Boston Scientific Corporation, a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties,  reported that, along with the introduction of a new family of Incepta and Energen implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds), it is providing an extended warranty for these devices in the US and many international countries of up to 10 years, depending on model. The new warranty is up to five years longer than other currently marketed devices.

"Our clinical data show that the majority of patients who have ICDs live more than seven years after implant, and some live for decades," said Robert Hauser, M.D., Minneapolis Heart Institute, Abbott Northwestern Hospital.  "The excellent longevity of these devices combined with the length of the warranty has both clinical and financial implications for patients.  Greater longevity potentially reduces the number of implant surgeries, which minimizes complication risk and helps improve patient outcomes.  The warranty also reduces out-of-pocket expenses for patients as well as healthcare system costs."

"Offering the industry's longest warranty for these ICDs and CRT-Ds, in conjunction with the lifetime warranty for our ICD leads, reflects our confidence in the quality, durability and longevity of our entire device system," said Joe Fitzgerald, Senior Vice President and President of Boston Scientific's Cardiac Rhythm Management Group.  "Creating longer-lasting devices is simply the right thing to do for patients.  It benefits those who are living longer due to advances in device therapy, those who are receiving devices earlier in their lives based on our clinical science, and those who need more frequent device changes because of their clinical condition."

"We have made significant investments in advanced battery technology that now has projected device longevity of up to 10 years, far outpacing our competitors," said Mike Mahoney, President of Boston Scientific.  "We are now backing this longevity with the longest warranty in the industry to support these next-generation devices designed to save and enhance the lives of patients experiencing heart failure and sudden cardiac death."