Boston Scientific collaborates with Philips, Siemens to offer integrated imaging systems

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced collaborations with Philips Healthcare and Siemens Medical Solutions to enable the use of its iLab® Ultrasound Imaging System with the Philips Allura™ Xper and the Siemens AXIOM™ Artis and Artis™ zee interventional X-ray systems.  Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) technology is designed to provide physicians a 360-degree view inside the heart and coronary vessels to assist with diagnosis and to generate a more accurate image of the diseased vessels than is possible with angiography alone.  

Boston Scientific's collaborations with Philips and Siemens include recently completed compatibility testing, which confirmed that the iLab System can function as an integrated system with the Philips and Siemens X-ray systems.  The Company previously announced a similar collaboration with GE Healthcare and its Innova® System.  The iLab System is designed to be installed directly into a cardiac catheterization laboratory or radiology suite alongside these X-ray systems, enabling physicians to more readily incorporate IVUS technology into their procedures.  The integrated systems will be featured at the annual EuroPCR Scientific Program, May 25 – 28 in Paris.

"Boston Scientific is proud to work with Philips and Siemens to offer integrated imaging systems that support improvements in performance, workflow and ease of use," said Joe Fitzgerald, Senior Vice President and President of Boston Scientific's Endovascular Unit.  "Cath labs worldwide can now integrate the iLab Ultrasound Imaging System with the vast majority of interventional X-ray systems."

IVUS technology incorporates a tiny catheter inserted into the heart or coronary vessels where high-frequency sound waves reflect off tissue or vessel walls.  The reflected sound waves create a cross-sectional image from within the heart or vessel, which can help determine treatment options.  Unlike fractional flow reserve (FFR) technology, IVUS may be used to help select balloon and stent sizes and to view stent apposition and expansion after stent placement.  The iLab System features exceptional image quality and the option for physicians to use a variety of catheters to accommodate coronary, peripheral and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) applications.