Boston Scientific Corporation announced the launch of its next generation intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging system, the Galaxy System. It is now available in the United States and Canada. It is scheduled to be available in Europe and Japan next year.

Imaging systems consist of consoles and catheters, which together provide cross-sectional and longitudinal ultrasound images of the inside of an artery or the heart. IVUS technology is used in the diagnosis and management of coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease, as well as to visualize intracardiac structures during electrophysiology procedures. Boston Scientific is the worldwide market leader in IVUS technology.

The Galaxy System allows -- for the first time -- the integration of high- resolution cross-sectional and longitudinal ultrasound images with X-ray images, simultaneously displaying the three images on a single monitor. It provides digital ultrasound recording capacity, which greatly increases ease of use, efficiency and image analysis capability.

"The Galaxy is a dramatic leap forward in IVUS technology," said Paul LaViolette, President, Boston Scientific Cardiovascular. "It offers a number of new features that will provide more sophisticated imaging, simplify operating techniques, and reduce set-up and procedure time. It also strongly complements the earlier launch of our Atlantis SR Plus imaging catheter."