Ultrasound Imaging System Supports Planned Intravascular Ultrasound and Fractional Flow Reserve Products

New ultrasound technology has been designed for intravascular imaging and has powerful image-processing capabilities, supporting fractional flow reserve tools.

Boston Scientific Corp. (Marlborough, MA, USA) has initiated full commercial launch of the new Polaris ultrasound imaging system. This system will support the Boston Scientific range of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheters, including coronary, peripheral, and intracardiac echo products. The system offers enhanced ease-of-use and more powerful processing capabilities. Its modular design would also support the planned release of new Boston Scientific imaging products including a fractional flow reserve (FFR) wire, a new range of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheters, enhanced software features, and better system control tools.


Working in collaboration with physicians, nurses, technicians, and software design experts, Boston Scientific identified a need to optimize the experience for customers involved in intravascular imaging procedures. Typical challenges included confusing work flows, increased procedure times, and complicated image interpretation. Boston Scientific has developed a system that streamlines intravascular guidance. The Polaris system is designed to be intelligent, fast, and accurate. The user interface and workflow have been redesigned and enhanced to provide for greater ease of use, while providing the needed data to guide clinical decisions.

The Polaris system has CE marking and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance. It has been evaluated in many hospitals in the United States and Europe. “The Polaris system is an advance for intravascular imaging,” said Lowell Satler, MD, director of coronary interventions, MedStar Washington Hospital Center (Washington DC, USA). “The improved ease-of-use and image-processing simplifies the procedure and enables our team to quickly obtain the information needed to treat patients.”

Boston Scientific will offer customers an opportunity to upgrade their existing iLab system to the state-of-the-art Polaris system. “There are overwhelming data demonstrating that using IVUS improves patient outcomes,” said Isaac Zacharias, vice president and general manager, Imaging, Boston Scientific. “The Polaris system represents the ongoing commitment of Boston Scientific to develop products that improve patient outcomes by providing physicians improved IVUS guidance in their daily practice.”

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