Boston Scientific on Wednesday announced that its S-ICD System, a defibrillator that does not snake wires into the heart to deliver treatment, has received the Prix Galien USA 2013 Award for Best Medical Technology. It is the only commercially available implantable defibrillator that delivers treatment without wires touching the heart. Those wires, called leads, are often the weak link in defibrillator and pacemaker therapy. They have been known to fracture, disconnect from the heart and expiernce other problems that can lead to a loss of therapy or to unnecessary shocks. The S-ICD system's lead runs from the device, just under the skin, to an area near the breast bone. It delivers a jolt, similar to that of an external defibrillator, when the heart goes into a dangerous rhythm. "We are thrilled to be recognized by the Galien Foundation and honored to be among such a prestigious group of recipients of this year's award," said Joe Fitzgerald, president, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Boston Scientific. "We strive to introduce innovative medical technologies that can help improve patient outcomes. The S-ICD System represents a truly innovative medical product and one that has been shown to be a great alternative to traditional ICDs for the treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias." Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) occurs in approximately 350,000 patients annually in the United States. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators are a common treatment option. Conventional ICDs have leads that run from the device, through veins, into the heart. A study recently published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation showed that the S-ICD System surpassed goals set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the new device. The system has been commercially available in Europe and New Zealand since 2009 and received FDA approval in the United States in 2012. The Galien Foundation seeks to foster and recognize excellence in scientific innovation to improve the state of human health. Its vision is to be the catalyst for the development of the next generation of innovative treatment and technologies that will impact human health and save lives. The Prix Galien was created in 1970 in honor of Galen, the father of medical science and modern pharmacology. Worldwide, the Prix Galien is regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in biopharmaceutical research. For more information visit www.galienfoundation.org.