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Boston Scientific to Donate Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices to Heartbeat International for Implantation in Needy Patients

Posted on: Wednesday, 13 May 2009, 07:30 CDT

NATICK, Mass., May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced that it has agreed to donate Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) devices, including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices to Heartbeat International, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing CRM devices and medical care at no charge to needy patients in countries outside the United States. The donation marks the beginning of the Company's agreement to provide Heartbeat International with CRM devices that would otherwise remain unused.

"We are very pleased to be able to donate life-saving and life-enhancing medical devices through Heartbeat International," said Fred Colen, President, Boston Scientific Cardiac Rhythm Management. "We are proud to support the humanitarian efforts of this organization and help advance their mission to serve those in need."

Heartbeat International operates 41 approved distribution centers in 22 countries. Volunteer physicians provide implantation procedures and follow-up care at local hospitals at no charge. Heartbeat International also works closely with regulatory bodies to confirm compliance with applicable laws and has partnered with Rotary International to verify that devices are implanted only in patients with medical need and severely limited economic resources.

"Each year more than one million people die or live a compromised life because they need but cannot afford an implantable device," said Wil Mick, President and Chief Operating Officer of Heartbeat International. "Thanks to donations from companies like Boston Scientific, we can help save or improve the lives of many who otherwise could not afford these advanced therapies."

In addition to donating devices, Boston Scientific will provide device programmers, programmer software and software updates, and implant accessories to Heartbeat International to support device implant and follow-up care.

About Boston Scientific

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: www.bostonscientific.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our philanthropic activities, products and product performance. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; new product introductions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and, future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file thereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

CONTACT: Paul Donovan 508-650-8541 (office) 508-667-5165 (mobile) Media Relations Boston Scientific Corporation Larry Neumann 508-650-8696 (office) Investor Relations Boston Scientific Corporation

SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation

Source: PR Newswire

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