Share price of medical device major Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) rose 2.4% yesterday, following the full commercial launch of its new POLARIS system, used for capturing intravascular imaging.

The POLARIS is an advance imaging system that will aid the family of intravascular ultrasound (:IVUS) catheters, including coronary, peripheral and intra-cardiac echo products of Boston Scientific. The POLARIS system is easier to use and offers upgraded powerful processing capabilities.

This System has received the CE Mark and FDA 510(k) approval and has been under assessment in numerous hospitals in the U.S. and Europe. The company has redesigned and improved the user interface and workflow incorporated within its POLARIS System which will enable physicians to take better-guided clinical decisions through easily accessible essential information.

IVUS enables a physician to see images inside a patient's heart and coronary arteries and is a common test to confirm a stent has been correctly placed during angioplasty. Boston Scientific's iLab ultrasound imaging system provides excellent IVUS images with full cross sectional view. Moreover, management considers IVUS imaging to be one of the primary catalysts of its Interventional Cardiology (IC.V) business.

Boston Scientific recognized that customers undergoing intravascular imaging procedures are in need of a more simplified and advance intravascular guidance. This led the company to design the smart POLARIS System to overcome the familiar challenges like confusing work flows, increased procedure times, and difficult image interpretation.

Going ahead, Boston Scientific plans to launch a handful of new imaging products, which includes a fractional flow reserve (FFR) wire, a new family of IVUS catheters, enhanced software features and better system control tools. It is anticipated that the commercial launch of the POLARIS System will endorse this imaging project, apart from taking intravascular imaging system to its next level.

Management at Boston Scientific is enthusiastic about this launch and presently aims at refining patient outcomes by providing improved IVUS guidance to physicians in the course of their daily practice. Boston Scientific has also expressed its plans to allow its customers an opportunity to upgrade their existing iLab System to the new state-of-the-art POLARIS System.

Currently, Boston Scientific holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some other notable medical products stocks are Hospira Inc. (HSP), Wright Medical Group Inc. (WMGI) and OraSure Technologies, Inc. (OSUR). While Hospira and Wright Medical hold a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), OraSure holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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