MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announces a collaboration with Brainlab AG, a leading software-driven medical technology company that helps improve patient treatment planning and surgical navigation. The collaboration provides patients and physicians a comprehensive portfolio for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) therapy. DBS is intended to treat a variety of disorders, and most commonly may help reduce symptoms for movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), dystonia, and essential tremor. As part of the agreement, Boston Scientific will begin distributing the Brainlab DBS surgical planning portfolio with the Boston Scientific Vercise™ DBS System in select countries.

"Planning and visualization are important parts of the DBS process and enable more precise placement for better patient outcomes," said Maulik Nanavaty, president, Neuromodulation, Boston Scientific. "As we continue to invest in product development, clinical science, and solutions services in the DBS therapy space, we have found natural synergies with Brainlab. This collaboration offers physicians and their patients advanced device technology as well as sophisticated software capabilities."

DBS therapy involves the placement of a device that stimulates specific areas of the brain using electrical signals. The Vercise DBS System incorporates multiple independent current control, which stimulates targeted areas in the brain selectively and is designed to provide physicians with precise stimulation management.

"Our collaboration with Boston Scientific is a harmonious fit given the complementary nature of our innovative portfolios and shared passion for technology," said Stephan Holl, chief operating officer, Brainlab. "Our joint solutions will streamline and integrate DBS treatments for physicians and their patients and will also serve as a future platform to further increase the access to and consistency of care."

Brainlab was founded in Munich in 1989 and supports treatments in radiosurgery as well as numerous surgical fields including neurosurgery; orthopedic; ear, nose, and throat (ENT); craniomaxillofacial (CMF); spine, and trauma. The company has over 8,900 systems installed in about 100 countries.

The Vercise DBS System has CE Mark and is available in Europe, Israel, Australia and certain countries in Latin America and Asia Pacific for the treatment of PD, tremor and dystonia. In the U.S., the Vercise DBS System is investigational and not available for use or sale.  The INTREPID clinical trial is currently enrolling patients in the U.S., evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Vercise DBS System for the treatment of PD.

About Boston Scientific
Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world.  As a global medical technology leader for more than 35 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare.  For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook.

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, our collaboration with Brainlab AG and its impact, and product performance and impact.  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.  

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Indications for Use. The Vercise™ Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) System is indicated for use in unilateral or bilateral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) or internal globus pallidus (GPi) for treatment of levodopa responsive Parkinson's disease which is not adequately controlled with medication and also for treatment of intractable primary and secondary dystonia, for persons 7 years of age and older.

Prescriptive Information. All cited trademarks are the property of their respective owners. CAUTION: The law restricts these devices to sale by or on the order of a physician. Indications, contraindications, warnings and instructions for use can be found in the product labeling supplied with each device. Information for the use only in countries with applicable health authority product registrations.

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SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation