Boston Scientific Invests in Endoscopic Firm

An equity investment and an exclusive option to acquire Endoscope Technologies, Inc. (Estech, Danville, CA, USA) have been announced by Boston Scientific Corp. (Natick, MA, USA). Details were not disclosed.

The two companies also intend to continue a preexisting collaboration on the development of less-invasive surgical tools for the treatment of arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Because of the aging of the population, the prevalence of atrial fibrillation has been increasing.

Doctors have been seeking a way to treat atrial fibrillation without performing open-heart surgery. Estech is developing less-invasive technology that enable surgeons to access and manipulate the heart and perform cardiac procedures without open-heart surgery. Boston Scientific and Estech are collaborating on the development of devices that will combine Boston Scientific's ablation technology and Estech's cardiac surgery capabilities in order to facilitate a less-invasive endoscopic ablation procedure.

"Cardiothoracic surgeons have emerged as a key group treating atrial fibrillation and they are eager to expand their treatment options,” said Tom Coen, president of Boston Scientific's electrophysiology business. "We believe our relationship with Estech will enable us to bring them the tools they are seeking.”




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