Boston Scientific launches POLARIS Imaging System

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., July 22, 2014 -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) has initiated full commercial launch of the new POLARIS Imaging System.  This system will support the Boston Scientific family of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheters, including coronary, peripheral and intra-cardiac echo products.  The POLARIS System offers enhanced ease-of-use and more powerful processing capabilities.  Its modular design would also support the planned release of new Boston Scientific imaging products including a fractional flow reserve (FFR) wire, a new family of IVUS catheters, enhanced software features and better system control tools.

Working in collaboration with physicians, nurses, technicians and software design experts, Boston Scientific identified a need to improve the experience for customers involved in intravascular imaging procedures.  Common challenges included confusing work flows, increased procedure times, and difficult image interpretation.  Boston Scientific has developed a system that simplifies intravascular guidance.  The POLARIS System is designed to be smart, fast and accurate.  The user interface and workflow have been redesigned and enhanced to provide for greater ease of use, while providing the necessary information to guide clinical decisions. 

The POLARIS System has CE Mark and FDA 510(k) clearance.  It has been evaluated in numerous hospitals in the U.S. and Europe, and was showcased during live cases at the EuroPCR conference in May.

"The POLARIS System is an advance for intravascular imaging," said Lowell Satler, M.D., director of Coronary Interventions, MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.  "The improved ease-of-use and image processing simplifies the procedure and enables our team to quickly obtain the information needed to treat patients."

Boston Scientific will offer customers an opportunity to upgrade their existing iLab System to the state-of-the-art POLARIS System. 

"There are overwhelming data demonstrating that using IVUS improves patient outcomes," said Isaac Zacharias, vice president and general manager, Imaging, Boston Scientific.  "The POLARIS System represents the ongoing commitment of Boston Scientific to develop products that improve patient outcomes by providing physicians improved IVUS guidance in their daily practice."

About Boston Scientific
Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world.  As a global medical technology leader for more than 30 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare.  For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words.  These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance.  These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our business plans, new product launches and anticipated future use, clinical trials, product performance and impact, and competitive offerings.  If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements.  These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release.  As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. 

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; new product introductions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors.  All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control.  For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A – Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter.  We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.  This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."