Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) said today it launched the Captivator endoscopic mucosal resection device designed as a minimally-invasive alternative to esophagectomy procedures.
The Captivator allows for staging and removal of precancerous tissue and early esophageal cancer in the upper gastrointestinal tract, the Marlborough, Mass.-based company said.
The device gives operating physicians a 360 degree view of the esophagus and can be used with accessory devices that can be used to “manage potential complications quickly,” the company said.
“The Captivator EMR Device provides improved endoscopic visualization, so the resection can be better directed to the area of interest. The enhanced view, along with easy passage of accessory devices and the ability to use compatible hemostatic devices to manage potential bleeding and complications may enable a safer endoscopic resection,” lead investigator Dr. Jacques Bergman of the University of Amsterdam said in a press release.
Endoscopic management could help reduce the need for invasiveesophagectomy in patients with Barrett’s Esophagus, a complication of acid reflux disease and a common precursor to esophageal cancer, the company said.
“As a leader in GI endoscopic devices, this launch complements our existing product offering for lower GI EMR procedures, and expands our portfolio into the growing upper GI EMR segment. The Captivator EMR Device provides physicians and patients with an important new option for staging and treating early esophageal neoplasia and cancer,” endoscopy prez David Pierce said in prepared remarks.
Boston Scientific said it enrolled the 1st patient in a multi-center, prospective post-market registry to study the performance of the device when used for endoscopic resectioning of abnormal tissue growth, known as neoplasia. The study is slated to enroll 300 patients at 16 centers across 8 countries, with a tentative completion some time in 2016.
The device is cleared and available in the U.S., Europe, Singapore, Australia and Puerto Rico, the company said.
