LOVELAND - Medical Center of the Rockies will be one of a few select sites worldwide to enroll patients in clinical trials of Boston Scientific's "Platinum" coronary stent.

Stents are tiny mesh tubes used to prop open clogged arteries, allowing blood to flow freely to the heart.

"Dr. Thomas Downes and Medical Center of the Rockies Foundation are key investigators for the Platinum trial," said Hank Kucheman, senior vice president and group president of Boston Scientific's cardiovascular business. "We're excited to begin evaluating our third-generation Element platform, which holds significant promise in the treatment of coronary artery disease."

"The physicians and staff at Heart Center of the Rockies are proud to partner with Boston Scientific in this investigational trial of its new stent platform," Downes said. "Our research department has worked endless hours to see our vision of providing world-class health care come true."