CT scans are powerful and can provide a lot of information quickly that can be especially useful in the emergency department where patients are often very sick and time is critical. CT scans allow doctors to arrive at a diagnosis quickly.

ATLANTA — If there was one word that could properly describe the feelings of medical device makers across the U.S., that word would be uncertainty. (Medical Device Daily)

MindFrame (Irvine, California) could be one step closer in its bid to secure FDA approval for its ischemic stroke treatment device. The med-tech firm reported the successful first-in-human procedure related to its MindFrame Capture LP at Katherinen Hospital (Stuttgart, Germany). (Medical Device Daily)

For years, James Ketner manufactured parts for aircraft. That was until about a couple of years ago when Ketner's company, Kelyniam (New Britain, Connecticut), began supplying Stereolithography models to a device manufacturer. The experience served as a catalyst for Ketner and the company to shift focus to the med-tech industry. (Medical Device Daily)

When it comes to the use of medical devices treating psychiatric disorders, the future is now according to Neuronetics, (Malvern, Pennsylvania), a small med-tech startup that has seen tremendous growth in the past few years. The belief that pharmaceuticals are the only reliable treatment option for mental illness is quickly becoming outdated. (Medical Device Daily)

As the population ages, the use of pacemakers is growing, with roughly five million patients worldwide who currently are implanted with a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. At the same time, the use of MRI as a diagnostic tool is increasing, with nearly 30 million scans completed in 2007. People over age 65 are twice as likely to need an MRI compared to younger patients and between 50% and 75% of patients with electronic heart devices will likely need an MRI at some point. This could lead to complications in these patients. (Medical Device Daily)