Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced the U.S. and international launch of its Expect™ Endoscopic Ultrasound Aspiration Needle, used for acquiring tissue samples for diagnosing and staging malignancies in organs adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract. The Expect Needle received FDA clearance and CE Mark approval earlier this year and is being marketed in the U.S., Europe and other international markets.
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a non-surgical, less-invasive procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce detailed images of the gastrointestinal tract and adjacent organs, including the pancreas, liver, bile duct and mediastinal space. To complement EUS, Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is often used to collect cytology samples for cancer diagnosis. Data have shown that EUS is associated with improved survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients due to more informed, stage-appropriate disease management.
"Combining EUS with FNA offers powerful diagnostic capabilities that can help optimize malignancy management in the GI tract and inform appropriate treatment paths for the patient, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or palliation," said Robert H. Hawes, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. "The excellent visibility, sharpness and durability of the Expect Needle help obtain high-quality diagnostic samples easily and efficiently."