Boston Scientific announces first implant of Taxus Element stent

Boston Scientific has this week announced the initiation of a clinical trial assessing the Taxus Element stent – its third-generation paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent.

As part of the Taxus Perseus clinical study, approximately 1,500 patients at 100 medical centres worldwide will be enrolled into the programme.

The Taxus Element stent includes a proprietary platinum chromium alloy specifically designed for use in stents, in addition to a novel design which facilitates the production of thinner struts.

Boston Scientific reports that the combination of this alloy with the innovative design facilitates a lower profile, with improved radial strength, recoil and radiopacity.

Dean J Kereiakes, medical director at the Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Centre and the Lindner Research Centre, said: “With the innovative design of the Taxus Element stent system, we anticipate seeing a significant advancement in the performance offered in a drug-eluting stent.”

He added that the new platform should enable physicians to provide patients in complex and challenging medical situations with the proven benefits of the Taxus paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent.

Last month, Boston Scientific announced the publication of positive trial results for its second-generation Taxus Liberte coronary stent system.

Presented in the Journal of American College of Cardiology, the results suggested that the Liberte stent could provide a shorter procedure time and lower bailout rate when compared to the Taxus Express2 stent system.