Boston Scientific Announces Launch of Chilli II(TM) Cooled Ablation Catheter

NATICK, Mass., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation announced today the launch of the Chilli II(TM) Cooled Ablation Catheter -- the first bi-directional cooled-tip catheter available in the United States. The Chilli II catheter offers physicians the benefits of cooled ablation technology coupled with the proven performance of the Boston Scientific Blazer(R) catheter platform. The Company said the product is available immediately.

Cooled cardiac ablation is a recent advancement in the treatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT) using radio frequency (RF) energy. VT is a serious cardiac arrhythmia characterized by heart rates above 100 beats per minute. The Boston Scientific Chilli II Cooled Ablation System features a patented, closed-loop cooling system designed to reduce complications often encountered in standard ablation procedures for the treatment of VT. Consistent, continuous fluid circulation cools the catheter tip, reducing coagulum formation and allowing deeper lesions to be created. The closed-loop design of the system eliminates the need to add fluid and monitor flow rates during the procedure, reducing the potential for fluid overload.

It is estimated that VT is present in approximately 75 percent of the more than 300,000 cardiac deaths annually in the United States, and approximately 300,000 patients are hospitalized annually for treatment of VT.

"Cooled ablation is a major advance in the treatment of VT," said Frank Marchlinski, M.D., Director of Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia. "The Chilli II Catheter provides a marked benefit by integrating cooled ablation technology onto the bi-directional Blazer Catheter platform."

"The launch of the Chilli II Catheter demonstrates our continued commitment to providing our customers with innovative cardiac ablation solutions," said Joe Fitzgerald, Vice President and General Manager of Boston Scientific's Electrophysiology business. "The Chilli II Catheter is an innovative product that combines the known benefits of our proprietary closed- loop cooled RF ablation technology with the proven performance characteristics of our industry-leading Blazer catheter platform. This system offers clinicians and patients a complete, easy-to-use, cooled, cardiac ablation system."

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. The Company 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 clinical trials, the regulatory approval process, commercialization of new technologies, intellectual property, and other factors described in the Company'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