Boston Scientific Announces FDA Approval for the Latest-Generation WATCHMAN FLX™ Pro Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device
- Enhancements to the device include a thromboresistant polymer coating, visualization markers, and a broader size matrix
- Preclinical research shows an 86% reduction in inflammation, 70% reduction of thrombus, and 50% increase in endothelial tissue coverage
- The device is currently being studied in the WATCHMAN FLX Pro CT study and will be evaluated in the post-market HEAL-LAA study
- None.
New stroke risk reduction therapy with thromboresistant coating is designed to advance procedural performance and safety
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The WATCHMAN FLX Pro device is built upon the proven safety and procedural performance of the WATCHMAN FLX™ LAAC device, which was approved in July 2020 and has been used in nearly 190,000 of the more than 300,000 WATCHMAN procedures successfully completed to date globally. The latest WATCHMAN FLX Pro device is enhanced with a coating designed to reduce device-related thrombus and enable faster, controlled healing and endothelization of the device surface. In addition, newly added visualization markers are intended to enhance device placement for optimal sealing around the LAA. This device is also available in a new 40mm size option, which will enable physicians to treat a broader range of anatomies with the WATCHMAN technology.
"We are pleased to introduce
Preclinical research for the new technology has shown positive results for faster, more controlled healing around the device surface. Data across several of these preclinical studies demonstrated that the polymer coating provided an
"There is a rich history of safe use and low thrombosis rates in cardiovascular devices that utilize this thromboresistant polymer coating, and we have adapted that model to provide a more streamlined healing process that begins immediately following LAAC," said Dr. Kenneth Stein, M.D., senior vice president and global chief medical officer, Boston Scientific. "We believe this evolution of the WATCHMAN device also gives promise for a future with less thrombosis risk, which may eventually enable a simpler post-implant drug regimen for patients."
The WATCHMAN FLX Pro device maintains key characteristics of the WATCHMAN FLX device, including the fully rounded design that enables physicians to safely enter, and maneuver within, the left atrial appendage. It can also be fully recaptured, repositioned and redeployed for precise placement, and the frame design allows for optimal device engagement with the tissue for long-term stability and a faster, more complete seal.
The WATCHMAN FLX Pro device is currently being studied in the WATCHMAN FLX Pro CT study, a single-center premarket study using multiple imaging modalities to assess post-procedural device tissue coverage and the relationship, if any, to clinical outcomes. It will also be further evaluated in the post-market HEAL-LAA study, which will commence over the coming weeks and follow outcomes from approximately 1,000 patients with NVAF implanted with the technology at 60 sites in the U.S.
For more information on the WATCHMAN FLX Pro device, visit www.watchman.com/flxpro.
About Boston Scientific
Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook.
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1 Saliba et al. JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, May 2023.
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SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation
