October 19, 2011 – Boston Scientific has completed enrollment in a clinical trial to evaluate its WallFlex Biliary RX fully covered stent for the treatment of benign bile duct strictures (narrowing or blockages).  This multi-center, prospective study enrolled 187 patients at 13 centers in 11 countries worldwide.  Lead investigators in the study are Professor Jacques Deviere, M.D., Ph.D., of Hospital Erasme in Brussels, and Professor Guido Costamagna, M.D., of Policlinico A. Gemelli in Rome.

October 18, 2011 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposed rule and draft special controls guidance lowering the risk classification for external pacemaker pulse generators from Class III (high-risk) to Class II (moderate-risk).

October 18, 2011 — Boston Scientific Corp. has begun a phased launch of its Promus Element everolimus-eluting platinum chromium coronary stent system in China. The launch campaign will be expanded within the country based upon receipt of subsequent provincial reimbursement approvals.

October 18, 2011 – New research published in the October issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine shows hospitals accredited by The Joint Commission (JC) outperformed non-accredited hospitals on a number of nationally standardized quality measures. The measures included acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure, and pneumonia. The research also shows the performance gap between JC accredited and non-accredited hospitals increased over the years of the study.