NATICK, Mass., May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced the one-year anniversary of the company's first implant of the CONTAK RENEWAL® RF family of cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D). The RENEWAL 3 RF CRT-D is the industry's first wireless-enabled CRT-D device implanted in the U.S. More than 1,000 physicians now have implanted 5,000 patients worldwide with this family of devices. Boston Scientific is the only major company with large-scale wireless implant experience.

In addition, patients implanted with the RENEWAL 3 RF device in the U.S. have access to the LATITUDE® Patient Management system. This innovative wireless system includes an exclusive LATITUDE Active Monitoring feature that can automatically perform a device check every day without patient initiation. With more than 1,500 patients now enrolled on the LATITUDE Patient Management system, Boston Scientific is the only major company with wireless, in-home monitoring experience.

RENEWAL 3 RF and LATITUDE Active Monitoring are aligned with the Heart Rhythm Society proposed recommendations on device performance policies and guidelines issued on April 26 ("The Heart Rhythm Society recommends that cardiac rhythm management device manufacturers develop and utilize wireless and remote monitoring technologies ... ").

"Wireless remote monitoring is an important part of the recent draft recommendations by the Heart Rhythm Society," said Dr. Bruce Wilkoff, Cleveland Clinic; and Section Chair, Heart Rhythm Society Task Force. "The LATITUDE Patient Management system is already building solid experience in this area. One of the strengths of LATITUDE is that a patient's device can be wirelessly checked every day from the comfort of their home. The built-in alert system gives me the opportunity to greatly improve device surveillance and offer my patients peace of mind."

RENEWAL 3 RF CRT-D and LATITUDE Patient Management system are provided as one integrated system. It consists of four features:

  * CONTAK RENEWAL 3 RF Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillator
    (CRT-D):  The company's first wireless enabled implantable device.
  * LATITUDE Communicator:  An in-home monitoring unit that automatically
    and wirelessly reads implantable device information at times specified
    by the patient's physician.
  * LATITUDE Website:  The secure website that provides anytime, anywhere
    access to -- and a digital archive of -- device and patient data
    collected by the LATITUDE Communicator.
  * ZOOM LATITUDE Programmer:  A wireless, LATITUDE-compatible programmer
    designed to save physicians time at implant and follow-up.

RENEWAL 3 RF telemetry operates on the Industrial, Scientific, Medical (ISM) band without interference from cell phones and other commonly used radio frequency devices. Our telemetry has been rigorously tested in real-world clinic and home settings. Other wireless bands allocated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), such as the MICS (Medical Implant Communication Services) band used by other medical device systems, have lower power outputs that may impact the distance of the wireless communication in both the implant and home environment.

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

SOURCE: Boston Scientific Corporation

CONTACT: Milan Kofol, Investor Relations, +1-508-650-8569, or Paul
Donovan, Media Relations, +1-508-650-8541, both of Boston Scientific
Corporation

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