Global Hospital & Healthcare Management

Boston Scientific Corporation announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market its Apex™ PTCA(1) Dilatation Catheter. The Apex Catheter is a high-performance pre-dilatation balloon catheter developed specifically to address physicians' needs in treating the most challenging atherosclerotic lesions. It is available for distribution in both Monorail® and Over-The-Wire (OTW) catheter platforms.

The Apex Catheter represents the next generation of dilatation catheter technology, utilizing a new Bi-Segment™ inner shaft for improved pushability and flexibility. Additionally, it has a redesigned tip with the same low profile as the Maverick® PTCA Dilatation Catheter for excellent turning and wire tracking.

It is available in a wide array of balloon diameters from 1.5mm up to 5.0mm, with balloon lengths ranging from 8mm up to 40mm (for select diameters). Both the Apex Monorail and OTW catheters are available in two different 1.5mm designs -- "Apex Push Catheter" and "Apex Flex Catheter." The Apex Push Catheter is designed to enhance pushability for tight lesions, while the Apex Flex Catheter is designed to enhance trackability for tortuous arteries. The two 1.5mm Apex Catheter designs enable physicians to select the appropriate catheter based on the clinical situation.

"A much greater number of 'complex' lesions could be more readily crossed and dilated if more advanced, next-generation, catheter technology were available," said James Hermiller, M.D., Director of the Interventional Fellowship at St. Vincent Heart Center of Indiana in Indianapolis. "I believe the Apex Catheter represents a next generation of catheter technology."

"The Apex Catheter is a reflection of Boston Scientific's commitment to providing physicians with the most complete set of high-performance cardiovascular devices possible," said Hank Kucheman, Senior Vice President and Group President, Cardiovascular. "As an established market leader, we listened to physicians' requests for improvements to existing balloon catheters, and responded with the advanced technology found in the Apex Catheter."

The Apex Catheter builds on Boston Scientific's reputation for developing market-leading balloon catheters. Boston Scientific makes the number one selling pre- and post-dilatation catheters (Maverick® and Quantum™ Maverick®) in the U.S. market today.

The Apex Catheter is the latest technological development by Boston Scientific intended to improve the management of patients with coronary atherosclerosis undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Boston Scientific furthers PCI optimization through a broad range of devices, including ultrasound imaging to assess lesions and balloon catheters and drug-eluting stents to reopen blocked arteries. This broad portfolio of devices supports physicians' efforts to achieve safe and effective outcomes for their patients.

PTCA dilatation catheters are used in coronary angioplasty and stenting procedures to open arteries blocked by atherosclerosis, which if left untreated can cause heart attack and stroke. Coronary artery disease represents the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for more than 870,000 deaths each year.(2)

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit: http://www.bostonscientific.com.

SOURCE: Boston Scientific Corporation

CONTACT: Paul Donovan, Media Relations, +1-508-650-8541, or cell,
+1-508-667-5165, or Larry Neumann, Investor Relations, +1-508-650-8696,
both of Boston Scientific Corporation