Peripheral Interventions

Business Definition

Boston Scientific's Peripheral Interventions business is a leading developer of medical technologies used to diagnose and treat peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Boston Scientific peripheral products provide a broad range of options to meet the needs of peripheral interventionalists. Product lines include stents, balloon catheters, sheaths, wires and vena cava filters.

Background

PVD is a complex disease involving arteries and veins outside of the coronary circulatory systems. Within the vascular system, atherosclerosis - or the restricted flow of blood - is the most recognizable cause of PVD. PVD afflicts approximately 3.7 million people in the U.S.

Less-invasive treatments are often preferable to conventional surgery in treating PVD, as they can significantly reduce recovery time, are generally less expensive, and subject patients to fewer risks than conventional surgery. In less-invasive procedures, devices are usually inserted into the body through small incisions or natural openings and can be guided to most areas of the anatomy to diagnose and treat a wide range of medical problems.

Less-invasive treatment options for PVD include the use of balloon angioplasty catheters and stent systems, embolic protection devices, ultrasounds and imaging systems. These devices are used in a range of treatment locations.

Fast Facts

• Boston Scientific is a leading developer of peripheral vascular and nonvascular stenting solutions; the Company sells stents that feature self-expanding (SE), balloon expandable (BE), and polyethylene terapthalate (PET) covered stent technology.
• Boston Scientific is the worldwide peripheral PTA leader with over 50 percent market share.
• The U.S. peripheral guidewire leader, Boston Scientific has 60 percent market share.
• Boston Scientific developed the vena cava filter market for the prevention of pulmonary embolisms with the introduction of the Greenfield® Vena Cava Filter in 1972. Since its introduction, the Greenfield Filter has been implanted in more than 600,000 patients.
• Boston Scientific's proprietary Peripheral Cutting Balloon™ technology has been used successfully in over 9,000 peripheral procedures throughout Europe and Japan. Boston Scientific recently received U.S Food and Drug Administration approval for the Peripheral Cutting Balloon.

Looking to the Future
Boston Scientific is committed to advancing the practice of less-invasive medicine. Today, the Company is investigating a number of innovative technologies; in particular, drug coated stents leveraging Boston Scientific's TAXUS program and carotid artery stenting taking advantage of the Company's core competencies in vascular intervention.

Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices with approximately 25,000 employees and revenue of $8.3 billion in 2007. For 25 years, Boston Scientific has advanced the practice of less-invasive medicine by providing a broad and deep portfolio of innovative products, technologies and services across a wide range of medical specialties. The Company's products help physicians and other medical professionals improve their patients' quality of life by providing alternatives to surgery that minimize risk, cost, trauma, aftercare and procedure time.