Cardiovascular Ultrasound Advances to be Highlighted at ASE 2026 Scientific Sessions</h1> <article> <h1>Cardiovascular Ultrasound Advances to be Highlighted at ASE 2026 Scientific Sessions</h1> <p>tim.hodson — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 19:53:42 +0000</p> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> </div> </div> <span><span lang="" about="http://www.dicardiology.com/users/timhodson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">tim.hodson</span></span> <span>Mon, 06/15/2026 - 14:53</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>June 15, 2026 — Nearly 2,000 cardiovascular imaging professionals from around the world will gather in Aurora, Colorado, June 26-28, for the <a href="https://www.asecho.org/education-events/scientific-sessions/">American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) 2026 Scientific Sessions</a>. The conference will showcase emerging technologies and innovative research in cardiovascular ultrasound focused on advancing patient care.</p> <p>Themed “Sound Waves & Summits” and hosted at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, ASE 2026 will assemble a diverse community of physicians, sonographers, nurses, scientists, veterinarians and industry leaders for three days of education, collaboration and professional development.</p> <p>“ASE’s Scientific Sessions is the premier annual gathering in cardiovascular ultrasound, where the brightest minds in imaging come together to share groundbreaking research, build meaningful connections and shape the future of cardiovascular care,” said ASE 2026 Program Chair Dr. Leo Lopez, a pediatric cardiologist and clinical professor at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford in California. “The exchange of ideas and expertise accelerates innovation, advances clinical practice, and helps improve patient care globally.”</p> <h4><strong>Cardiovascular Educational Offerings</strong></h4> <p>ASE 2026 will feature nearly 100 educational sessions, hands-on learning opportunities, and presentations on foundational, advanced, and emerging cardiovascular ultrasound techniques and topics. The program will showcase more than 500 original research abstracts presented as poster sessions and moderated discussions. Additionally, <a href="https://www.asecho.org/news/ase-2026-late-breaking-abstracts/">four late-breaking abstracts</a> will explore emerging applications of artificial intelligence, novel approaches to evaluating severe aortic stenosis and next-generation ultrasound enhancing agents.</p> <ul><li> <p>The new<strong><em> </em></strong><a href="https://www.asecho.org/education-events/scientific-sessions/education/ase-2026-hands-on-experiences/">Echo Discovery Zone</a> hands-on stations will highlight how cardiovascular ultrasound evolves across the patient journey through interactive learning, case-based challenges, and image optimization experiences.</p> </li> <li> <p>The <a href="https://www.asecho.org/education-events/scientific-sessions/special-events/shark-tank/">Shark Tank Innovation Competition</a> will feature four competitors pitching cutting-edge cardiovascular solutions to a panel of venture capitalists and experts.</p> </li> <li> <p>Immersive <a href="https://www.asecho.org/education-events/scientific-sessions/education/ase-2026-hands-on-experiences/#Virtual-Reality">Virtual Reality Sessions </a>will deepen attendees’ understanding of cardiac anatomy and echocardiographic images, as well as offer procedural perspectives in a visual, intuitive environment.</p> </li> <li> <p>Hands-on Do-It-Yourself Workshops and Learning Labs will provide interactive experiences in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, point of care ultrasound, structural imaging, ultrasound enhancing agents, pediatric 3D and strain echocardiography, and more!</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.asecho.org/education-events/scientific-sessions/special-events/special-lectures/">Six special lectures </a>will feature leaders in the field promoting research, education, global health, ethics and humanitarian patient care.</p> </li> <li> <p>The <a href="https://www.asefoundation.org/">ASE Foundation </a>will host the <a href="https://www.asefoundation.org/event/gala2026/">17<sup>th</sup> Annual Research Awards Enchanted Forest Gala,</a> a sold-out black-tie fundraiser celebrating cardiovascular ultrasound research and honoring many of ASE’s 2026 award winners.</p> </li> </ul><p>ASE’s Echo Expo exhibit hall will connect attendees with over 60 exhibitors and feature six Science & Technology Theaters, four hands-on learning <a href="https://www.asecho.org/education-events/scientific-sessions/special-events/education-hubs/">Education Hubs</a> with live demonstrations, and an <a href="https://www.asecho.org/education-events/scientific-sessions/special-events/accelerator-hub/">Accelerator Hub</a> highlighting five start-up companies. Attendees can also visit the ASE Bark Park, sponsored by Edwards Lifesciences and featuring dogs from Lifeline Puppy Rescue in Brighton, Colo., offering a space to relax and recharge.</p> <p>Learn more about ASE 2026 and view program details at <a href="https://www.asecho.org/education-events/scientific-sessions/">ASEScientificSessions.org</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p></p><p> </p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="http://www.dicardiology.com/content/cardiovascular-ultrasound-advances-be-highlighted-ase-2026-scientific-sessions" data-a2a-title="Cardiovascular Ultrasound Advances to be Highlighted at ASE 2026 Scientific Sessions "><hr /><h4 class="share-title">If you enjoy this content, please share it with a colleague</h4><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dicardiology.com%2Fcontent%2Fcardiovascular-ultrasound-advances-be-highlighted-ase-2026-scientific-sessions&title=Cardiovascular%20Ultrasound%20Advances%20to%20be%20Highlighted%20at%20ASE%C2%A02026%20Scientific%20Sessions%20%20"></a></span> </article> <article> <h1>VA Study: Referrals for PAD Nearly Triple Over Five Years</h1> <p>tim.hodson — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:16:46 +0000</p> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <blockquote class="image-field-caption"><p>Photo: Getty Images</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <span><span lang="" about="http://www.dicardiology.com/users/timhodson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">tim.hodson</span></span> <span>Mon, 06/15/2026 - 12:16</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>June 13, 2026 — New research shows that infrainguinal endovascular interventions for peripheral artery disease (PAD) account for the largest cost of vascular surgeries paid within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care program as more Veterans receive vascular surgical care outside the VA system. Researchers presented data from this comprehensive analysis at the <a href="https://vam.vascular.org/">Society for Surgery Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM26)</a> in Boston, Massachusetts.</p> <p>PAD affects more than 200 million people worldwide and can progress to chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). Patients with PAD and CLTI are often treated with infrainguinal endovascular procedures, minimally invasive interventions used to open blocked or narrowed arteries in the legs. As demand for vascular care has grown, an increasing number of Veterans have received these services through VA Community Care. Since its implementation in 2019, the MISSION Act has expanded access to care outside the VA healthcare system.</p> <p>The study (<i>"</i>VA Community Care Vascular Surgery Costs are Dominated by Endovascular Interventions for Peripheral Artery Disease") analyzed data from fiscal years 2020 through 2025 using the VA Community Care Referral (CCR) Dashboard and Integrated Informatics and Analytics. Given the growth in vascular surgery care provided outside the VA system, including the use of endovascular atherectomy despite limited comparative data, researchers evaluated the number of referrals, justification for community care, cost, and total payment claims for Vascular Surgery-related Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes from all VA centers nationwide. </p> <p>The analysis found that vascular surgery CCRs nearly tripled from 21,407 to 62,487 during the study period. Distance from a VA facility was the most common reason for referral, accounting for 88% of cases. Femoral-popliteal atherectomy, a minimally invasive procedure to remove plaque from the arteries, was the highest-paid procedure code across nearly all years analyzed, with payments increasing from approximately $4.5 million to $9.9 million. Payments for iliac endovascular interventions, a minimally invasive procedure to treat blockages in the iliac arteries, increased from $1.65 million to $5.6 million, while payments for all infrainguinal endovascular interventions increased from $8.8 million to $40.2 million. Despite national concerns about increased use of atherectomy procedures, due to questions about their effectiveness and cost, the proportion of infrainguinal endovascular charges attributable to atherectomy remained relatively stable, ranging from 60.1% to 67% of total charges. Notably, researchers found that the highest-paid non-endovascular procedure ranked only in the seventh to ninth position among paid codes, and no open bypass or groin-level reconstruction procedures appeared among the top 30 paid codes.</p> <p>“As access to care outside the VA Community Care continues to expand, it is crucial to know which vascular procedures Veterans are receiving and how resources are being utilized,” said senior author Dr. Gale Tang, Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery at the University of Washington and Section Chief of Vascular Surgery at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. “These findings underscore the importance of comparative effectiveness research to help physicians make evidence-based treatment decisions.”</p> <p>Researchers plan to examine regional variation in atherectomy and other endovascular procedure rates within and outside the VA Community Care. They also plan to evaluate the number of procedures performed per patient to improve the quality of care and better inform resource allocation.</p> <p> </p> <p></p><p> </p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="http://www.dicardiology.com/content/va-study-referrals-pad-nearly-triple-over-five-years" data-a2a-title="VA Study: Referrals for PAD Nearly Triple Over Five Years"><hr /><h4 class="share-title">If you enjoy this content, please share it with a colleague</h4><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dicardiology.com%2Fcontent%2Fva-study-referrals-pad-nearly-triple-over-five-years&title=VA%20Study%3A%20Referrals%20for%20PAD%20Nearly%20Triple%20Over%20Five%20Years"></a></span> </article> <article> <h1>CE Mark Granted to Penumbra's CAVT Platform</h1> <p>tim.hodson — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:52:46 +0000</p> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> </div> </div> <span><span lang="" about="http://www.dicardiology.com/users/timhodson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">tim.hodson</span></span> <span>Mon, 06/15/2026 - 11:52</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>June 15, 2006 — <a href="https://www.penumbrainc.com/">Penumbra, Inc.</a> has secured the CE Mark in Europe for Thunderbolt, further laying the groundwork for launching computer assisted vacuum thrombectomy (CAVT) technology to address acute ischemic stroke globally. The company received <a href="https://www.dicardiology.com/content/penumbra-cavt-platform-receives-fda-clearance">U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance last week</a>.</p> <p>"Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and if a blood clot is not fully removed, there is an increased risk of serious complications, disability or death,". said Prof. Vincent Costalat, Head of Neuroradiology at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Montpellier, France. "I am really enthusiastic and eager to see what Thunderbolt will bring for patients. What I love in the system is that it brings intelligence to the vacuum." </p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"><br /><figcaption>The Thunderbpolt CAVT technology introduces modulated aspiration for acute ischemic stroke, enabling more rapid, complete clot removal. Photo: Penumbra Inc.</figcaption></figure><h4>Advanced CAVT Techology</h4> <p>Powered by the Penumbra Engine, Thunderbolt introduces modulated aspiration to Penumbra's neuro thrombectomy portfolio, offering advanced CAVT technology designed to detect, fatigue, and completely ingest clot at the site of the occlusion.</p> <p>"Thunderbolt has the potential to shorten procedure times — improving patient safety, delivering better outcomes and streamlining care for the physicians who treat them," said Joan Kristensen, head of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region for Penumbra, Inc. "Bringing this technology to Europe is a significant milestone — and a reflection of Penumbra's ongoing commitment to putting the most advanced stroke care tools in the hands of physicians across the region."</p> <p>Thunderbolt will be pre-packaged with one of Penumbra's market-leading catheters — Red 62, Red 68, Red 72 Silver Label or Red 72 Silver Label with SENDit technology.</p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="http://www.dicardiology.com/content/ce-mark-granted-penumbras-cavt-platform" data-a2a-title="CE Mark Granted to Penumbra's CAVT Platform"><hr /><h4 class="share-title">If you enjoy this content, please share it with a colleague</h4><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dicardiology.com%2Fcontent%2Fce-mark-granted-penumbras-cavt-platform&title=CE%20Mark%20Granted%20to%20Penumbra%27s%20CAVT%20Platform"></a></span> </article> <article> <h1>Medtronic Completes Acquisition of Scientia Vascular</h1> <p>tim.hodson — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:01:04 +0000</p> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> </div> </div> <span><span lang="" about="http://www.dicardiology.com/users/timhodson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">tim.hodson</span></span> <span>Fri, 06/12/2026 - 14:01</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>June 12, 2026 — <a href="http://www.Medtronic.com">Medtronic plc</a> recently announced it has completed its acquisition of Scientia Vascular, a privately-held medical device company in Salt Lake City, Utah. The companies <a href="https://www.dicardiology.com/content/medtronic-enters-agreement-acquire-scientia-vascular">originally entered into the agreement </a>in March 2026.</p> <p>Scientia has developed access products that enable simplicity and access for physicians treating complex neurovascular conditions. Scientia's portfolio of guidewires and catheters can be seamlessly integrated with Medtronic's existing suite of neurovascular products, strengthening the company's ability to support physicians across the full procedural workflow.</p> <p>"Since its founding, Scientia has been driven by a commitment to improving patients' lives and supporting the physicians who care for them," said Rick Randall, CEO of Scientia. "Joining Medtronic is an exciting next step for our team, as their Mission closely aligns with the values that have guided Scientia from the beginning. With Medtronic's global scale, we look forward to bringing this technology to more physicians and reaching more patients around the world."</p> <p>"The addition of Scientia's access technologies strengthens our ability to simplify complex neurovascular procedures and support physicians with more seamless solutions," said Linnea Burman, senior vice president and president of Medtronic's Neurovascular business, part of the Neuroscience Portfolio at Medtronic. "By bringing together highly complementary technologies, we are building a more integrated platform that will help advance the future of neurovascular care and enable physicians to treat more patients with greater efficiency and confidence."</p> <p>In stroke treatment, every second matters. With each second of restricted blood flow, the brain loses millions of brain cells. Today, stroke is the third leading cause of death and leading cause of disability worldwide. </p> <p>Unlike vessels in many other parts of the body, cerebral vasculature is highly complex and tortuous, creating significant challenges for physicians attempting to reach the site of an occlusion or aneurysm. Difficult access can delay therapy delivery and impact procedural success.</p> <p>Scientia's novel access platform is designed to address these challenges by improving navigability through complex anatomy and simplifying neurovascular procedures. By enabling faster and more reliable access, these technologies improve procedural efficiency.</p> <p>This acquisition reflects Medtronic's continued focus on strategic deals that strengthen its leadership across core businesses. The company remains committed to pursuing high-growth opportunities that complement its portfolio and enhance value for physicians and hospital partners.</p> <p> </p> <p></p><p> </p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="http://www.dicardiology.com/content/medtronic-completes-acquisition-scientia-vascular" data-a2a-title="Medtronic Completes Acquisition of Scientia Vascular"><hr /><h4 class="share-title">If you enjoy this content, please share it with a colleague</h4><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dicardiology.com%2Fcontent%2Fmedtronic-completes-acquisition-scientia-vascular&title=Medtronic%20Completes%20Acquisition%20of%20Scientia%20Vascular"></a></span> </article> <article> <h1>KA Imaging Project Selected for INOVAIT Pilot Fund</h1> <p>tim.hodson — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000</p> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <blockquote class="image-field-caption"><p>Photo: KA Imaging</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <span><span lang="" about="http://www.dicardiology.com/users/timhodson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">tim.hodson</span></span> <span>Fri, 06/12/2026 - 14:00</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>June 9 2026 — With the project “Triaging artificial intelligence (AI) Tool For Pulmonary Health Using Spectral X-ray Imaging Technology,” <a href="http://www.kaimaging.com">KA Imaging </a>has been selected for the INOVAIT Pilot Fund.</p> <p>The project will develop an AI-based triage tool using data from Reveal 35C with SpectralDR technology to rapidly detect cardiothoracic abnormalities relevant to image-guided interventions.</p> <p>“The project will leverage data generated by the Reveal 35C detector with SpectralDR technology, which has demonstrated improved visualization of foreign bodies, pulmonary nodules, consolidation, pleural fluid, pneumothorax, and other findings in clinical studies,” said Karim S. Karim, Founder and CTO of KA Imaging. “The AI is intended to assist non-radiologist clinicians in identifying potential findings before and after image-guided interventions, with the goal of improving efficiency within clinical imaging workflows,” he continued.</p> <p>The proposed Triaging AI Tool also involves collaboration with Dr. Elliot Creager at the University of Waterloo, an expert in AI and machine learning (ML). His research focuses on developing advanced ML methods for complex data analysis, providing strong academic expertise in AI model development and evaluation.</p> <p>The resulting software is expected to be demonstrated in 2027. After successful development, validation, and regulatory clearances, it is expected to automatically analyze bedside spectral X-rays, flag suspected findings, and prioritize cases for clinician review within existing imaging workflows.</p> <p>Following the Pilot phase, the technology will be evolved into a deployable AI software product integrated with KA Imaging’s mobile spectral X-ray systems.</p> <p>“Innovation doesn't happen in isolation. Programs run by networks like INOVAIT create the connections between researchers, clinicians, and industry that help turn promising technologies into practical healthcare solutions,” said Amol Karnick, president and CEO of KA Imaging. “This second INOVAIT-supported project reflects the strength of Canada's medical imaging innovation ecosystem,” said Karnick.</p> <h4>INOVAIT Pilot Fund</h4> <p>The Pilot Fund is designed to encourage the commercial translation of research and development within the image-guided therapy and artificial intelligence sectors. The successful project recipients will use advances in data sciences and artificial intelligence to enhance image guidance and corresponding therapies.</p> <p>“KA Imaging is leading x-ray innovation in Canada,” says Raphael Ronen, Co-executive director of INOVAIT. “We’re proud to support their Pilot Fund project that has the potential to transform patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs in Canada.”</p> <p>INOVAIT is a pan-Canadian network funded by the Government of Canada and hosted at the Sunnybrook Research Institute with the objective of building an integrated image-guided therapy and artificial intelligence ecosystem. Through connecting, educating, and investing in the industry’s brightest minds and most promising ventures, INOVAIT supports collaborative development</p> <p>Funding for this project was provided in part by INOVAIT through the Government of Canada's Strategic Response Fund.</p> <p> </p> <p></p><p> </p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="http://www.dicardiology.com/content/ka-imaging-project-selected-inovait-pilot-fund" data-a2a-title="KA Imaging Project Selected for INOVAIT Pilot Fund"><hr /><h4 class="share-title">If you enjoy this content, please share it with a colleague</h4><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dicardiology.com%2Fcontent%2Fka-imaging-project-selected-inovait-pilot-fund&title=KA%20Imaging%20Project%20Selected%20for%20INOVAIT%20Pilot%20Fund"></a></span> </article> <article> <h1>Penumbra CAVT Platform Receives FDA Clearance</h1> <p>tim.hodson — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:31:50 +0000</p> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <blockquote class="image-field-caption"><p>Photo: Getty Images</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <span><span lang="" about="http://www.dicardiology.com/users/timhodson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">tim.hodson</span></span> <span>Fri, 06/12/2026 - 09:31</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>June 11, 2026— <a href="https://www.penumbrainc.com/">Penumbra, Inc.</a> has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for <a href="https://www.penumbrainc.com/products/thunderbolt/">Thunderbolt</a>, expanding its computer assisted vacuum thrombectomy (CAVT) technology to address acute ischemic stroke. </p> <p>“Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and with stroke, timing is critical. If the blood clot isn’t removed and the artery reopened quickly, patients can face severe disability or even death,” said Donald Frei, M.D., neurointerventional radiologist at Swedish Medical Center, Denver, Colorado. “What sets Thunderbolt apart is the innovative design which minimizes catheter manipulation and promotes safe, complete clot capture - quickly restoring blood flow to the brain and giving patients the best chance at recovery.”</p> <p>Powered by the Penumbra Engine, Thunderbolt introduces modulated aspiration to Penumbra’s neuro thrombectomy portfolio, offering advanced CAVT technology designed to detect, fatigue, and completely ingest clot at the site of the occlusion.</p> <p>“Modulated aspiration may facilitate more consistent and complete clot removal when used in conjunction with standard aspiration thrombectomy catheters," said David Fiorella, MD, PhD, director of the Cerebrovascular Center at Stony Brook University Hospital. “Our early experience with Thunderbolt within the context of the trial, suggests that this technology will meaningfully change how we approach stroke treatment, and could substantively improve outcomes in patients with emergent large vessel occlusion.”</p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"><br /><figcaption>Thunderbolt introduces modulated aspiration to Penumbra’s neuro thrombectomy portfolio, offering advanced CAVT technology designed to detect, fatigue, and completely ingest clot at the site of the occlusion. Photo: Penumbra Inc.</figcaption></figure><h4>CAVT Device for Stroke Treatment</h4> <p>A recent analysis estimates that stroke mortality worldwide is projected to increase by 50% between 2020 to 2050. In the U.S., someone suffers from a stroke every 40 seconds, and 1 in every 21 people dies from the condition. As the only CAVT device available for stroke treatment in the U.S., Thunderbolt represents a first-of-its-kind advancement in acute ischemic stroke care.</p> <p>“Penumbra was founded to redefine stroke care and Thunderbolt delivers on that promise,” said Shruthi Narayan, president of Penumbra. “We are uniquely positioned as the only company offering CAVT technology across both vascular and neurovascular conditions — redefining blood clot care from head-to-toe. Penumbra has delivered more than two decades of innovation, and Thunderbolt marks the beginning of a new era in stroke management, one that we believe will fundamentally change outcomes for patients." </p> <p>Thunderbolt will be pre-packaged with one of Penumbra’s catheters Red 62, Red 68, Red 72 Silver Label or Red 72 Silver Label with SENDit technology. </p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="http://www.dicardiology.com/content/penumbra-cavt-platform-receives-fda-clearance" data-a2a-title="Penumbra CAVT Platform Receives FDA Clearance"><hr /><h4 class="share-title">If you enjoy this content, please share it with a colleague</h4><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dicardiology.com%2Fcontent%2Fpenumbra-cavt-platform-receives-fda-clearance&title=Penumbra%20CAVT%20Platform%20Receives%20FDA%20Clearance"></a></span> </article> <article> <h1>Study: Adherence to GDC Reduced Risk of Serious Limb Events at Two Years</h1> <p>tim.hodson — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:24:26 +0000</p> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <blockquote class="image-field-caption"><p>Photo: Getty Images</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <span><span lang="" about="http://www.dicardiology.com/users/timhodson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">tim.hodson</span></span> <span>Thu, 06/11/2026 - 09:24</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>June 10, 2026 — New research shows that patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) who adhere to pre-operative guideline-directed care (GDC), including documentation of severe lifestyle limitation, exercise therapy and optimal medical therapy, are more likely to remain free from major adverse limb events (MALE) for up to two years after intervention. Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina presented novel evidence demonstrating the impact of guideline-directed care for patients with claudication at the <a href="http://vam.vascular.org">Society for Vascular Surgery’s Vascular Annual Meeting, VAM26</a>.</p> <p>PAD affects <a href="https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Articles/2024/10/22/17/25/PAD-Implications-For-Health-and-Quality-of-Life#:%7E:text=facing%20amputation%20risks.-,Peripheral%20artery%20disease%20(PAD)%20represents%20a%20significant%20global%20health%20burden,4">over 200 million people worldwide</a> and occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, most commonly in the legs. Approximately <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2733014/">one in five patients </a>with PAD develops claudication — symptoms include muscle pain or cramping during physical activity that subsides with rest. Patients with PAD are at increased risk for MALE, which may result in amputation or the need for repeat limb procedures. Although current treatment guidelines recommend lifestyle modification, exercise therapy, smoking cessation, and medical therapy before surgical intervention, many patients do not receive the full spectrum of recommended care.</p> <p>“Our study was designed to establish the evidence of a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach before considering surgical intervention,” said Dr. Richard Shi, vascular surgery resident at the Medical University of South Carolina. “Too often, surgery is viewed in isolation rather than as one part of a broader continuum of care. By highlighting the role of pre-operative guideline-directed care over immediate intervention or intervention in isolation, we hope to encourage more coordinated care pathways and improved patient outcomes.”</p> <h4>Adherence to GDC</h4> <p>Researchers evaluated whether adherence to GDC before surgical intervention is associated with improved long-term limb outcomes. Adherence was evaluated across three components: 1) documentation of severe lifestyle-limiting symptoms, 2) adherence to optimal medical therapy (OMT), including single antiplatelet therapy, lipid-lowering therapy, and smoking cessation, and 3) completion of exercise therapy. Exercise therapy was defined as participation in either a supervised exercise program or a structured home walking program prescribed by a vascular surgeon or physical therapist, completed for at least three months before intervention. The primary outcome was freedom from MALE over two years following treatment.</p> <p>The study enrolled 258 patients, all of whom underwent surgery. The researchers compared post- procedural outcomes based on the degree of adherence to GDC. Among the study population, 12.8% demonstrated non-adherence to GDC, 73.3% demonstrated partial adherence (OMT only), and12.8% demonstrated complete adherence. At two years, MALE occurred in 23.3% of patients primarily due to re-interventions. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with non-adherence had a MALE-free survival rate of 66.6%, compared with 76.7% among partially adherent patients and 87.9% (p < 0.01) among patients with complete adherence to GDC.</p> <p>“This study highlights the important role vascular surgeons and interventionalists have in ensuring that patients meet the full continuum of pre-operative guideline-directed care before offering surgery,” said senior author Dr. Adam Tanious, MBA, MMSc, FACS, FSVS, Associate Professor within the Division of Vascular Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina. “These findings reinforce the importance of surgical appropriateness in claudicants and emphasize the need for established guidelines and pathways to direct care for this patient population.”</p> <p>To combat non-adherence, the authors have developed an electronic health record-based clinical pathway to help claudicants receive guideline-directed care prior to surgery. They are currently running a prospective study at MUSC with over 100 patients enrolled and aim to present this data at future society meetings.</p> <p> </p> <p></p><p> </p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="http://www.dicardiology.com/content/study-adherence-gdc-reduced-risk-serious-limb-events-two-years" data-a2a-title="Study: Adherence to GDC Reduced Risk of Serious Limb Events at Two Years"><hr /><h4 class="share-title">If you enjoy this content, please share it with a colleague</h4><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dicardiology.com%2Fcontent%2Fstudy-adherence-gdc-reduced-risk-serious-limb-events-two-years&title=Study%3A%20Adherence%20to%20GDC%20Reduced%20Risk%20of%20Serious%20Limb%20Events%20at%20Two%20Years"></a></span> </article> <article> <h1>Siemens Healthineers Receives ARPA-H Contract to Boost Cyber Resilience in Healthcare Devices</h1> <p>tim.hodson — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:50:39 +0000</p> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <blockquote class="image-field-caption"><p>Photo: Siemens Healthineers</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <span><span lang="" about="http://www.dicardiology.com/users/timhodson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">tim.hodson</span></span> <span>Wed, 06/10/2026 - 11:50</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>June 10, 2026 — Siemens Healthineers has entered into a project agreement with the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to undertake research focused on enhancing the cyber resilience of medical devices. ARPA-H's Universal Patching and Remediation for Autonomous Defense (UPGRADE) program aims to create new tools to help hospitals’ information technology teams better detect and remediate cyber-threats<sup>2</sup>.</p> <p>Siemens Healthineers will serve as the principal research institution for the Secure Healthcare Infrastructure Enhancement and Defense (SHIELD) project under the UPGRADE program, with activities based at its AI Factory in Princeton, New Jersey. Under the agreement, Siemens Healthineers and its research partners, Siemens Corporation, Axonius and Kraetonics, will execute this collaborative project with a budget of $6.9 million for Phase I. The goal is to develop an autonomous cyber-threat solution that enables proactive security updates, reducing the uncertainty and manual effort necessary to secure hospitals.</p> <figure role="group" class="align-center"><br /><figcaption>The average hospital experiences more than 2,300 cyberattacks per week, costing the industry billions annually 1. Photo: Siemens Healthineers</figcaption></figure><h4>The Shield Project</h4> <p>The SHIELD project deploys an exa-scale simulation — consisting of more than one quintillion operations per second — to identify optimal solutions for cyber resilience within medical technology products, placing particular emphasis on applications that affect continuity of care. SHIELD plans to develop a solution that addresses the difficult balance between cybersecurity, patient care, and revenue within hospital environments. When cybersecurity vulnerabilities are detected or ransomware incidents occur, hospitals may need to suspend operation of major imaging equipment until remediation. Since 2016, cyberattacks have cost the healthcare industry over $77 billion, with over $15 billion in 2023 alone<sup>3</sup>. The increasingly prevalent attacks have led to delays in treatment, cancellation of procedures, and reliance on paper records, and emergency rooms are often forced to divert ambulances<sup>4</sup>.</p> <p>Hospital cyberattacks are typically carried out through pervasive vulnerabilities in IT systems. As a result, 53% of all hospital equipment currently contain critical vulnerabilities<sup>5</sup>, and 96% of hospitals have equipment with these vulnerabilities. The average time to apply critical security updates to hospital equipment is currently 491 days<sup>6</sup> — more than one year — leaving critical vulnerabilities open to exploitation. In many cases, hospital cybersecurity teams are under-resourced and thus unable to perform all the updates available to them, and clinical staff further delay updates due to fears about updates impacting clinical workflows.</p> <p>SHIELD will run detailed simulations to determine the most important systems and vulnerabilities to patch or remediate and find the best timing for those activities. The focus will be on the device and equipment interactions occurring within hospitals, with a special emphasis on patient visits to specialty areas such as imaging and lab. Large-scale medical record data will allow for detailed simulations of patient and clinical staff interactions to accurately portray the effects of device and equipment disruption on both the patients and staff. This solution will also offer alternative staffing, equipment, and department options as well as patient scheduling recommendations that will best maintain patient care.</p> <p>“We are grateful for the funding provided by ARPA-H to enable our research of this important issue. As AI and automation continue to advance, it is essential to address cybersecurity risks with diligence. By determining effective remediation strategies, we help safeguard patient data and ensure the continuous operation of major imaging equipment,” says Dorin Comaniciu, senior vice president, artificial intelligence and digital innovation at Siemens Healthineers.</p> <p>The SHIELD team is partnering with hospital systems that are representative of the range of medical facilities in the country, from state-of-the-art to under-resourced rural community hospitals. Through its longstanding Value Partnerships with healthcare providers, Siemens Healthineers brings a uniquely grounded perspective to the SHIELD project. These deep, collaborative relationships provide insight into real-world clinical workflows, operational constraints, and cybersecurity challenges, ensuring that the research is informed by the realities hospitals face every day and will be designed to deliver practical, community-relevant impact.</p> <p>“As cyber risks continue to grow across all industries, we are committed to strengthening healthcare security by prioritizing patient safety, data privacy, and cyber resilience—helping to prevent disruptions that can affect patient care,” says Carlos Arglebe, head of cybersecurity at Siemens Healthineers. “By collaborating with experts and leveraging data and technology, we can deliver faster, more effective protection where it matters most. This ARPA-H-funded project represents a unique opportunity to jointly advance cybersecurity across the healthcare ecosystem.”</p> <p>ARPA-H is a biomedical funding agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that supports accelerated high-impact research to deliver health breakthroughs in years, not decades.</p> <p> </p> <p><em>This research was, in part, funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the United States Government.</em></p> <p> </p> <ol><li> <p><a href="https://blog.checkpoint.com/healthcare/world-health-day-2025-when-cyber-security-fails-so-does-public-health/">World Health Day 2025: When Cyber Security Fails, So Does Public Health - Check Point Blog</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/upgrade">UPGRADE Awardees | ARPA-H</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.comparitech.com/studies/ransomware-studies/ransomware-attacks-hospitals-data/">Ransomware attacks on US healthcare organizations cost $20.8bn</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950386825000103">Cyber-Attacks on Hospital Systems: A Narrative Review - ScienceDirect</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10508857/">The Ironic State of Cybersecurity in Medical Devices - PMC</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://ifp.org/operation-patchlight/">Operation Patchlight | IFP</a></p> </li> </ol></div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="http://www.dicardiology.com/content/siemens-healthineers-receives-arpa-h-contract-boost-cyber-resilience-healthcare-devices" data-a2a-title="Siemens Healthineers Receives ARPA-H Contract to Boost Cyber Resilience in Healthcare Devices"><hr /><h4 class="share-title">If you enjoy this content, please share it with a colleague</h4><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dicardiology.com%2Fcontent%2Fsiemens-healthineers-receives-arpa-h-contract-boost-cyber-resilience-healthcare-devices&title=Siemens%20Healthineers%20Receives%20ARPA-H%20Contract%20to%20Boost%20Cyber%20Resilience%20in%20Healthcare%20Devices"></a></span> </article> <article> <h1>FDA Clears IND for Phase 3 Study of Cardiovascular Diagnostic Program</h1> <p>tim.hodson — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:51:06 +0000</p> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <blockquote class="image-field-caption"><p>Photo: Getty Images</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <span><span lang="" about="http://www.dicardiology.com/users/timhodson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">tim.hodson</span></span> <span>Tue, 06/09/2026 - 17:51</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>June 9, 2026.— <a href="https://www.pentixapharm.com/">Pentixapharm Holding AG</a> has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its lead CXCR4-targeted diagnostic program in treatment resistant hypertension with underlying Primary Aldosteronism.</p> <p>With the IND now in effect, Pentixapharm is authorized to initiate its U.S.-focused, multi-center Phase 3 PANDA clinical study evaluating its novel imaging approach for patient stratification in hypertension, addressing a significant and underdiagnosed segment within endocrine/cardiovascular disease and representing a key near-term value driver for the company.</p> <h4>Phase 3 PANDA Study</h4> <p>The Phase 3 PANDA study has been designed based on prior interactions with the FDA, including formal feedback received in a Type B pre-IND meeting, which provided guidance on key statistical and methodological aspects as well as evidence requirements toward a potential approval pathway. The IND clearance confirms alignment with the FDA on the proposed study design and supports a registrational development strategy.</p> <p>Pentixapharm's CXCR4-targeted imaging platform represents a first-in-class approach in cardiovascular diagnostics, enabling non-invasive assessment of disease biology and supporting more precise treatment decisions in hypertensive patients. The program addresses a major unmet need in a large and rapidly evolving cardiovascular market, with the potential to improve diagnostic pathways and enable more targeted therapeutic intervention.</p> <p>"This IND clearance represents a key execution milestone and confirms our ability to deliver on our regulatory strategy," said Dirk Pleimes, Chief Executive Officer of Pentixapharm. "With our flagship PANDA program now advancing into Phase 3 in the United States, we are entering the next phase of value creation. Primary aldosteronism affects up to 10% of patients with hypertension, yet remains significantly underdiagnosed. We believe our first-in-class PET/CT imaging approach has the potential to transform how these patients are identified and, importantly, to guide treatment decisions by enabling precise subtype differentiation. We are focused on rapid study initiation and disciplined execution, while actively engaging with potential strategic partners across imaging and cardiovascular therapeutics. In parallel, we are advancing financing initiatives to support Phase 3 execution and our continued expansion in the U.S. market."</p> <p>"The Phase 3 IND clearance is a critical milestone confirming that [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PentixaFor has reached the technological maturity required for pivotal clinical execution," said Erik Merten, Chief Technology Officer of Pentixapharm. "We have established a robust and scalable manufacturing and supply infrastructure and are well positioned to ensure reliable supply as we initiate the Phase 3 program and progress toward potential commercialization."</p> <p><b> </b></p> <p></p><p> </p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="http://www.dicardiology.com/content/fda-clears-ind-phase-3-study-cardiovascular-diagnostic-program" data-a2a-title="FDA Clears IND for Phase 3 Study of Cardiovascular Diagnostic Program"><hr /><h4 class="share-title">If you enjoy this content, please share it with a colleague</h4><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dicardiology.com%2Fcontent%2Ffda-clears-ind-phase-3-study-cardiovascular-diagnostic-program&title=FDA%20Clears%20IND%20for%20Phase%203%20Study%20of%20Cardiovascular%20Diagnostic%20Program"></a></span> </article> <article> <h1>Novel Polymer-Based Coil Now Available from Embolization</h1> <p>tim.hodson — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:10:09 +0000</p> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <blockquote class="image-field-caption"><p>Photo: Embolization, Inc.</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <span><span lang="" about="http://www.dicardiology.com/users/timhodson" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">tim.hodson</span></span> <span>Mon, 06/08/2026 - 12:10</span> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>June 8, 2026 <b>– </b><a href="https://embolizationinc.com/">Embolization, Inc.</a> will present its novel embolization coil, using proprietary shape-memory biocompatible polymers to treat peripheral vasculature at the <a href="https://vam.vascular.org/">Vascular Annual Meeting</a>, in Boston, Massachusetts.</p> <p>Embolization will be highlighting its NED coil. Intended for arterial and venous embolization in peripheral vasculature, the novel, polymer-based device minimizes artifacts in CT and MRI imaging that occur with traditional metal devices, according to Jim Kasic, Embolization's CEO.</p> <p>The NED, which has obtained FDA 501(k) clearance, is the only polymer-based coil on the market; all others are metal-based. The coils, Kasic says, remain radiopaque under fluoroscopy even though the CT/MRI imaging artifact is minimal.</p> <p>Kasic says that initial results show shorter occlusion times and tighter coil packs, which can result in fewer devices per procedure, lower recanalization rates and lower manufacturing costs. “The NED coil does everything a traditional metal coil does, but with a novel, radiopaque polymer.”</p> <p>NED is demonstrating success in its limited-market release, with use cases topping 70 coils in 11 cases. In all cases, across four institutions and physicians, the NED has shown consistent performance in venous and arterial applications.</p> <p>“The opportunity to talk with experts at VAM, the premier source of education for vascular health professionals, is an opportunity to share what I believe represents the next generation in embolic coils,” says Kasic.</p> <p>Embolization, Inc., based in Boulder, Colorado, specializes in the development of minimally invasive medical devices for peripheral vascular and neurovascular uses.</p> <p> </p> <p></p><p> </p> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="http://www.dicardiology.com/content/novel-polymer-based-coil-now-available-embolization" data-a2a-title="Novel Polymer-Based Coil Now Available from Embolization"><hr /><h4 class="share-title">If you enjoy this content, please share it with a colleague</h4><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dicardiology.com%2Fcontent%2Fnovel-polymer-based-coil-now-available-embolization&title=Novel%20Polymer-Based%20Coil%20Now%20Available%20from%20Embolization"></a></span> </article> </main></body></html>