Healthcare Industry News:  Biliary Stent 

Devices Interventional

 News Release - June 8, 2006

New Stent Delivery System Allows Physicians to Treat Life-Threatening Biliary Blockages

WARREN, N.J., June 8 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Cordis Endovascular, a division of Cordis Corporation, today launched the PALMAZ® BLUE(TM) .014 Transhepatic Biliary Stent, the latest advancement in balloon-expandable stent delivery technology, to treat biliary blockages. A Biliary Stent is often used to open blockages in the bile ducts to promote the flow of fluids from the liver, gallbladder and pancreas to the small intestines. Each year, more than 30,000 Americans are affected by life-threatening blockages in the bile ducts, leading to the need for treatment.

The PALMAZ® BLUE(TM) .014 Stent features a cobalt chromium alloy enhanced with tungsten, which makes it stronger than stainless steel stents and uses less metal. It is designed to provide physicians with increased strength, visibility or radiopacity, and superior flexibility and deliverability. The delivery system also is designed to lessen overall procedure and staff time.

"With the launch of the PALMAZ® BLUE(TM) .014 Stent, we are building on a proud legacy which began with the first PALMAZ® Stent," said Dennis Donohoe, M.D., Vice President, Worldwide Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, Cordis Corporation. Today, more than two million stents that derive from the original Palmaz stent are placed in patients annually.

If bile ducts remain blocked, waste can collect in the bile duct system and in the bloodstream. Also, if bacteria above the blockage accumulates and backs up into the liver, it may cause a severe infection. Symptoms of a blocked bile duct may be abrupt and severe or they may appear slowly many years after bile duct inflammation started. Symptoms of a blocked bile duct include:

* Yellowing of the skin or eyes from the buildup of a waste product called bilirubin

* Itching (not limited to one area; may be worse at night or in warm weather)

* Light brown urine

* Fatigue

* Weight loss

* Fever or night sweats

* Abdominal pain, especially common on the right side under the rib cage

* Greasy or clay-colored stools

* A diminished appetite

About Cordis Endovascular

Cordis Endovascular is a recognized leader in endovascular research and development. It is committed to serving the cardiology, radiology and vascular surgery communities through the development of groundbreaking technologies for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. Cordis Endovascular constantly seeks solutions to the human anatomy's most challenging problems, such as carotid artery disease, aortic aneurysm, superficial femoral artery disease and venous thrombotic disease.

About Cordis Corporation

Cordis Corporation, a Johnson & Johnson company, is a worldwide leader in developing and manufacturing interventional vascular technology. Through the company's innovation, research and development, physicians worldwide are better able to treat the millions of patients who suffer from vascular disease.


Source: Cordis

Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its content.
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