NATICK, Mass., May 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announces that seven abstracts and additional clinical data analyses will be presented at Digestive Disease Week^® (DDW), May 19 – 22 in San Diego.  The analyses involve the SpyGlass^® Direct Visualization System, WallFlex® Biliary RX Stent, Expect™ 19 Flex Endoscopic Ultrasound Aspiration Needle and Resolution® Clip.

"The volume and quality of presentations that include Boston Scientific endoscopy products underscore our ability to deliver industry-leading technologies that improve the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases," said David Pierce, president of the endoscopy division at Boston Scientific.  "We are committed to developing innovative treatment options and expanding indications that enhance the quality of life for patients, as demonstrated by the recent global launch of our Expect 19 Flex Needle as well as the broad range of Boston Scientific endoscopic innovations showcased at Digestive Disease Week."

The Expect 19 Flex Needle will be available for demonstration at Boston Scientific's booth #1525 during DDW.  The company will also offer hands-on demonstration sessions in its Simulated Clinical Endoscopy Suites and at its booth stations for GI Stenting, Access, Visualization and Therapeutics for ERCP, Hemostasis, Dilation, Tissue Acquisition and Enteral Access.  For more information on Boston Scientific endoscopy products, visit www.bsci.com/endo-resources.

Schedule of Key Podium and Poster Presentations (partial listing, all times are Pacific Daylight Time):

Saturday, May 19

• Drastic Improvement of Patency of Covered Self-Expandable Metal Stents for Distal Biliary Obstruction Caused by Pancreatic Carcinomas: a Randomized Multicenter Study Comparing Covered and Uncovered Stents 

Masayuki Kitano, M.D., PhD., will present results from this randomized, multi-center study that compared self-expanding metal stents (SEMSs), specifically the WallFlex® Biliary RX Covered Stent, to uncovered SEMSs for palliative treatment in patients with biliary obstruction due to pancreatic carcinomas.  The study will be presented during a forum at 11:00 a.m. in Room 11ab.

• Preliminary Results From a 187-Patient Multicenter Prospective Trial Using Metal Stents for Treatment of Benign Biliary Strictures*

Jacques M. Deviere, M.D., will present results from this multi-center, prospective trial that evaluated the use of Boston Scientific's WallFlex® Biliary RX Fully Covered Stent for the treatment of benign biliary strictures, particularly in patients with chronic pancreatitis.  The findings will be presented during a forum at 11:15 a.m. in Room 11ab.

*Use of the WallFlex Biliary RX Fully Covered Stent for the treatment of benign strictures or stenoses has not been cleared for use in the United States.

Sunday, May 20

• Early Clinical Experience With a New EUS-Guided 19-Gauge Flexible Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Device: a Multicenter Study

Mohammad A. Al-Haddad, M.D., will present results from this multi-center study that examined early clinical experience with the Boston Scientific new Expect™ 19 Flex Endoscopic Ultrasound Aspiration Needle System.  The findings will be presented during a forum at 2:45 p.m. in Room 4.

Monday, May 21

• Natural History of Definitive Diverticular Hemorrhage Based Upon Stigmata of Recent Hemorrhage and Doppler Blood Flow Monitoring

Dennis Jensen, M.D., will present results from this prospective study, which examined the rates of clinically significant rebleeding, red blood cell transfusion, and intervention for control of bleeding when definitive diverticular hemorrhage is diagnosed based upon stigmata of recent hemorrhage (SRH) at urgent colonoscopy and managed medically without endoscopic hemostasis.  The findings will be presented during a poster session from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Halls C-G.

• SpyGlass® System PerOral Cholangioscopy in Indeterminate Biliary Strictures: How to Improve the Diagnostic Yield

Raffaele Manta, M.D., will present results from this study, which evaluated the Boston Scientific SpyGlass System for differential diagnosis of biliary pathology, including in difficult cases. The findings will be presented during a poster session from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Halls C-G. 

• SPYGLASS® System Single Operator Cholangioscopy for the Evaluation of Biliary Complications After Liver Transplantation

Andres Cardenas, M.D., will present results from this prospective study, which examined the Boston Scientific SpyGlass System for visualization and tissue sampling of the anastomotic stricture and bile duct.  The findings will be presented during a poster session from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Halls C-G. 

Tuesday, May 22

• How to Find, Diagnose and Treat Definitive Diverticular Hemorrhage During Urgent Colonoscopy in Patients With Severe Hematochezia: Results and Outcomes of a Large Prospective Study

Dennis Jensen, M.D., will present results from this large, prospective study, which examined the outcomes for patients with definitive diverticular hemorrhage and which based diagnosis and treatment on SRH at urgent colonoscopy for patients treated with colonoscopic hemostasis. The findings will be presented during a forum at 4:45 p.m. in Room 5ab. 

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices that 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 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and 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 business plans and endoscopic technologies, regulatory approvals, clinical trials and clinical outcomes, product performance and effect, and competitive offerings.  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 hereafter.  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.

SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation