Wexford-based medical devices firm Clearstream Technologies has signed a major deal with Johnson & Johnson's Cordis division.

Cordis will now distribute products made by Clearstream for peripheral angioplasty, the treatment of critical limb ischaemia - the loss of circulation, generally among older people, as arteries in the limbs become blocked.

Clearstream's products are among the newer treatment options which are now available to medical practitioners and which are used to open up blocked arteries rather than risk more drastic interventions such as amputation.

The companies said they expected that the products would be commercially available in countries outside the United States from next May.

Cordis already distributes Clearstream's catheters and stents for use in the treatment of heart disease.

This latest deal, the second Clearstream has signed with Cordis, comes two days after it reported strong revenue growth for the six months ended on January 31st last.

Turnover totalled €4.7 million compared to €1.8 million for the same period in the previous year.

The company reported a loss before tax of €1.28 million compared to nearly €2.4 million at the end of January 2006.

Clearstream, which is based in Enniscorthy and has a listing on London's Alternative Investment Market, makes medical devices, including catheters and stents, which are used in a variety of intervention procedures.

Its products are sold under Clearstream's own brands and are also supplied to other manufacturers.