The FDA has approved Cordis Corporation’s Empira and Empira NC RX PTCA dilatation catheters for the treatment of coronary artery disease.

Both balloon catheters are designed to allow cardiologists to open patients’ narrowed coronary arteries during angioplasty procedures.

Dr Campbell Rogers, Chief Scientific Officer and Global Head of R&D at Cordis, said that the company “worked closely with physician-customers and incorporated their feedback into the design of these next generation devices. We believe the unique design of the Empira Balloon Catheters will meet physicians' needs and has the potential to improve patient outcomes”.

The two medical devices bring several design and technology alterations to Cordis’ portfolio of Empira balloon catheters. They feature the company’s next generation Duralyn Flex balloon material, which is 50% more flexible than the material used in the current Fire Star and Dura Star RX PTCA dilatation catheters, to improve crossability and recrossability, the ability to pass through a lesion.

Cordis Corporation is a Johnson & Johnson company, and develops and manufactures interventional vascular technology. The company works with interventional cardiologists, radiologists and vascular surgeons to treat patients with vascular disease.

The products are expected to be launched for sale in early 2012.

AstraZeneca has completed the sale of its dental business, Astra Tech, to Dentsply in a cash deal worth around $1.8bn.

Dentsply will take full control of the Swedish-based subsidiary, which recorded worldwide revenue of $535 million last year.

David Brennan, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, says the transaction “represents an excellent outcome” for AZ shareholders.

AZ now plans to use the finance raised from the sale of the dental business to increase its share repurchase programme to levels above the current $4n target.

It says it will record the deal as “other operating income” in the 2011 Q3 results and will also report is as a “significant item” so it will not affect the company’s yearly financial guidance.