• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Boston Scientific Announces 1,000th Patient Treated With Precision(TM) Spinal Cord Stimulation System for Relief From Chronic Pain

Posted on: Monday, 11 July 2005, 12:01 CDT

NATICK, Mass., July 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation today announced that physicians have implanted the 1,000th Precision(TM) Spinal Cord Stimulation System for the treatment of chronic pain. The Precision system was launched nationwide in March of 2005 following earlier approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Precision system is an implantable neurostimulator device that delivers electrical signals to the spinal cord, masking pain signals as they travel to the brain. It is the smallest rechargeable neurostimulator on the market today.

Timothy R. Lubenow, M.D., Professor of Anesthesiology and Director of Pain Medicine at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, performed the 1,000th surgery.

"The refinements and evolutionary advancements in spinal cord stimulation technology allow this exciting pain treatment to help those suffering from chronic pain," said Dr. Lubenow. "In this case, the patient's treatment with existing technologies was not effective in relieving his persistent low back pain. With the new Precision device, I am confident that his chronic back pain is being treated effectively. I was better able to target his pain while programming on the table. The patient reported that he felt better immediately after post-op."

"The rapid adoption of the Precision system is testimony to physicians embracing the advantages of a small, patient-friendly rechargeable neurostimulator," said Jeffrey Greiner, head of Boston Scientific's Neuromodulation Group. "We have raised the technological bar with our best- in-class neuromodulation system. In addition, we have more than a decade of clinical and service expertise, supporting more than 1,000 clinicians and 15,000 deaf infants, children and adults who use our cochlear implant neurostimulator to hear. We are building on this experience to provide world- class customer care to hundreds of pain management physicians and 1,000 Precision patients."

The Precision system consists of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) that delivers stimulation to the spinal cord using wire leads, as well as an external charging system. The long-lasting Precision(R) IPG is the smallest on the market -- about half the size and considerably lighter than competing devices. The external charging system (which charges the implanted IPG) provides patients with greater convenience because it is significantly less bulky and more discreet. Spinal cord stimulation is prescribed for patients with chronic pain in the limbs, trunk, and back who have not received adequate pain relief from physical therapy, pain medications or other methods.

Patients interested in Precision technology can visit http://www.controlyourpain.com/ for more information.

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 companies, Boston Scientific's overall business strategy, and other factors described in Boston Scientific's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT: Milan Kofol 508-650-8569 Investor Relations Boston Scientific Corporation Paul Donovan 508-650-8541 Media Relations Boston Scientific Corporation

Boston Scientific Corporation

CONTACT: Milan Kofol, +1-508-650-8569, Investor Relations, or PaulDonovan, +1-508-650-8541, Media Relations, both of Boston ScientificCorporation

Web site: http://www.bostonscientific.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

More News in this Category