Overview

Patients

Cardiovascular disease, caused by narrowed or blocked blood vessels in the heart (the result of plaque build up on the walls of a vessel), is the leading cause of death in the United States. It has a severe impact on millions of lives of patients and families and puts a substantial burden on health care systems worldwide.

Cardiovascular disease may be treated through lifestyle modifications and medications, less-invasively through the use of balloon catheters and stents, or through conventional coronary bypass surgery.

Less-invasive treatment options for cardiovascular disease include the use of balloon angioplasty catheters and stent systems and may also include other devices such as embolic protection devices, the Cutting Balloon Device, and ultrasound imaging systems. These devices are used in a range of interventional procedures including coronary angioplasty and stenting.