Must-watch: video showing murder of Kim Jong Nam
Discussion on toxicology discussion boards have brought up the following possibilities:
Tetramine: Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine (TETS) is a rat poison that has been banned since 1984 but which — according to Wikipedia — is still used in China. It is a white powder that is slightly soluble both in water and DMSO, a solvent that could accelerate dermal absorption. TETS is a neurotoxin that acts as a GABA antagonist causing refractory status epileptics, coma, and death. There is no specific antidote.
Aconite: This plant poison is used in several Chinese herbal medicines.Aconite is a sodium channel opener, causing gast...
Source: The Poison Review - February 22, 2017 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Gussow Tags: Medical assassination Kim Jong Nam Kuala Lumpur International Airport malaysia murder North Korea Source Type: news
Medtronic wins FDA clearance for CardioInsight 3D mapping tech
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) said today that it won 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its CardioInsight Noninvasive 3D mapping system, which was designed to map irregular heart rhythms in the upper and lower chambers of the heart and provide electroanatomic 3D maps of the heart.
The CardioInsight system is the 1st commercially available, noninvasive cardiac electrical mapping system in the world, according to Medtronic, and avoids the invasive steps of a traditional procedure to determine the origin of a patient’s irregular heart rhythm.
Medtronic’s 3D cardiac mapping system employs a 252-electrode sensor vest, which i...
Source: Mass Device - February 1, 2017 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Sarah Faulkner Tags: 510(k) Cardiovascular Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Regulatory/Clearance Medtronic Source Type: news
Atrial fibrillation more prevalent in dialysis patients than expected
Atrial fibrillation, which is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, is an important risk factor for strokes. A multi-centre study shows that the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in haemodialysis patients in Vienna is significantly higher than previously thought. Moreover, only half of the patients affected are treated with an anticoagulant. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - January 16, 2017 Category: Science Source Type: news
Hypothermia Diagnosis and Treatment Could Save Lives
Hypothermia is a life threatening condition that may result in death. It is a drop in the core body temperature of less than 95°F (35° Celsius). This temperature is below what is required for normal metabolism and bodily function (Figure 1). The normal body temperature is between 97.7°F and 99.5°F (Fahrenheit) which is the same as 36.5°C and 37.5°C (Celsius). The body's thermoregulation mechanism adjusts to weather changes.
Thermoregulation
During extreme cold, the body receives a signal from sensory receptors. The signal will go up to the brain. The brain then sends a signal to the body to respond to the cold te...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - January 13, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Warmer Oceans Increase Likelihood Of Toxic Shellfish, Study Finds
The neurotoxin domoic acid inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” after hundreds of sooty shearwaters ingested the poison in the summer of 1961 and, well, lost their minds.
The crazed birds likely consumed domoic acid via small fish like anchovies and sardines. It also tends to collect in shellfish, like clams, crabs and lobsters. And, according to a study published Tuesday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it may become more prevalent as oceans warm, threatening birds and humans alike.
Researchers at Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, the National Oce...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - January 11, 2017 Category: Science Source Type: news
Biotronik launches BioMonitor 2 subcutaneous heart monitor trial
Biotronik said today it enrolled the 1st patients in the BioInsight clinical study of its BioMonitor 2 heart monitor, which looks to investigate the feasibility implanting the BioMonitor 2 in office settings.
The BioMonitor 2 device is designed for remote monitoring of patients with atrial fibrillation, syncope, bradycardia and tachychardia, Biotronik said. The device uses Biotronik’s ProMRI technology and is approved for full-body MRI scans at 1.5 and 3 tesla strength.
“One of the benefits of BioMonitor 2 is the ease of the insertion procedure, which typically only takes a few minutes. In-office procedures can r...
Source: Mass Device - December 5, 2016 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Fink Densford Tags: Cardiovascular Clinical Trials Patient Monitoring Biotronik Source Type: news
Macrophage-dependent IL-1 & #946; production induces cardiac arrhythmias in diabetic mice
(D'Or Institute for Research and Education) One of the most serious complications of diabetes, heart arrhythmias, is now on its way to be prevented and combated. Heart problems are responsible for 65 percent of the deaths related to diabetes. This work confirms that the increase in blood glucose causes a specific inflammation, which directly affects the heart. Here the authors propose new therapeutic tools that are promising to treat the heart disease caused by diabetes. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - November 24, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
UPDATE: Apama Medical raises $20m
Updated to include new information from Apama Medical
Novel catheter ablation tech developer Apama Medical said it raised a total of $19.7 million, with $13.2 million coming from a closed Series C round and $6.5 million from a debt facility with Silicon Valley Bank.
Apama Medical is developing novel ablation catheter technology to combine “the best elements of existing ablation technology while incorporating additional unique features to address gaps in current technology,” according to it’s website.
The Series C round was joined by Ascension Ventures, Medvance Incubator Partners, ONSET Ventures, Incept a...
Source: Mass Device - November 18, 2016 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Fink Densford Tags: Catheters Funding Roundup Wall Street Beat Apama Medical Source Type: news
Genetesis lands $1m seed round for CardioFlux heart imaging device
Genetesis said today that it raised a $1.2 million seed round for its CardioFlux heart imaging device.
Cincinatti-based Genetesis said the round was led by CincyTech and Mark Cuban’s Radical Investments and included Loud Capital, Danmar Capital, Wilson Sonsini Investment Company, Genetesis management and private angels.
The CardioFlux device is designed to create a 3D map to characterize the heart’s underlying electrical activity in patients with myocardial ischemia, atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia and other cardiac arrhythmias. The company said it plans to use the proceeds to scale its engineer...
Source: Mass Device - November 14, 2016 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Brad Perriello Tags: Cardiovascular Funding Roundup Imaging Genetesis Source Type: news
Japan approves St. Jude Medical ’ s EnSite, TactiCath
St. Jude Medical (NYSE:STJ) said today it won Japanese MHLW approval for its EnSite Precision cardiac mapping system and its TactiCath irrigated ablation catheter.
The Ensite cardiac mapping system is designed for use in ablation procedures to visualize and aid in catheter navigation in the heart, providing detailed anatomical models and maps, St. Jude said. The system is designed to aid in diagnosing arrhythmias, guiding therapy and providing expanded procedural options.
The St. Paul, Minn.-based company’s TactiCath quartz irrigated ablation catheter is designed for ablation procedures to treat atrial fibrillation...
Source: Mass Device - November 2, 2016 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Fink Densford Tags: Cardiovascular Catheters Imaging Regulatory/Compliance St. Jude Medical Source Type: news
St. Jude launches EnSite Precision cardiac mapping system in EU
St. Jude Medical (NYSE:STJ) said today it fully launched its EnSite Precision cardiac mapping system and associated tools in Europe, expanding from an earlier limited release.
The St. Paul, Minn.-based company touted more than 100 installations of the device across Europe so far, supporting more than 5,000 ablation procedures after a targeted release it expanded in April.
“We collaborated with leading electrophysiologists to develop a cardiac mapping system that provides the automation, flexibility and precision needed during today’s ablation procedures. We are extremely pleased with how the physicians from these ...
Source: Mass Device - October 5, 2016 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Fink Densford Tags: Cardiovascular Imaging Regulatory/Compliance St. Jude Medical Source Type: news
Complex Fetal Care: Importance of Fetal Arrhythmias to the Neonatologist and Pediatrician
Sudden unexplained death during the perinatal period remains a major longstanding challenge. Recent advances in diagnostic techniques and genetic testing have provided evidence that a significant fraction of these deaths may result from lethal cardiac arrhythmias. In this article, we review current methods of diagnosing arrhythmia in the fetus and strategies for managing life-threatening arrhythmia throughout the perinatal period, including transitional care at the time of delivery. (Source: NeoReviews recent issues)
Source: NeoReviews recent issues - September 29, 2016 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Wacker-Gussmann, A., Wakai, R. T., Strasburger, J. F. Tags: Pediatric Drug Labeling Update Articles Source Type: news
Medtronic touts CRT study showing heightened medication adherence
Patients implanted with cardiac resynchronization devices showed a greater rate of adherence to their medication regiments after their CRT devices were put it, according to a retrospective study Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) touted today.
The analysis examined data from 4,512 patients who received CRT devices between January 2008 and December 2014, evaluating adherence to recommended medications before and after CRT implantation. Compliance increased 67% 2 years after CRT implantation when compared to 2 years pre-implantation, Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic said.
“These data support our commitment to understanding how we can...
Source: Mass Device - September 19, 2016 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Fink Densford Tags: Cardiovascular Clinical Trials Cardiac Rhythm Management Medtronic Source Type: news
MassDevice.com +5 | The top 5 medtech stories for September 14, 2016
Say hello to MassDevice +5, a bite-sized view of the top five medtech stories of the day. This feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our 5 biggest and most influential stories from the day’s news to make sure you’re up to date on the headlines that continue to shape the medical device industry.
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5. Light-based arrhythmia treatment skips the shocks
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Germany’s University of Bonn showed that light can restore a normal heartbeat and replace electric shocks in patients at risk for a...
Source: Mass Device - September 14, 2016 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: MassDevice Tags: News Well Plus 5 Source Type: news
Light-based arrhythmia treatment skips the shocks
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Germany’s University of Bonn showed that light can restore a normal heartbeat and replace electric shocks in patients at risk for arrhythmia, according to a press release from the Baltimore school.
The work was published online yesterday in the Journal of Clinical Investigations and could 1 day be used to develop implantable defibrillators, the team suggested.
A standard defibrillator uses electrical shocks to jump-start the heart when a patient experiences arrhythmia, a potentially deadly irregular heartbeat. The shocks can be painful and damage the heart tissue.
Researchers a...
Source: Mass Device - September 14, 2016 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Sarah Faulkner Tags: Cardiovascular Research & Development Cardiac Rhythm Management Johns Hopkins University of Bonn Source Type: news
