NATICK, Mass., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced the launch of the Pelvic Floor Institute™ -- a unique training forum and online resource designed to enhance physician knowledge and awareness of pelvic floor reconstruction procedures and techniques.  

By 2050, the number of women in the United States with urinary incontinence is expected to increase 55 percent to 28.4 million, while women with pelvic organ prolapse will rise 46 percent to 4.9 million(1).  The Pelvic Floor Institute is designed to provide physicians with practical training in a hands-on laboratory setting to address the growing need for treatment of these conditions.  In its first year, the Pelvic Floor Institute plans to host lab training sessions featuring expert anatomical instruction using an innovative hemi-pelvis cadaver that offers improved detail of internal structures and organs.  The Institute will also offer a dynamic online resource to facilitate peer-to-peer support and communication beyond the clinical setting.

"Today's pelvic floor procedures require a more in-depth understanding of female pelvic anatomy and the specific techniques critical to successful outcomes," said Dennis Miller, M.D., Medical Director, Milwaukee Urogynecology, Wheaton Franciscan Hospital, Milwaukee, WI.  "Use of the hemi-pelvis cadaver offers a major advance in training for pelvic floor reconstruction, allowing unprecedented visualization of internal structures not available in other lab settings."

The Pelvic Floor Institute website complements the hands-on lab experience by offering online tutorials, case studies, coursework and editorials on contemporary topics.  Physicians can customize their online learning experience with specific training modules that match their educational needs and prepare them for cadaver lab instruction.  The website also enables physicians to connect with leading experts in the field.

"We are pleased to introduce and support this innovative training forum that will benefit physicians and their patients," said John Pedersen, Senior Vice President and President, Urology and Women's Health Division at Boston Scientific.  "The Pelvic Floor Institute facilitates a continuum of physician training that will broaden the understanding of treatment methods for pelvic floor disorders, ultimately advancing the quality of patient care."

For additional information and to review the 2010 Pelvic Floor Institute™ hands-on cadaveric lab schedule and available online educational materials, visit http://www.pelvic-floor-institute.com.

About Pelvic Floor Reconstruction

When the muscles of the pelvic floor are damaged or become weak – often due to childbirth – one or more of the pelvic or abdominal organs may drop (prolapse) below their normal positions, causing symptoms including discomfort, pain, pressure and urinary incontinence.  Pelvic floor reconstruction consists of several surgical and minimally invasive procedures to restore the normal structure and function of the female pelvic organs.  The expertise and skill of the physician is extremely important in these procedures.

About Boston Scientific  

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: www.bostonscientific.com.  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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 physician education, on-line training and product performance.  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.

(1) Wu JM et al. Forecasting the Prevalence of Pelvic Floor Disorders in U.S. Women: 2010 to 2050. Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Dec; 114(6): 1278-83.

SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation