Blue Medical's Protégé NC Drug-Eluting Balloon Receives CE-Mark Approval

October 30, 2012—Blue Medical (Helmond, The Netherlands) announced CE Mark approval of the Protégé NC noncompliant, high-pressure, drug-eluting balloon for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The new device will be launched worldwide.

According to the company, the Protégé NC maintains the performance, profile, and flexibility of a workhorse PTCA balloon. The Protégé NC combines safe and reproducible drug delivery with precise and powerful dilatation in one device, which reduces procedural costs and postprocedural medication requirements while increasing procedure efficiency, safety, and patient comfort.

This international launch follows the introduction of Blue Medical's CE Mark-approved Protégé drug-eluting balloon and the Pioneer cobalt chromium (CoCr) stent on a drug-eluting balloon in March 2012. Blue Medical is developing drug-eluting balloon technologies for additional coronary and peripheral applications, stated the company.