Blockade Medical
Blockade Medical was a privately held Irvine, California-based medical device company developing catheter-based therapeutic devices for neurovascular stroke treatment, co-founded by David Ferrera and acquired by Balt Group in 2019.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersIrvine, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Blockade Medical does
Blockade Medical is a privately held medical device company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Irvine, California, that developed catheter-based therapeutic devices for the treatment of neurovascular conditions, with a focus on both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The company's core technology centered on physician-inspired catheter systems designed for neurovascular intervention, reflecting a development approach that prioritized collaboration with clinical practitioners. Co-founded by David Ferrera — a medical device entrepreneur with nearly 30 years of neurovascular commercialization experience and prior exits via Micrus Endovascular (to Johnson & Johnson) and MindFrame (to Covidien/Medtronic Neurovascular) — Blockade Medical operated with an employee base of 11-50 and was led by a team including CEO Gibb Clarke alongside functional VPs in quality/regulatory, marketing/business development, and sales.
The company's go-to-market was structured around specialized neurovascular distribution, with pricing not publicly disclosed and revenue not reported. Between 2013 and 2015, Blockade Medical raised approximately $9.4 million across three funding rounds, including capital from specialty investors GP Healthcare Capital and TitanMed Capital in 2015. In 2019, the company was acquired by Balt Group, a France-headquartered global neurovascular platform with 45+ years of operating history, integrating Blockade's stroke treatment portfolio into Balt's broader offering for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and peripheral embolization. Following the acquisition, Blockade Medical no longer operates as an independent entity. Its founder subsequently established Sonorous Neuro and operates RC Medical, a venture studio partnering with physician-entrepreneurs to launch focused medical device companies.
Blockade Medical firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blockade Medical
- Website
- https://blockademedical.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Blockade Medical was a privately held Irvine, California-based medical device company developing catheter-based therapeutic devices for neurovascular stroke treatment, co-founded by David Ferrera and acquired by Balt Group in 2019.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blockade Medical industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Neurovascular Medical Devices
- NAICS
- Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Thrombectomy, Embolic Protection & Stroke Intervention Devices (HLAHAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Stroke & Vascular Neurology (HLAKAIAG), Vascular Access Devices (AV Grafts, Catheters, Fistula Accessories) (HLAHAKAE)
Keywords
Where Blockade Medical is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Irvine
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Blockade Medical business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Blockade Medical product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blockade Medical developed and sold catheter-based therapeutic devices for neurovascular interventions to treat ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The company's products were designed using a physician-inspired innovation approach and targeted neurovascular specialists and hospitals. Following acquisition by Balt Group, Blockade Medical's neurovascular product portfolio was integrated into Balt's broader stroke treatment and peripheral embolization offerings.
Product overview
Blockade Medical was a medical device company specializing in neurovascular and stroke treatment devices. The company was co-founded by David Ferrera, a medical device engineer with nearly 30 years of experience commercializing medical innovations. Blockade Medical was acquired by Balt, integrating its neurovascular product portfolio into Balt Group's broader offerings for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke treatment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Catheter-based neurovascular intervention devices Therapeutic catheter-based devices designed for neurovascular interventions to treat ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke conditions. Targeted at neurovascular specialists and hospitals performing stroke treatment procedures.
Companies that use Blockade Medical
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Blockade Medical technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Blockade Medical partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BaltcoreBlockade Medical was acquired by Balt, joining the premier global neurovascular platform. This acquisition brought Blockade Medical's stroke treatment device technology under Balt's portfolio, expanding Balt's capabilities in neurovascular interventions. The acquisition was part of Balt's strategy to expand its neurovascular product offerings.
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Blockade Medical competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Penumbra: Penumbra is a leading neurovascular device company whose core products include the RED series of aspiration catheters and stent retrievers for ischemic stroke — a direct product-category competitor to Blockade Medical's catheter-based stroke therapy portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- Stryker (Neurovascular): Stryker's Neurovascular division offers market-leading stent retrievers, access catheters, and other stroke intervention devices, competing head-on across the same ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke indications that Blockade Medical addressed.
- Medtronic Neurovascular: Medtronic's Neurovascular business — which includes the MindFrame assets co-founded by David Ferrera — competes in the same mechanical thrombectomy and access catheter space, and is a natural strategic acquirer of neurovascular device companies of Blockade Medical's profile.
- Johnson & Johnson (Cerenovus): J&J's Cerenovus neurovascular unit owns the Micrus Endovascular assets (also founded by David Ferrera) and competes in coil, access, and stroke intervention products, making it a peer through both product category and historical founder lineage.
- Balt Group: Balt is the France-based neurovascular strategic that acquired Blockade Medical; it offers one of the broadest ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke device portfolios globally, making it the parent-platform peer rather than an independent competitor.
- Terumo (Neurovascular): Terumo's neurovascular division, including its SOFIA aspiration catheter line, competes in the same mechanical thrombectomy and access catheter segments targeted by Blockade Medical.
Emerging players
- Rapid Medical: Rapid Medical is a neurovascular-focused company developing adjustable, physician-controllable thrombectomy and access devices, providing direct overlap with the catheter-based stroke intervention market Blockade Medical served.
- Inari Medical: Inari Medical develops catheter-based thrombectomy systems, initially for venous thromboembolism and now expanding into arterial and neurovascular indications, making it an emerging peer in catheter-based clot removal.
- Vesalio: Vesalio develops neurovascular stroke devices including the NeVa thrombectomy platform, competing directly in mechanical thrombectomy with designs targeted at challenging clot morphologies.
Regional players
- MicroPort Scientific: MicroPort has built a neurovascular business through its endovascular/neurovascular subsidiaries, serving as a comparable neurovascular device competitor with strong presence in Asia and growing global footprint.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Blockade Medical social profiles
Digital presenceBlockade Medical financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blockade Medical leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Blockade Medical funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blockade Medical M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Blockade Medical
What does Blockade Medical do?
Blockade Medical developed and sold catheter-based therapeutic devices for neurovascular interventions to treat ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The company's products were designed using a physician-inspired innovation approach and targeted neurovascular specialists and hospitals. Following acquisition by Balt Group, Blockade Medical's neurovascular product portfolio was integrated into Balt's broader stroke treatment and peripheral embolization offerings.
Is Blockade Medical a public or private company?
Blockade Medical is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Blockade Medical founded?
Blockade Medical was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Blockade Medical based?
Blockade Medical is headquartered in Irvine, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Blockade Medical's main competitors?
Penumbra is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Stryker (Neurovascular), Medtronic Neurovascular, Johnson & Johnson (Cerenovus), Balt Group and Terumo (Neurovascular). Emerging players are Rapid Medical, Inari Medical and Vesalio. MicroPort Scientific is listed as a regional player.
Does Blockade Medical have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blockade Medical.
What industry is Blockade Medical in?
Blockade Medical's product category is Neurovascular Medical Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAFAJ, Thrombectomy, Embolic Protection & Stroke Intervention Devices, with a secondary code of HLAKAIAG, Stroke & Vascular Neurology. Its NAICS code is 339112 and its SIC code is 3841.