Boston Scientific Corporation, a global medical technology leader, has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the Innova vascular self-expanding stent system, an advanced treatment option for patients with narrowing or blockages in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) or proximal popliteal artery (PPA). This can cause peripheral artery disease (PAD), a circulatory disorder that results from a build-up of plaque in one or more of the arteries, most often in the legs. PAD of the lower extremities can lead to painful ulcers, infections, or amputation of the toes or feet.

The company has commenced a full commercial launch of the Innova Stent System in the US.

"It is gratifying to be able to offer this minimally invasive therapy to improve the quality of life in those patients who suffer from PAD," said Richard Powell, section chief, department of vascular surgery, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, N.H., professor of surgery and radiology at the Geisel School of Medicine, and global principal investigator of the SuperNOVA trial, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Innova Stent System.

"The SFA and proximal popliteal arteries present a challenging environment for stents. The flexibility, radial strength and fracture resistance of the Innova Stent are designed specifically for this anatomy."

The Innova stent platform consists of a Nitinol self-expanding bare metal stent with an advanced delivery system, and is available in a range of sizes, including diameters from 5 mm to 8 mm and lengths of 20 mm to 200 mm. It features a hybrid cell architecture with open-cells along the stent body and closed cells at each end for uniform and accurate deployment. This stent platform serves as the foundation for the new Eluvia drug-eluting vascular stent, designed specifically for the SFA. The Innova Stent System was designed with an intuitive triaxial delivery system for precise, predictable stent placement and uniform deployment.

"The Innova delivery system allowed me to place the stent smoothly and accurately," said Jaafer Golzar, interventional cardiologist, Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, Illinois, and the first to use the Innova Stent System in a clinical procedure following FDA approval.

"The first step to achieving an optimal outcome is accurate placement, and then stent properties like radial strength and flexibility come into play." Dr. Golzar is also a clinical assistant professor, University of Illinois at Chicago and director of limb salvage & endovascular intervention, Advocate Trinity Hospital, Chicago.

"This is an important therapy for a disease that can have life-changing consequences, including limb amputation," said Jeff Mirviss, president, peripheral interventions, Boston Scientific.

"The Innova and the Eluvia stent systems together demonstrate our commitment to improving health outcomes in the treatment of a disease affecting more than 200 million people worldwide."

The Innova stent system received CE Mark approval in May 2012.  The Eluvia stent system is pending CE Mark and is not available for use or sale in the US.