Boston Scientific Corporation announced the US launch of the newest version of its Radial Jaw Single-Use Biopsy Forceps, featuring more jaw volume and an improved jaw design compared to the market-leading Radial Jaw 3 Forceps.

Radial Jaw 4 Forceps are designed to enable collection of large high quality tissue specimens without the need to use large channel therapeutic endoscopes.

Acquiring tissue for diagnosis via biopsy is the most frequently performed procedure by gastroenterologists (GIs). In 2005, approximately 5.8 million endoscopic biopsy procedures were performed in the US to diagnose various gastrointestinal diseases, including esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, gastritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and cancer.

The new jaw configuration of the Radial Jaw 4 Forceps is intended to provide larger tissue specimens than Radial Jaw 3 Forceps in order to facilitate tissue sample handling and preparation for accurate histological diagnosis. The forceps are also designed for consistent sample retention and enhanced passability. The Radial Jaw 4 Forceps can now extract a large tissue specimen through a 3.2mm working channel of an endoscope, as opposed to the 3.7mm working channel required with a previous version of Radial Jaw Forceps.

"Biopsies are critical for the accurate diagnosis of any gastrointestinal disorder," said Russell Yang, M.D., Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. "The new enhancements to Radial Jaw 4 Forceps, such as the ability to use a smaller, more common endoscope and still acquire large samples, make the Radial Jaw even more valuable for acquiring tissue to accurately diagnose a patient's condition."

"Boston Scientific is committed to providing clinicians with continuously improving technologies that advance the quality of patient care and the productivity of health care delivery," said Michael Phalen, president, Boston Scientific Endoscopy. "The introduction of the fourth generation of our market-leading biopsy forceps demonstrates this commitment, by offering an enhanced procedural experience and potentially better clinical outcomes."