NATICK, Mass., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation announced today that it has acquired a portfolio of proprietary endoscopic stent technologies from Willy Rusch GmbH (Rusch), a Teleflex Medical company. The technologies are used to treat gastrointestinal (GI) and airway obstructions. This portfolio includes assets related to the Polyflex(R) Esophageal Stent and Polyflex Airway Stent Systems currently distributed in the U.S. by Boston Scientific under a prior agreement with Rusch, as well as the Y Dynamic Tracheo-Bronchial Stent System. Specific terms of the new agreement were not disclosed. Rusch will continue to distribute these endoscopic stent products in Europe only through 2005.
"The Polyflex stent, a self-expanding plastic stent, gives us a treatment option for patients with benign esophageal strictures that are unresponsive to other treatments, and could potentially change the way we treat the thousands of patients with these types of esophageal strictures each year," said David L. Carr-Locke, M.D., FRCP, Director of Endoscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
"Boston Scientific is committed to advancing endoscopic technologies, providing physicians with less-invasive medical devices that are intended to improve the quality of life for many patients," said Michael P. Phalen, President, Boston Scientific Endoscopy. "The technology acquired from Rusch will enable us to expand our global product offerings and explore new treatment alternatives for patients with esophageal and tracheo-bronchial obstructions."
Patients with esophageal strictures (obstructions) may have difficulty eating or swallowing. Airway strictures may also interfere with normal breathing and are potentially life-threatening. Endoscopic stenting is a less- invasive procedure in which a stent is inserted through an endoscope into the esophagus, trachea or bronchial tubes and placed across a stricture to maintain the natural opening.
Teleflex Medical, a division of Teleflex Incorporated, is a leading global supplier of disposable medical products, surgical instruments and medical devices. Teleflex Medical markets health care supplies under the Hudson RCI and Rusch brand names and surgical instruments and medical devices under the Beere, Deknatel, KMedic, Pilling and Weck brands. In 2004, Teleflex Medical had revenues of $745 million.
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/.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Boston Scientific wishes to caution the reader of this press release that actual results may differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and may be adversely affected by, among other things, risks associated with new product development and commercialization, clinical trials, intellectual property, regulatory approvals, competitive offerings, integration of acquired technologies, Boston Scientific's overall business strategy, and other factors described in Boston Scientific's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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