Those who are burdened with Marfan syndrome face a lifetime of multi-organ system issues including potential aortic aneurysm, but help may be on the way in the U.K. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued a recommendation that these patients be treated with personalized external aortic root support (PEARS) to treat both aortic root expansion and aortic dissection, although the agency indicated that this procedure is not quite ready for routine use in the National Health Service.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Ai-Brainscience Inc. signed an exclusive sales agreement for Japan that will see Otsuka market Ai-Brainscience’s eye-tracking application to test for cognitive function. The eye-tracking app, AiBS-01, could become the first dementia diagnosis application to receive regulatory approval in Japan. Ibaraki, Japan-based Ai-Brainscience (AiBS) is developing devices that use the eye-tracking based cognitive assessment test to detect early dementia beyond the conventional assessment methods performed by specialists.

The U.S. FDA’s proposal to restructure the Quality System Regulation (QSR) with ISO 13485, the international quality system standard, is a major shift for affected industry, but there are strictly administrative issues associated with this proposal. Several of those who have commented to the docket have expressed misgivings as to the proposed 12-month compliance deadline upon issuance of a final rule.

Endotronix Inc. reported positive data from the SIRONA 2 clinical trial evaluating safety and efficacy of its Cordella pulmonary artery pressure sensor system in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III heart failure (HF) patients. 

The transformation of cardiology continues with two U.S. FDA actions to promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI): a 510(k) clearance for Rapidai Inc.’s pulmonary embolism (PE) triage and notification product and breakthrough device designation for Anumana Inc.’s pulmonary hypertension (PH) early detection algorithm.