Radiation treatment for heart disease approved in Europe

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Radiation treatment for heart disease approved in Europe
  
INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Cardiovascular device manufacturer Guidant 
Corp.  said Tuesday that its system to prevent re-blockage of 
coronary arteries through radiation received approval in Europe. 

The system, called GALILEO Intravascular Radiotherapy System, is a 
fully automated treatment designed to reduce or minimize re-blockage, 
known as restenosis, which is caused by excessive cell proliferation 
in the arteries. 

It received CE Mark approval, upon which most European countries base 
regulatory clearance, Guidant said. 

Recent clinical trials have shown that radiation delivered with 
balloon angioplasty with or without stenting can significantly reduce 
restenosis, the company said. Stenting is the insertion of tiny tubes 
to prop open clogged arteries. The radiation treatments can also help 
patients avoid repeated procedures and in some cases, coronary bypass 
surgery. 

The system is comprised of three components: a centering catheter, a 
source wire and a source delivery unit. Following angioplasty or 
stenting, the physician advances the centering catheter through the 
artery until it reaches the treatment area. The source delivery unit 
automatically advances the source wire, containing a radioisotope, 
through the centering catheter to the diseased coronary artery. An 
automatically calculated, precise dose of beta radiation is then 
delivered for three to five minutes. The source wire is then 
retracted. 

More than 1.5 million people worldwide undergo coronary angioplasty 
and related procedures each year. However, 30 to 50 percent of 
patients experience re-blockages within six months of their initial 
procedure. 

Analysts estimate that the total world market for this type of 
radiotherapy will eventually exceed $1 billion annually.

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Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
ICN Biomedicals, Inc.				E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 				                           
ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue  		E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com          	          
Costa Mesa, CA 92626                                      

Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
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