The ACURATE study of the Accurate neo2 TAVR device by Boston Scientific Corp., failed to demonstrate the device is non-inferior to established devices, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw up some roadblocks.

The contest between the two main classes of antiproliferatives for circulatory system use continues as seen in a presentation at this year’s Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics.

Atherectomy devices play a key role in dealing with calcified coronary arteries. But a study presented at this year’s Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics demonstrates that angioplasty balloons made a lot of headway in this clinical area, potentially pushing atherectomy devices into the fringes of routine practice.

Some studies suggest a need for cardiologists to rethink their approach to device implant. However, the TAVR UNLOAD study failed to demonstrate a statistically significant difference between device implant and medical management for patients with aortic stenosis and low left ventricular ejection fraction.

Shockwave Medical, a unit of New Brunswick, N.J.-based Johnson & Johnson Medtech, completed enrollment in the first prospective all-female study of percutaneous coronary intervention in complex disease. The real-world, all-comers trial will evaluate the benefits of coronary intravascular lithotripsy in female patients with calcified lesions.

Medtronic plc added a second U.S. FDA pulsed field ablation (PFA) device approval to its scorecard with the agency’s greenlight for its Affera mapping and ablation system with the Sphere-9 catheter. Affera brings the first radiofrequency/PFA device to the cardiac ablation market and ups the ante in the PFA competition.

Boston Scientific Corp. posted another eye-popping quarterly report, led by a 177% year-over-year increase in its electrophysiology business to $527 million, which exceeded consensus expectations by $99 million. That stunning EP growth follows 125% growth in the second quarter and 70% in the first quarter, all largely attributed to the Farapulse pulsed field ablation system, which achieved unprecedented adoption rates.

Boston Scientific Corp. racked up a two-fer from the U.S. FDA with approval of its navigation-enabled Farawave Nav ablation catheter and 510(k) clearance for the Faraview software for use with its Farapulse pulsed field ablation (PFA) system.

Medtronic plc received U.S. FDA approval to undertake an early feasibility study of its dual-energy Affera cardiac ablation system in sustained ventricular tachycardia. Affera combines both radiofrequency and pulsed field ablation technologies in the Sphere-9 catheter along with high-density mapping.

Rhythm AI Ltd recently became the latest company to receive U.S. FDA clearance for its artificial intelligenc-based software for optimizing Atrial Fibrillation procedures.