Boston Scientific and Siemens Healthineers Partner on Advanced Cardiac Imaging Catheter

Boston Scientific and Siemens Healthineers have announced a strategic partnership to develop and commercialize a next-generation intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter. This collaboration aims to enhance cardiac imaging capabilities for structural heart procedures, potentially driving growth in Boston Scientific's Watchman device business.

Partnership Details and Technology Overview

The partnership centers on Siemens Healthineers' Acunav 4D ICE catheter, which Boston Scientific will exclusively distribute in the United States and Japan upon commercial availability. This advanced cardiac imaging catheter utilizes a catheter-based ultrasound probe to create real-time video feeds of the heart's motion and blood flow.

The 4D ICE technology is designed to improve imaging quality and enable device guidance from the right atrium, potentially reducing complications associated with left atrial procedures. This advancement is particularly significant for structural heart interventions, including standalone Watchman left atrial appendage closure, Farapulse pulsed field ablation (PFA), and the combined Farawatch approach.

Impact on Watchman Device and Procedural Growth

Boston Scientific's Watchman device, used to reduce stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation, has been a significant revenue driver for the company's cardiology business. In the third quarter, Watchman generated $512 million in revenue, representing a 35% year-over-year growth.

The introduction of the 4D ICE catheter is expected to further accelerate Watchman adoption, particularly in concomitant procedures where Watchman implants are performed alongside PFA. While transesophageal echo is currently the primary imaging method for Watchman procedures, the use of 4D ICE is increasing in both standalone and concomitant cases.

Industry Trends in Medical Device Collaborations

This partnership between Boston Scientific and Siemens Healthineers is part of a broader trend of collaboration in the medical device industry. Similar recent partnerships include Siemens Healthineers teaming with Stryker on a robotic system for neurovascular procedures and a collaboration with Medtronic on imaging technologies for spine surgery.

These strategic alliances highlight the industry's focus on combining expertise to develop advanced medical technologies and improve patient outcomes across various specialties.