Abbott’s Healon EndoCoat Protective Gel receives CE Mark

Abbot has received the European CE Mark for a new protective gel intended for use in surgical procedures involving the extraction of cataracts.

The Healon EndoCoat ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) is injected during surgery to protect the eye during cataract removal, corneal transplants, intraocular lens implantation and glaucoma filtration surgery.

It can be used alongside other products in the Healon range of OVDs and the delivery system is designed to make delivery of the substance consistent for physicians, improving the safety of the patient.

Medical professionals in Europe, Canada and New Zealand can already make use of the protective gel and Donald Nixon of the TriMed Eye Center in Ontario, Canada, said it provides stability "throughout the entire cataract procedure for even the most challenging cases".

The product will be available in the US once it has been reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration and Abbot's chairman and chief executive Miles White stated following the release of the company's second quarter financial results in July that the firm has received "several new product approvals" so far in 2011.