Investigator Sponsored Research Program

Research Areas

Each Boston Scientific division reviews research requests for a variety of topics pertaining to Boston Scientific products and associated disease states.

We are currently looking for research in the following areas:

Interventional Cardiology/Structural Heart Topics of Interest

TAVR: Acurate

• Efficacy in Complex Cases, Unique Aortic Anatomies and subpopulations
• Embolic protection
• Health Economics Analysis
   

Watchman

• Imaging
• Health Economics Data
• Blood thinner comparative data
• Subgroup analysis
   

Complex PCI

• FFR, iFR, DFR usage
• Health Economics and Efficiency Analysis
   

Stents and Balloons

• Agent and Synergy applications and sub-population data
   

Rhythm & Electrophysiology Topics of Interest

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY: Cardiac Mapping and Ablation

Personalization of Ablation Strategy

• Atrial fibrillation strategy personalization when considering multiple technology options
  
  

Ultrahigh Density Mapping and RF Ablation Catheters

• Characterization and prospective evaluation of local impedance-guided AF ablation using DIRECTSENSE (INTELLANAV MIFI OI & STABLEPOINT Catheters)
• DIRECTSENSE workflow and substrate characterization in complex cases
• High-power short duration ablation workflow for pulmonary vein isolation
• Procedural best practices and outcomes with state-of-the-art technology, including RHTYTHMIA HDx™ with ultra-high-definition mapping and/or DIRECTSENSE™, AutoTag, and LUMIPOINT™ features
• Substrate mapping and scar voltage characterization using RHYTHMIA HDx™
  
  

PVI with Cryoablation Technologies

• Optimal dosing strategy for cryoablation using the POLARx cryoballoon
• Procedural best practices, efficiencies, and long-term clinical outcomes
  
  

RHYTHM MANAGEMENT Devices

Heart Failure Diagnostics on CIED Devices

• Intersection of HeartLogic and arrhythmic events and monitoring (e.g. arrhythmia burden, intervention decision & monitoring of response)
• Data management and workflow strategies utilizing HeartLogic alerts
• Treatment protocols for the whole alert cycle and relation to clinical outcomes
  
  

Implantable Cardiac Monitor

• Comparison of data management and clinic burden between LUX-Dx and other monitoring systems
• Use and performance of novel features including AT algorithm or remote programming
• User experience including implant and signal quality
• Patient experience and usefulness of mobile applications
  
  

Subcutaneous ICD

• Best practices to assure long term device efficacy for spontaneous arrhythmias, particularly at device changeout

Endoscopy Areas of Interest

• SpyDiscover (Surgical or Percutaneous) 
• Cholangioscopy and Bil RFA in Occluded Bil SEMS 
• Biliary RFA focused on improving life expectancy and reducing re-intervention rates
• Hybrid ESD or Hybrid EMR as a step to ESD using ProKnife
• Single Use Duodenoscopes 
• Single Use Bronchoscopes 
• Clipping for:
  • Anchoring of J-tubes
  • Marking
  • Closure
• Specific areas of interest in these topics include but are not limited to the following:
  • Economic Data (Reduced procedural time, decreased length of hospital stay, reduced complications, lower hospital)
  • Safety and efficacy

Urology and Pelvic Health Topics of Interest

Urolithiasis

• Treatment outcomes in upper tract urinary stone disease
   

BPH

• Treatment outcomes and QoL in BPH
   

Cancer

• Spacing and marking for radiation in various anatomies
   

Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

• The case for minislings as standard of care therapy for stress urinary incontinence
  • Patient experience
  • Economics
• A systematic review and meta-analysis of the safety and efficacy of urinary slings for treating female stress urinary incontinence
• Incidence of complications following sling surgery in high risk women (obesity, medical comorbidities, concomitant hysterectomy etc.)
• Learning curve for Solyx
   

Pelvic Floor Reconstruction

• Use of Capio in native tissue repair for prolapse
• Safety and efficacy of Y- mesh implanted by transabdominal route
   

Male Stress Urinary Incontinence

• AUS / AdVance XP vs comparative device studies
  • Patient and/or Caregiver satisfaction/experience
  • Performance & treatment outcomes
• Economics of Incontinence
  • Coping costs (i.e. pads/laundry/pills)
  • Economic impact on society
  • Patient productivity
  • Mental health
• Benefit of diagnosing Incontinence
  • Cardiovascular
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
• Female AUS studies

Male Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

• AMS 700 / Tactra vs other competitive devices
  • Patient and/or Partner satisfaction/experience
  • Performance & treatment outcomes
• Economics of ED
  • Cost effectiveness of IPP as first line therapy
  • Coping costs (i.e. alternative erectile dysfunction solutions)
  • Economic impact on society
  • Patient productivity
  • Mental health
• Benefits of diagnosing ED
  • Cardiovascular
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity

Neuromodulation Topics of Interest

• Spinal Cord Stimulation
  • Treatment of chronic, intractable pain of the back and legs using the Spectra WaveWriter™ SCS System
    • Of particular interest:
      • Efficacy of combination therapy
      • Programming optimization
      • Contour™ field shaping algorithm vs other field shapes
      • Anatomical vs paresthesia-based neural targeting
• Deep Brain Stimulation
  • Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and other movement disorders using Vercise™ Deep Brain Stimulation System
    • Of particular interest:
      • Freezing of gait
      • Replacement of other DBS systems with Vercise DBS System
      • Use of multiple frequencies on one lead
      • Use of current fractionalization to maximize overlap with desired structures and minimize stimulation of non-target tissue
      • Novel targets for Parkinson’s Disease, Dystonia, Tremor (may require IDE)