NATICK, Mass., April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation today announced Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) approval of its ACUITY(R) Steerable left ventricular lead for use with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices, which treat heart failure. The Company also received reimbursement approval for the lead from the National Health Insurance System and plans to launch the product immediately in Japan.
The ACUITY Steerable left ventricular lead features a deflectable tip for successful delivery in simple, compound and complex anatomies, which includes placement of the lead in difficult-to-access branch vessels on the left side of the heart. A lead is an insulated wire that carries the heart signal to the implanted device and delivers energy from the device to the heart. In most cases, leads are passed into the heart through veins.
"We are pleased to make this lead available to physicians in Japan so they can offer this advanced therapy to their heart failure patients," said Fred Colen, Executive Vice President, Operations and Technology, Boston Scientific Cardiac Rhythm Management. "The ACUITY Steerable lead, when teamed with our CRT devices, provides a proven, effective treatment option to patients who struggle with heart failure."
The ACUITY Steerable lead also provides physicians with four configurations for stimulating the left side of the heart, which Boston Scientific refers to as Electronic Repositioning(TM). This ability allows physicians to change the stimulation site non-invasively after implant, which helps avoid the need for an additional surgical procedure. Boston Scientific is the only company that provides physicians with four left ventricular pacing configurations.
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/.
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