People suffering from cardiac disorders generally need the help of artificial pacemakers for cardiac pacing in order to improve contractility of left ventricle (LV). However, the pacemaker should be a system that is easy to adapt for optimizing various cardiac parameters, including LV contractility and cardiac stroke volume. The system has necessarily to be simple to program and operate, using straight forward patient- specific measurement, since it is imperative to examine the LV systolic performance which directly determines the ability of the heart to pump blood through the systemic circulation.

The Special Feature in the present issue of the WISTA: Cardiovascular Diseases deals with the cardiac pacing therapy, covering its chronological development and some of the latest advances as illustrated by recent patents granted by USPTO. Briefs on five such patents in the field of cardiac pacing therapy are also reported.

The feature ‘Centres of Excellence’ profiles the All India Heart Foundation, and the National Heart Institute, Delhi which forms an integral constituent of the Foundation. The Foundation is considered highly credible and is regularly consulted by the government of India while framing health policies and approach strategies. Moreover, being affiliated to the World Heart Foundation, it enjoys the benefit of exchanging information and knowledge with other foundations in the world.

Other features covered include: Watch-Out IPR; Clinical Trials; Strategic Alliances; New Technologies/Equipment; Scan Around the Globe; Experts Converge; and Knowledge Spreads.

We welcome comments and suggestions.

Dr K V Swaminathan

RESEARCH & ANALYSIS TEAM
Mrs Lakshmi Swaminathan - Vice Chairman
Ms Rashmi Malhotra- Consultant
Dr Kishan Lal - Joint Director
Mr S S Kalra - Director