Boston Scientific Launches Drug Eluting Stent Solution to Treat Severe Lesions Below the Knee

Boston Scientific Launches Drug Eluting Stent Solution to Treat Severe Lesions Below the Knee PR Newswire NATICK, Massachusetts, September 24, 2012 NATICK, Massachusetts, September 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative Stent Solution to treat patients with Critical Limb Ischemia Boston Scientific has launched in European countries the PROMUS ELEMENT™ PLUS BTK (Below The Knee) Everolimus-Eluting Stent System for the treatment of certain severe peripheral artery lesions. The Drug Eluting Stent (DES) has CE Mark approval for both Monorail and Over-The-Wire versions and will be available immediately. PROMUS ELEMENT™ PLUS BTK is indicated for the treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) or severe lower leg claudication in infrapopliteal lesions. Critical Limb Ischemia is a severe obstruction of the arteries which markedly reduces blood flow to the extremities (in most cases feet and legs) and has progressed to the point of severe pain at rest, non-healing wounds or gangrene. CLI appears in about 500 to 1,000 new cases per million people every year in Europe. This highly debilitating disease is usually caused by obstructive atherosclerotic arterial disease and is associated with a very high morbidity and mortality risk. In patients with CLI, restoring and maintaining maximum blood flow to the legs is critical to helping reduce the risk of limb amputation.