Boston Scientific Corporation has acquired a portfolio of proprietary endoscopic stent technologies from Willy Rüsch GmbH (Rüsch), a Teleflex Medical company.

The technologies are used to treat gastrointestinal (GI) and airway obstructions. This portfolio includes assets related to the Polyflex esophageal stent and Polyflex airway stent systems currently distributed in the US by Boston Scientific under a prior agreement with Rüsch, as well as the Y dynamic tracheo-bronchial stent system. Specific terms of the new agreement were not disclosed. Rüsch will continue to distribute these endoscopic stent products in Europe only through 2005, claims a company release.

"The Polyflex stent, a self-expanding plastic stent, gives us a treatment option for patients with benign esophageal strictures that are unresponsive to other treatments, and could potentially change the way we treat the thousands of patients with these types of esophageal strictures each year," said David L. Carr-Locke, director of endoscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston.

"Boston Scientific is committed to advancing endoscopic technologies, providing physicians with less-invasive medical devices that are intended to improve the quality of life for many patients. The technology acquired from Rüsch will enable us to expand our global product offerings and explore new treatment alternatives for patients with esophageal and tracheo-bronchial obstructions," said Michael P. Phalen, president, Boston Scientific Endoscopy.

Patients with esophageal strictures (obstructions) may have difficulty eating or swallowing. Airway strictures may also interfere with normal breathing and is potentially live threatening. Endoscopic stenting is a less-invasive procedure in which a stent is inserted through an endoscope into the esophagus, trachea or bronchial tubes and placed across a stricture to maintain the natural opening.

Teleflex Medical, a division of Teleflex Incorporated, is a leading global supplier of disposable medical products, surgical instruments and medical devices. Teleflex Medical markets health care supplies under the Hudson RCI and Rüsch brand names and surgical instruments and medical devices under the Beere, Deknatel, KMedic, Pilling and Weck brands.