the treatment of all nonoperative and operative spine disorders. [More]

Osteotech, Inc., a leader in the emerging field of biologic products for regenerative healing, today announced it is highlighting three procedure-specific MagniFuse(TM) bone grafting products for different spine therapy areas at the North American Spine Society (NASS) 2009 Annual Meeting, taking place November 10th through 14th in San Francisco, California. To date MagniFuse has been used in 40 spinal surgeries in the United States [More]

After helping thousands of patients get their lives back through minimally invasive endoscopic spinal surgery at their facilities in Tampa and Scottsdale, the Laser Spine Institute announces the opening of a new medical center in Philadelphia. [More]

Among eligible Medicare beneficiaries, increased use of carotid arterial stenting (CAS) procedures to treat carotid stenosis-the narrowing of the carotid artery-is associated with higher rates of mortality and adverse clinical outcomes, including heart attack and stroke, according to researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. [More]

Facet Solutions, Inc. announced today that it has acquired all of the assets of Archus Orthopedics. The acquisition creates an undisputed leadership position in product offerings, intellectual property and clinical experience in posterior motion preservation. "This is a win for patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis," stated Facet Solutions' President & CEO, Geoff Pardo. "This consolidation further strengthens Facet Solutions' position in lumbar spine motion preservation surgery, which is the fastest growing sector of the surgical spine marketplace." [More]

Atrium Medical Corporation is proud to announce the release of the final results of the "COCTAIL Study," a clinical study comparing local administration of an anti-platelet medication with the company's proprietary infusion balloon technology. [More]

Applied Spine Technologies (www.appliedspine.com) announces the first patient surgery at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as part of their FDA approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Stabilimax® Dynamic Spine Stabilization System. [More]

Bioconnect Systems, Inc. announced today that data from the Company's first clinical study will be presented this week at the ASN Meeting in San Diego. Bioconnect’s implant platform, the Optiflow™, enhances a surgeon’s ability to create precise vascular connections. [More]

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, presented the results of three 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) persistency analyses at ACG 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting, evaluating persistency of Lialda® (mesalamine), Asacol® (mesalamine), Pentasa® (mesalamine) (250mg and 500mg), balsalazide [combined results from generic balsalazide disodium and Colazal® (balsalazide disodium)], and Dipentum® (olsalazine sodium) (500mg). [More]

Interim six month clinical results on the use of the FlexStent Femoropopliteal Self Expanding Stent System in the Superficial Femoral Artery were presented today at the VIVA conference by Dr. William Gray of NY Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. [More]