What Contego Medical does

Contego Medical, Inc. is a privately-held medical device company founded in 2005 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, that develops a portfolio of embolic protection devices built on its proprietary Integrated Embolic Protection (IEP) technology platform. The IEP architecture combines embolic filtration with a treatment device — carotid stent, peripheral angioplasty balloon, or thrombectomy catheter — onto a single delivery catheter, eliminating the need for separate device exchanges during vascular interventions. The flagship Neuroguard IEP System is a 3-in-1 carotid stent system integrating a FlexRing closed-cell nitinol stent, dilation balloon, and a 40-micron pore filter on a 6 French catheter, with the filter pore size stated as 3-4x smaller than traditional distal embolic protection filters. The portfolio also includes Vanguard IEP (peripheral balloon angioplasty with integrated filter), Excipio SV/LV (dual-mode peripheral thrombectomy), and Paladin (carotid PTA balloon with integrated embolic protection). The company sells primarily to interventional cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional radiologists performing carotid and peripheral vascular revascularization in hospital catheterization labs and interventional suites.

Contego's business model is hardware sales of Class III medical devices to healthcare institutions, with pricing negotiated through distribution partners. In the United States, Contego has operated under an exclusive distribution agreement with Medtronic since January 2025, under which Medtronic's Peripheral Vascular and Neurovascular commercial teams sell Contego's commercially available products (Neuroguard IEP 140cm and Excipio thrombectomy devices); the agreement also includes an option for Medtronic to acquire the company and follows a minority investment Medtronic has held since 2020. Internationally, Contego sells its CE-marked products (Vanguard IEP, Paladin, Neuroguard IEP) through an established European distribution network across select countries including Germany and Belgium. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The company has raised approximately $65.8M across multiple funding rounds since 2008, with notable rounds in 2020 ($22M, coinciding with Medtronic's initial minority investment), 2022 ($15M), and 2023 (~$23M), and lists Hatteras Venture Partners, USVP, Lightstone Ventures (board representation via Stacy Enxing Seng as Chairwoman), Amzak Health, and Medtronic among its investors.

Contego's clinical evidence base is unusually deep for a company of its size: more than 3,000 patients have been treated with its products across five-plus prospective multicenter studies (Paladin registry, PERFORMANCE I/II/III, ENTRAP). The Neuroguard IEP System received FDA Premarket Approval in October 2024 and CE Mark in April 2021, with first commercial cases performed in December 2024. Reported clinical outcomes include 0% stroke rate at 30 days in PERFORMANCE III (146 patients, 26 sites), 0.69% primary adverse event rate (ITT) and 0% per-protocol in PERFORMANCE III, and zero major strokes, neurological deaths, or stent thromboses at up to two-year follow-up in prior studies. Leadership is led by founder and CEO Dr. Ravish Sachar, an interventional cardiologist at UNC-REX Healthcare, alongside President & COO David Stern (former CEO of CardioMEMS), CFO Nathalie Greene, CMO Dr. Mitchell J. Silver, and Chief Commercialization Officer Steve MacKinnon.

Name

Contego Medical

Legal name

Contego Medical, Inc.

Website

https://contegomedical.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Contego Medical develops Integrated Embolic Protection (IEP) devices that combine embolic filtration with treatment in a single catheter for carotid and peripheral vascular interventions, serving interventional cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional radiologists. Its Neuroguard IEP System received FDA PMA in October 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vascular Embolic Protection Medical Devices

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Thrombectomy, Embolic Protection & Stroke Intervention Devices (HLAHAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interventional Cardiology (PCI/Structural Heart) (HLAKABAB), Peripheral Vascular Intervention (PAD Stents, Balloons, Atherectomy) (HLAHAFAE)

Keywords

• Embolic protection devices
• Carotid stent systems
• Peripheral angioplasty devices
• Thrombectomy catheters
• Vascular intervention devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Sales (Hardware): Sale of proprietary medical devices — carotid stent systems (Neuroguard IEP), peripheral angioplasty systems (Vanguard IEP), and thrombectomy devices (Excipio SV/LV) — to healthcare providers (hospitals, interventional suites). Revenue is generated through product sales via distribution agreements. As of 2025, distribution is exclusively through Medtronic in the U.S. with Contego managing international distribution through its European distribution network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Contego Medical develops and commercializes proprietary Integrated Embolic Protection (IEP) devices that combine embolic filtration with treatment (stent delivery, balloon angioplasty, or thrombectomy) on a single catheter. Its flagship products are the Neuroguard IEP 3-in-1 Carotid Stent System, the Vanguard IEP Peripheral Balloon Angioplasty System, Excipio Thrombectomy Devices (SV and LV), and the Paladin Carotid PTA Balloon System — sold to hospitals and interventionalists for use in carotid revascularization and peripheral vascular procedures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Neuroguard IEP: 3-in-1 Carotid Stent and Post-Dilation Balloon System with Integrated Embolic Protection for carotid revascularization.
• Vanguard IEP
• Excipio
• Paladin
• FlexRing
• Integrated Embolic Protection (IEP)

Products and services

• Neuroguard IEP System 3-in-1 carotid stent system for carotid artery revascularization combining a high-performance nitinol closed-cell stent (with FlexRing technology), an integrated dilation balloon, and an integrated 40-micron embolic protection filter on a single 6 French delivery catheter. Indicated for patients at high risk for adverse events from carotid endarterectomy with symptomatic (≥50%) or asymptomatic (≥80%) carotid stenosis. Reduces catheter exchanges and provides advanced stroke protection during transfemoral, transradial, and transcarotid access CAS.
• Excipio Thrombectomy Devices (SV & LV) Dual-mode peripheral thrombectomy devices with a physician-controlled expandable basket that combines mechanical basket and controlled aspiration to remove soft, organized, and wall adherent thrombus without thrombolytics. Atraumatic design maintains guidewire access for fast exchanges, enabling single-session treatment with minimized blood loss and low impact on vessel wall.
• Vanguard IEP Peripheral Balloon Angioplasty System Peripheral balloon angioplasty system with integrated embolic protection combining a peripheral angioplasty balloon with a distal embolic filter on the same catheter (2-in-1). Features a 150-micron pore filter with in-vivo adjustability for varying vessel sizes, maximum capture efficiency, sheath-less filter design, and short landing zone to expand addressable patient anatomy. Indicated for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and capture/removal of embolic material in femoral, iliac, popliteal, and profunda arteries.
• Paladin Carotid PTA Balloon System with Integrated Embolic Protection Carotid post-dilation balloon system with integrated embolic protection and the first filter-based IEP device. Used as a post-dilation balloon during carotid stenting procedures to capture and remove embolic debris, reducing risk of stroke during carotid revascularization. Covered by U.S. Patents 8,403,976 and 8,758,424.

Quantifiable outcome

• 0% stroke rate at 30 days in PERFORMANCE III (146 patients, 26 sites)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Medtroniccore / flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 January 2025Exclusive U.S. distribution agreement with Medtronic for Contego's entire portfolio of commercially available products (Neuroguard IEP System 140cm for transfemoral/transradial carotid stenting, Excipio Thrombectomy Devices, and Vanguard IEP). Medtronic leverages its Peripheral Vascular and Neurovascular commercial teams to distribute Contego's products, with distribution launching in spring 2025. The agreement also includes an option for Medtronic to acquire Contego and represents an increased investment beyond Medtronic's existing minority stake held since 2020. This partnership significantly expands Contego's market reach and commercial capabilities in the U.S.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Abbott Vascular: Major incumbent in carotid and peripheral vascular intervention with Acculink/Accunet and Emboshield embolic protection platforms. Competes with Contego in both carotid stenting and peripheral angioplasty embolic protection.
• Boston Scientific: One of the largest incumbents in peripheral vascular and carotid intervention (including FilterWire EZ embolic protection and carotid stent products). Contego's Excipio thrombectomy specifically competes in the same peripheral indication that Boston Scientific serves, often with W.L. Gore partnership.
• W. L. Gore & Associates: Manufactures GORE flow reversal systems (used in TCAR) and carotid stent products referenced in Contego's competitive analysis as having 500-micron pore mesh coverage. A relevant incumbent in the carotid embolic protection category.

Others

• Medtronic: Holds a minority stake in Contego since 2020 with an option to acquire (expanded January 2025) and is the exclusive U.S. distributor. Functions as a strategic partner and channel rather than a direct competitor, but its broader carotid/stroke franchise (including Silk Road Medical) frames Contego's competitive context.

Emerging players

• InspireMD: Develops the CGuard mesh-covered carotid stent, cited in Contego's data as a 165-micron pore competitor. InspireMD targets the same carotid artery stenting indication as Neuroguard IEP with a differentiated mesh-covered stent approach.
• Inari Medical: Specializes in venous and arterial thrombectomy devices (FlowTriever, ClotTriever). Although primarily venous-focused, Inari is a closely watched public comparable for novel mechanical thrombectomy economics analogous to Excipio's single-session, no-thrombolytic value proposition.

Direct peers

• Silk Road Medical: Develops transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) systems that compete directly with Contego's Neuroguard IEP in the carotid stenting / stroke prevention market. PERFORMANCE III specifically benchmarks against TCAR outcomes, making Silk Road Contego's most direct clinical competitor.
• Penumbra: Develops the Indigo thrombectomy system for peripheral and coronary vessels, directly comparable to Contego's Excipio SV/LV thrombectomy devices in terms of indication (peripheral thrombus removal) and clinical setting (interventional suites).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/contego-medical-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Contego Medical