Virtual Radiologic Corp. (VRC), a global provider of teleradiology services, has entered into a technology partnership with Pro-Laudo, a Brazil-based teleradiology provider.

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital in Lake Charles, La., has begun transitioning its business and clinical information systems with the help of McKesson Provider Technologies in a three-year process at an estimated cost of $6 million.

Medtronic has been successful in its bid, through an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, to acquire CryoCath Technologies at $8.75 Cdn per share under its previously announced offer dated October 3, 2008.

NEW ORLEANSDrug-eluting stents (DES) are associated with decreased rates of death, MI and revascularization, compared to bare-metal stents (BMS) in a diabetic population, according to results from the MASS-DAC Registry presented Monday during the late breaking clinical trials at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions, and simultaneously published in Circulation.

Last week, two major cardiovascular healthcare companiesGE Healthcare and Philips Healthcarereported losses for the 2008 fiscal third quarter. In unveiling their shaky financials, execs from both vendors cited trouble in the credit markets as a reason for problems they face in the U.S. healthcare sector, as hospitals are finding it difficult to get funding for capital equipment purchases.

Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Herb Kohl, D-Wis., have requested that the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), which sponsors Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT), and Columbia University, reveal how medical devicemakers have promoted their products throughout the symposiums sessions.

Boston Scientific has reported its financial results for the 2008 third quarter, which ended Sept. 30, as well as its guidance for net sales for the fourth quarter of this year.

The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings has taken a toll on Boston Scientific, forcing the founders to sell approximately 13 million shares.