ILUMIEN IV is the largest-ever prospective randomized trial to compare an intravascular imaging modality, plus angiography, to angiography alone in coronary interventions, according to Abbott. The trial will enroll up to 3,650 patients with high-risk complex disease at 125 centers in North America, Europe and Asia to determine if OCT-guided stenting yields larger vessel diameters and improves clinical outcomes for patients compared to stent procedures guided by standard angiography.

One bright spot emerging in this otherwise lackluster economy is the market for optical imaging technologies. Optical imaging encompasses a wide array of current and emerging techniques that use light as the primary imaging modality to characterize local anatomy down to cellular and molecular levels.

For the first time in five years, large cap, mid cap and financial buyers are all showing a willingness to acquire medical device companies thanks to improving credit markets and strong cash reserves.

Whatever happened to vulnerable plaque? More than a decade ago, vulnerable plaque was a hot topic that was hoped would explain many incidents of sudden cardiac death in patients without other symptoms of coronary artery disease. While many experts believe the theory underlying this concept remains sound, proving its validity and then developing both diagnostic tools to identify what have been called "vulnerable patients" and then therapeutic devices to treat them has turned out to be a difficult and lengthy challenge that remains unsolved. InfraReDx Inc. remains active in this area, and according to CEO and founder James Muller, MD, is closing in on a solution. InfraReDx recently raised $21 million in its Series D financing round.