http://www.ptca.org/voice/index.html A blog about the medical device industry, drug-eluting stents, balloons, diagnostic imaging, interventional cardiology, stent thrombosis, restenosis from the editor of Angioplasty.Org en-us copyright 2005-2007 Venture Digital LLC Mon, 3 Sep 2007 15:38:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/images/voiceintheear.gif http://www.ptca.org/voice/index.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2008_0515.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2008_0515.html Commentary on the New England Journal critique of Johnson & Johnson's CYPHER stent TV ad campaign, such as it was. Was this really a Direct-To-Consumer effort? Thu, 15 May 2008 10:50:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_1112.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_1112.html The New York Times announces that the drug-eluting stent has been pardoned and taken off Death Row. So what has changed? Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:50:00 EST http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_1108.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_1108.html More about the mis-reporting of the recent CorE 64 Study, which demonstrated the accuracy of Multislice CT scans for ruling out coronary artery disease Thu, 8 Nov 2007 11:14:00 EST http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_1106.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_1106.html A medical breakthrough and a 30's sci-fi flick. Tue, 6 Nov 2007 09:48:00 EST http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0903.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0903.html Drug-eluting stent news out of the European Congress of Cardiology places the device back in favor. Will England follow? Mon, 3 Sep 2007 15:38:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0608.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0608.html Last week Consumer Reports posted their recommendations on angioplasty and CT angiograms, as part of their CR Medical Guide web site. So many mistakes; so little time. Fri, 8 Jun 2007 19:14:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0419.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0419.html The New England Journal of Medicine bars high profile interventional cardiologist, Dr. Martin Leon, from reviewing articles for five years due to his alleged breaking of the embargo on the COURAGE trial. Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:26:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0407.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0407.html Gina Kolata's article in tomorrow's New York Times is a welcome addition to the many flawed articles that have hit the popular press in the past two weeks since the results of the COURAGE trial were announced. Sat, 7 Apr 2007 18:36:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0319.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0319.html The classic 1966 movie makes another appearance in CNNMoney. Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:25:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0307.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0307.html Will the FDA announce DES label changes today. Read Burt's picks for the winners. Wed, 07 Mar 2007 06:02:00 EST http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0305.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0305.html Cheney, Waxman and Waksman -- a confluence of events involving thrombosis in the nation's capitol Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:53:00 EST http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0302.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0302.html An invitation to a typical evening gala in Washington. Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:37:00 EST http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0228.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0228.html For 30 years surgeons and interventional cardiologists have been debating the issue of open heart bypass surgery vs. angioplasty and stents. Now a front page story In the New York Times reports that, given the recent concerns over drug-eluting stent problems, in some patients bypass surgery may be a better solution than stents for treating the problem of coronary artery disease. Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:45:00 EST http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0215.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0215.html Prime-time TV gets it wrong again when it comes to the best treatment for heart attack. Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0112.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0112.html Two-thirds of all stents are placed incorrectly. Can IVUS be the answer? Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:55:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0103.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0103.html A report from Canada dramatizes the big advance made possible by balloons and stents in the treatment of heart attacks. Wed, 03 Jan 2007 08:39:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0102.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2007_0102.html A Swiss report in today's JACC brings up another potential problem for drug-eluting stents. Tue, 02 Jan 2007 13:56:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1228.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1228.html The second commentary on the FDA stent safety panel. Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:30:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1212.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1212.html The first of several commentaries about last week's FDA panel on late stent thrombosis Tue, 12 Dec 2006 14:45:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1130.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1130.html There's a crack at the FDA and patients are falling through it. There's a problem (compliance) and a solution (education). But who will assume responsibility? Whose job is it anyway? Thu, 30 Nov 2006 15:44:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1121.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1121.html This morning's inaccurate and alarmist MSNBC article by Robert Bazell tries to scare everyone. Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:45:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1116.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1116.html Last month we ran a feature about Conor Medsystems and suggested that Cordis might be interested. It was. Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:06 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1027.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1027.html Intercontinental cardiologists: mano a mano at the TCT. Fri, 27 Oct 2006 17:19:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1023.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1023.html The Firestorm over drug-eluting stents strikes the TCT Mon, 23 Oct 2006 11:15:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1018.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1018.html Abbott and Boston Scientific seem to be sharing the same locker room these days. Wed, 18 Oct 2006 10:10:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1013.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1013.html BusinessWeek profiles the upcoming TCT meeting -- and I got left out of the action Fri, 13 Oct 2006 14:06:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1003.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1003.html Three polls show trends in thinking among interventional cardiologists -- and the trends are inching away from the love affair with the first generation of drug-eluting stents. Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:21:18 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1001.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_1001.html The Stent Blog is relaunched after an extended hiatus and the FDA ponders whether to recall the word "recall". Sun, 01 Oct 2006 00:18:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0401.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0401.html Noted: The passing of film director Richard Fleischer who made "Fantastic Voyage" in 1966 -- and its connections to angioplasty Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0319.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0319.html The ACC and AHA have now issued public health alerts to clopidogrel (Plavix) and aspirin patients across the country who may have "misinterpreted" the news stories about the CHARISMA trial. But who misinterpreted whom? Sun, 19 Mar 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0313.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0313.html Yesterday's CHARISMA study has generated a lot of headlines warning people not to take Plavix and aspirin together -- but it's a different story for stent patients Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0128.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0128.html Why reporting (or failure to report) adverse events is bad: bad for patient safety and ultimately bad for the device company. A plea to manufacturers to step up to the plate. Sat, 28 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0125.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0125.html Deconstructing Guidant -- Boston Scientific and Abbott each wed Guidant and Johnson & Johnson is left looking for love Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0123.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0123.html Another look at Abbott's history with Boston Scientific. And a question: Can corporations have personal bonds? Mon, 23 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0117.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0117.html Boston Scientific ups the ante significantly for acquiring Guidant. Will Johnson & Johnson respond? Tue, 17 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0115.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0115.html A look at the competition between Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific, past, present and future Sun, 15 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0113.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0113.html Explanation of why I felt compelled to create the TimeLine Fri, 13 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0113_timeline.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0113_timeline.html Chronology of Johnson & Johnson's and Boston Scientific's bids for Guidant Fri, 13 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0111.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0111.html Guidant's Board votes for Johnson & Johnson's acquisition offer and, by going with the guys from Joisey, breaks up many hoped-for luncheon dates and picnics in Minnesota and California Wed, 11 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0110.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0110.html Financial dealings between Boston Scientific and Abbott are not new; Abbott used to own 20% of Boston Tue, 10 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0109.html http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2006_0109.html If the deal goes through, Abbott will buy Guidant's endovascular business to ease FTC approval. But what about carotid stents? Mon, 09 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/index.html#20051129 http://www.ptca.org/voice/index.html#20051129 Boston Scientific reruns a press release from last month Tue, 29 Nov 2005 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/index.html#20051126 http://www.ptca.org/voice/index.html#20051126 Boston Scientific claims that numbers from the FDA's adverse event database show Taxus has advantages over the competing Cypher stent. Is this claim valid? Sat, 26 Nov 2005 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/index.html#20051125 http://www.ptca.org/voice/index.html#20051125 After a short break, the Stent Blog has returned with a subscription option and an RSS feed Fri, 25 Nov 2005 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051029 http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051029 Which drug-eluting stent is better and safer: Cypher or Taxus? And how do the medical device companies spin the results of clinical trials? Sat, 29 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051028 http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051028 Andreas Gruentzig invented the live demonstration course. Gary Roubin of Lenox Hill Heart & Vascular Institute of NY worked with Gruentzig -- in this video clip, Dr. Roubin, who will be conducting his own live demonstration course in November, discusses not only the role of this educational tool, but his thoughts on how Gruentzig might view today's developments (stents, etc.) in the field he started Fri, 28 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051027 http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051027 Twenty years ago Andreas Gruentzig, the inventor of coronary angioplasty, died in a plane crash, ending an era in interventional cardiology. He never made the appointment he had set up with Richard Schatz, MD who was eager to show him his new invention: the stent! Thu, 27 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051024 http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051024 Cardiac surgeon Mehmet Oz and the nursing staff from Columbia Presbyterian held a press conference at the TCT on the topic of "The Critical Role of the Nurse in Patient Education" -- a discussion I found to be one of the most important. Mon, 24 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051015 http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051015 Burt is off to the TCT for a week of fun, free meals, frenetic clinical trials. He'll be reporting on the meeting when he returns, but here's his take on what the TCT is all about. Sat, 15 Oct 2005 21:18:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051009 http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051009 Angioplasty.Org appeared in the New York Times "Week in Review" today, but a photo in the article from the movie "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" got me to thinking about the duality inherent in the current state of medical devices. Sun, 09 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051007 http://www.ptca.org/voice/archives/2005_10.html#20051007 A discussion of the Rapid Exchange balloon delivery system that will probably figure into the FTC approval of Johnson & Johnson's purchase of Guidant and how this may affect the fortunes of Abbott and Medtronic. Fri, 07 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT