Minnesota’s BridgePoint Medical gets European regulatory clearance for catheter system

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — BridgePoint Medical has received European regulatory clearance to market its catheter system that is used to treat patients with completely blocked arteries.

The company has developed two interventional catheters, the Crossboss and Stringray, that are designed to help cardiologists navigate diseased arteries in order to restore blood flow and place stents, according to a statement from the company.

BridgePoint’s system helps doctors reach portions of a blood vessel through the arterial blockage, beyond what guide wires can typically access, according to the statement. A guide wire is used to slide a catheter through a patient’s veins.

In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared BridgePoint’s products for use in general procedures, such as placing guide wires. The technology has not yet received U.S. clearance for use on completely blocked arteries, a condition known as chronic total occlusion. Chad Kugler, BridgePoint’s president, said he expects that to happen in mid-2010.

The three-year-old company recently closed a $6 million round of venture funding. Since its, inception it’s raised $18.5 million, Kugler said. Beginning next year, BridgePoint will begin looking for another $20 million to $30 million in funding, which would go towards commercializing the company’s technology, Kugler said.