The device’s new design supports hospitals in their initiatives to mobilize patients as early as possible to accelerate the healing process and provide a consistent level of monitoring care while mobile.

The first U.S. installation of the Infinity M300 was at Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota, the region’s only hospital dedicated solely to the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. The M300 is also installed at facilities in Germany.

In addition to monitoring ECG and SpO2, the Infinity M300 has built-in algorithms to enhance ECG processing and reduce false alarms – such as pacer detection software and ACE (Arrhythmia Classification Expert), an arrhythmia analysis tool.

Infinity M300 is designed to address the three major challenges of telemetry monitoring:

1. Viewing patient information at the patient’s side.

Unlike traditional telemetry products, which have no screen, Infinity M300 has a color display that shows the patient’s ECG for all monitored leads, heart rate, SpO2, and electrode status. This enables clinical staff to access monitored data and react promptly without having to go to the central monitoring station. It also shows patient demographics to help confirm the patient’s identification before giving medication, taking blood samples, or performing treatments.

2. Hearing and responding to alarms.

Infinity M300 has built-in alarming and alarm controls, which provide alarm alerts both at the patient’s side and the Infinity CentralStation workstation. The color display helps the clinician assess alarms and respond accordingly.

3. Eliminating the cost and effort associated with disposable batteries.

Infinity M300 has a built-in battery, which can be recharged via a bedside charger while the patient is wearing the device, or at a multi-device charger at the central monitoring station.

Based on industry-standard 802.11b technology, Infinity M300 provides continuous standalone monitoring – even if the patient inadvertently moves out of the hospital’s wireless network coverage area. Bidirectional communication between Infinity M300 and Draeger’s Infinity CentralStation facilitates wireless data exchange and signal integrity.

August 2008

Company web site: www.draeger.com.

The PROMUS Stent is a private-labeled XIENCE V Everolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent System manufactured by Abbott and distributed by Boston Scientific under an agreement executed prior to the 2006 acquisition of the former Guidant Corp. by Boston Scientific.

The PROMUS Stent expands Boston Scientific's drug-eluting stent (DES) portfolio, which includes the TAXUS Express2 Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System (in the U.S. and international markets) and the TAXUS Liberte Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System (in international markets), making Boston Scientific the only company to offer physicians the choice of two distinct drugs (paclitaxel and everolimus) on separate DES platforms.

The company said the next-generation PROMUS Stent is a highly deliverable, made from cobalt chromium, which allows for thinner struts without sacrificing strength or visibility. The SPIRIT clinical trials indicate the combination of the polymer/stent platform and the controlled release of the everolimus drug results in excellent deliverability, a strong safety profile, low levels of late loss and improved efficacy.

Boston Scientific’s PROMUS Stent and Abbott's XIENCE V Stent are identical products sold by the respective companies under different brand names. The PROMUS (XIENCE V) Stent is indicated for improving coronary luminal diameter in patients with symptomatic heart disease due to de novo native coronary artery lesions (up to 28 mm long) with reference vessel diameter of 2.5 to 4.0 mm.

As a result of agreements related to its acquisition of Guidant in 2006, Boston Scientific shares the rights to everolimus-eluting stent technologies with Abbott, including the XIENCE V Everolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent System (marketed by Boston Scientific as the PROMUS Stent).

July 2008

Company web site: www.bostonscientific.com

This product was posted in Diagnostic and Invasive Cardiology, May/June issue 2008

The Attain StarFix lead, according to the manufacturer, overall, including the acute dislodgements at one day post-implant, has had a low 0.7 percent dislodgement rate. These dislodgement rates are supported by one of the industry’s largest and longest-running left-heart lead clinical studies involving 385 implants followed for up to four years.

The Medtronic Attain StarFix steroid-eluting unipolar lead has a 5-French diameter and is available in 78, 88 and 103 cm. lengths. The Attain StarFix's design includes three soft, polyurethane lobes near the lead tip that, when expanded, enable stable lead placement in the target location. The soft, pliable lobes, which can be deployed to up to a 24-French diameter - about one quarter inch - can reportedly be relaxed multiple times to allow for acute repositioning of the lead as necessary. Once deployed, the electrode is securely fixed in place, reducing the potential for dislodgement.

The Attain StarFix lead is designed for achieving successful placement and stability of the left-heart lead in heart failure patients receiving a CRT device. A patient’s vein size or configuration can make it difficult to secure a left-heart lead in the optimal location. Therefore, stable fixation of the left-heart lead is critical to a successful CRT implantation. Dislodgement of the left heart lead may require additional surgeries, which could increase the risk of infection.

The Attain StarFix lead, which will be commercially available nationwide in late summer 2008, is designed to complement the Attain Model 4193 and Model 4194 over-the-wire leads. The Attain catheters along with the Attain Hybrid Guide Wires are used to deliver leads for precise placement in a wide variety of coronary anatomies. It can be used with any Medtronic CRT-defibrillator (CRT-D), including those within the company's new Vision 3D(tm) portfolio. The new Vision 3D wireless ICD and CRT-D portfolio offers unparalleled depth and breadth of unique clinical options that are built on our industry leading pacing and ICD exclusives.

Company web site: www.medtronic.com