NATICK, Mass., April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announces the launch of its BackStop® Gel, a new technology designed to prevent stone migration during procedures used to break up and retrieve urinary stones.  The Company is now marketing the product in the U.S. and select international markets.

BackStop Gel is a water-soluble polymer that urologists inject into the ureter to form a plug behind the stone, preventing migration of stone fragments of all sizes.  Stone migration is a common clinical challenge during stone extraction and can result in increased procedure time, lower stone-free rates and increased need for secondary procedures.  The BackStop Gel is placed with a catheter, which is then removed to free up space in the operative field.  Unlike prior generations of antiretropulsion devices, BackStop Gel is designed without mechanical components susceptible to damage from devices used to fragment the stone.  Upon completion of the procedure, the BackStop Gel is designed to dissolve with conventional irrigation.

"I have found that using BackStop Gel in the ureter helps prevent the migration of stones and increases the success rate of stone removal," said Dianne Sacco, M.D., Director of Kidney Stone Program, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.  "This product provides a non-traumatic plug, which enhances the use of lithotripsy devices to successfully fragment and retrieve stones."  

"We are focused on offering minimally invasive and cost-effective medical devices that improve patient outcomes," said Michael Phalen, Executive Vice President and President of the Boston Scientific MedSurg Division.  "The BackStop Gel demonstrates this focus by providing a clinically effective method for urologists to manage the common problem of stone migration during treatment procedures." 

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, new product launches and launch cadence, clinical outcomes, product performance 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.

CONTACT:   

Denise Kaigler
508-650-8330 (office)
Media Relations
Boston Scientific Corporation
Denise.kaigler@bsci.com

Sean Findlen
617-520-7268  (office)
Media Relations
Weber Shandwick
sfindlen@webershandwick.com                       

Sean Wirtjes
508-652-5305 (office)
Investor Relations
Boston Scientific Corporation
investor_relations@bsci.com

SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation