Vascular

First approved blood pool contrast agent

Gadofosveset trisodium (trade name: Vasovist) is the first approved blood pool contrast agent worldwide for the diagnosis of vascular disease, Bayer Schering Pharma AG reports.

MultiHance for MR Angiography approved in Europe

Bracco Imaging announces that the MR Angiography indication for MultiHance has been approved by the EU member states via a mutual recognition procedure. MultiHance is a gadolinium based contrast agent that is characterized by high relaxivity and dual route of excretion.

Endovascular brachytherapy

Endovascular brachytherapy has been successfully modified by scientists at Isotopen Technologie München AG (ITM), solving problems of radiation exposure to Rhenium-188. The researchers are now producing Rhenium-188 with previously unknown high specific activity in a new type of generator, Isotopen Technologie reports.

Vascular surgery

'Alles im Fluss' is the slogan of the 22nd Annual Congress of the German Society for Endovascular & Vascular Surgery, to be held from 6-9 September, in Muelheim an der Ruhr.

Progress

Scientific meetings held since 1998 at Alpbach, Germany, have attracted the sponsorship of leading associations and companies such as the Philip Morris External Research Programme, the Donors Association of German Science, Swiss National Fund, the German Heart Centre Foundation, Berlin, and Philips Medical Systems. At the 4th Alpbach Meeting, which focused on Magnetic Resonance, Contrast…

Carotid stenting: "a feeding frenzy"

Vascular experts urge caution over stent lacement to prevent stroke.

Biotechnology for regenerative surgery

Tissue engineering caused a stir at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Germany Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

First implants of absorbable metal stents

Germany - Following positive results in numerous animal studies and the first human implantations of the Biontronik Absorbable Metal Stent (AMS) in below-the-knee arteries that confirmed device safety, at the end of July the first patients (worldwide) received AMS implants.

Taxus

France - Four studies of three TAXUS paclitaxel-eluting stents have demonstrated their safety and efficacy, according to the maker, Boston Scientific Corporation of Natick, Maryland, USA.