Boston Scientific CEO Jim Tobin

Boston Scientific Corp., Natick Mass.-based medical device maker, has acquired Labcoat Limited, a privately held Irish company focused on advancing drug-eluting stents. In its press release, Boston Scientific said Labcoat’s technology for coating drug-eluting stents uses precisely metered droplets of a biodegradable polymer and drug to create a thin coating confined to the outer surface of a coronary stent. This approach is intended to provide the same degree of restenosis reduction as a conventional drug-eluting stent, but with faster and more complete vessel healing after stent implantation. "This technology represents a major advance for drug-eluting stents and should help us maintain our position in this market,” said Boston Scientific CEO Jim Tobin.