FDA clears new size catheter

Medical device maker Boston Scientific Corp. said the Food and Drug Administration has cleared a new size of balloon catheter used to unblock clogged arteries in the legs.

The agency granted marketing clearance to a 100-millimeter PolarCath balloon catheter to restore blood flow in severely cogged arteries below the knee and reduce the risk of amputation. The Natick company already has clearance for balloon lengths of 20, 40, 60, and 80 millimeters.

The new length will allow surgeons to treat more types of blockages. About 10 million people in the United States suffer from peripheral artery disease, where arteries in the legs become clogged, causing pain and disability.
(AP)