Boston Scientific Corp. was given European CE Marking for its new ALTRUA family of pacemakers. ALTRUA pacemakers are used to treat bradycardia, a condition in which the heart beats too slowly. ALTRUA is flexible and features a sensor to regulate the heart after experiencing physical activity or emotional stress and an automatic capture capability designed for automatic and accurate ventricular pulse management.

 Medtronic Inc. has received CE marking approval for the Defender embolic protection filter to be used during minimally invasive procedures in carotid arteries and saphenous vein grafts. The filter acts as a basket during the stenting procedure, allowing sufficient blood flow while trapping embolic debris. Without this protection, the debris can flow into other portions of blood vessels and lead to stroke.

Boston Scientific Corp. has announced the commencement of the use of its Cognis cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and Teligen implantable cardioverter defibrillator (TM-ICD) by European doctors. Both these cardiac rhythm management devices received the CE Mark approval in January and are awaiting approval in the US. These are among the smallest and thinnest high-energy devices in the world and offer improved battery life and self-rectifying software.