NATICK, Mass., April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) approval of its ACUITY® Steerable left ventricular lead for use with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices, which treat heart failure. The Company also received reimbursement approval for the lead from the National Health Insurance System and plans to launch the product immediately in Japan.

The ACUITY Steerable left ventricular lead features a deflectable tip for successful delivery in simple, compound and complex anatomies, which includes placement of the lead in difficult-to-access branch vessels on the left side of the heart. A lead is an insulated wire that carries the heart signal to the implanted device and delivers energy from the device to the heart. In most cases, leads are passed into the heart through veins.

"We are pleased to make this lead available to physicians in Japan so they can offer this advanced therapy to their heart failure patients," said Fred Colen, Executive Vice President, Operations and Technology, Boston Scientific Cardiac Rhythm Management. "The ACUITY Steerable lead, when teamed with our CRT devices, provides a proven, effective treatment option to patients who struggle with heart failure."

The ACUITY Steerable lead also provides physicians with four configurations for stimulating the left side of the heart, which Boston Scientific refers to as Electronic Repositioning™. This ability allows physicians to change the stimulation site non-invasively after implant, which helps avoid the need for an additional surgical procedure. Boston Scientific is the only company that provides physicians with four left ventricular pacing configurations.

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/.

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This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of 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 product performance, regulatory approval of our products, new product launches, competitive offerings, our growth strategy, and our market position. 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 thereafter. 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:  Paul Donovan
            508-650-8541 (office)
            508-667-5165 (mobile)
            Media Relations
            Boston Scientific Corporation

            Larry Neumann
            508-650-8696 (office)
            Investor Relations
            Boston Scientific Corporation

SOURCE: Boston Scientific Corporation

CONTACT: Paul Donovan, Media Relations, +1-508-650-8541, +1-508-667-5165
(mobile), or Larry Neumann, Investor Relations, +1-508-650-8696, both of
Boston Scientific Corporation

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