History 's lessons give us an opportunity to make improvements for the future, while giving us the chance to appreciate our forebears. Our industry has a rich culture of ingenuity, entrepreneurship and collaboration - a story that needs to be told and remembered. Join us for a spin down memory lane as we unfold how the medical device industry was started in southern California.
[Do we need to make an update, add or edit? If so email us at [email protected]]
[Do we need to make an update, add or edit? If so email us at [email protected]]
Pre-1900's
- 1885: USC opens its second professional school in Los Angeles, Ca and the regions 1st medical school via the Keck School of Medicine
- 1896: The Pacific Sanitarium (today known as UCI School of Medicine) opens in Anaheim, Ca by A.C. Moore
1900 - 1914
No data to report
1915 - 1929
- 1928: Philip Drinker, an American engineer in Boston, MA, creates the iron lung, a device that breathes for polio patients who can no longer breathe on their own. (sources credit Drinker as the 1st American to develop a medical device, though not from SoCal; additional data here)
1930's
- 1931: Don Baxter Intravenous Products Corporation forms in Los Angeles, Ca by Drs. Ralph Falk and Don Baxter; by the close of the decade name is changed to Baxter Laboratories, Inc.
- 1935: National Technical Laboratories (today known as Beckman Coulter) forms in Pasadena, Ca by Dr. Arnold Beckman
1950
American Hospital Supply acquires Baxter Laboratories, Inc. creating McGaw Laboratories
1958
Coulter Corporation founded by Wallace H. Coulter and Joseph Coulter
1960
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- Miles Lowell Edwards, in partnership with Albert Starr, implant the 1st heart valve in patient
- Ormco Dental is founded by Frank Miller in Brea
- Allergan moves to Santa Ana, Ca
- Ormco Dental is founded by Frank Miller in Brea
- Allergan moves to Santa Ana, Ca
1961
Edwards Laboratories founded in Santa Ana, Ca by Miles Lowell Edwards
1963 - 1964
1963: Sharp Labs in San Diego, founded by Dr. Rodman A. Sharp, is acquired by Beckman Coulter
- 1964: Donald Shiley leaves Edwards Lifesciences to form Shiley Laboratories in Santa Ana, Ca
- 1964: UCI Campus breaks ground in Irvine, Ca;
- 1964: UCI Campus breaks ground in Irvine, Ca;
1965 - 1969
- 1965: Pacesetter Systems (PSI) is formed by Alfred E. Mann (his 1st of 15 device companies founded, PSI however not located in CA)
- 1966: Edwards Laboratories is acquired by American Hospital Supply forming American Edwards Laboratories
- 1968: Richard A. Cramer forms IVAC infusion pumps in San Diego, CA (former employee of Beckman Instruments)
- 1966: Edwards Laboratories is acquired by American Hospital Supply forming American Edwards Laboratories
- 1968: Richard A. Cramer forms IVAC infusion pumps in San Diego, CA (former employee of Beckman Instruments)
1970 - 1975
- 1970: Glidewell Dental Labs is formed by Jim Glidewell near Newport Beach, Ca
- 1972: Richard A. Cramer starts 2nd IV pump company called IMED in San Diego, Ca
1976 - 1979
- 1976: Shiley Labs is acquired by Pfizer (in 1991 Pfizer would divest this business to Fiat Group)
- 1977: IVAC of San Diego, CA sells to Eli Lily
- 1977: IVAC of San Diego, CA sells to Eli Lily
- 1979: Home Healthcare of America (later Caremark) founded by Jim Sweeney (founder of 14 healthcare companies)
1980 - 1985
- 1981: Newport Medical Instruments founded in Costa Mesa, Ca
- 1981: California Medical Products forms in Long Beach, CA by Geof Garth to supply the US Army with neck braces
- 1982: Staar Surgical founded by Dr. Thomas Mazzocco and Tom Waggoner, with IPO the following year
- 1982: IMED is acquired by Warner-Lambert (at the time was the record for highest sale of a privately held company in US, $465M)
- 1983: Minimed Technologies is formed in Northridge, Ca by Alfred E. Mann
- 1981: California Medical Products forms in Long Beach, CA by Geof Garth to supply the US Army with neck braces
- 1982: Staar Surgical founded by Dr. Thomas Mazzocco and Tom Waggoner, with IPO the following year
- 1982: IMED is acquired by Warner-Lambert (at the time was the record for highest sale of a privately held company in US, $465M)
- 1983: Minimed Technologies is formed in Northridge, Ca by Alfred E. Mann
- 1983: American Medical Optics (AMO), a division of American Hospital Supply, founded by William 'Bill' Link
- 1985: Pacesetter Systems (PSI) acquired by Siemens for $150M
- 1985: Alfred Mann Foundation incubator is formed in Valencia, Ca
- 1985: American Edwards is acquired by Baxter International
- 1985: Pacesetter Systems (PSI) acquired by Siemens for $150M
- 1985: Alfred Mann Foundation incubator is formed in Valencia, Ca
- 1985: American Edwards is acquired by Baxter International
1986 - 1988
- 1986: Allergan acquires AMO
- 1986: IMED (owned by Warner-Lambert) is sold to Henley Group who transfers assets same year into its subsidiary, Fisher Scientific Group in San Diego, Ca
- 1986: IMED (owned by Warner-Lambert) is sold to Henley Group who transfers assets same year into its subsidiary, Fisher Scientific Group in San Diego, Ca
- 1987: Applied Medical is formed in Orange County, Ca by Said & Nabil Hilal;
- 1987: Advanced Sterilization Products forms
- 1987: Caremark is acquired by Baxter Laboratories
- 1988: Cooper Corporation sells its Cooper Surgical unit in Irvine, CA to Alcon Laboratories (then owned by Nestle SA) for $325M
- 1987: Advanced Sterilization Products forms
- 1987: Caremark is acquired by Baxter Laboratories
- 1988: Cooper Corporation sells its Cooper Surgical unit in Irvine, CA to Alcon Laboratories (then owned by Nestle SA) for $325M
1989 - 1992
- 1989: Masimo Corporation is formed in Orange County, Ca by Joe Kiani;
- 1989: Alcon acquires CooperVision Surgical
- 1989: ResMed is formed by Peter Farrell in Australia,
- 1990: ResMed relocates to San Diego, Ca
- 1990: IMED (owned by Fisher Scientific) is acquired by Advanced Medical Technologies (AMT)
- 1989: Alcon acquires CooperVision Surgical
- 1989: ResMed is formed by Peter Farrell in Australia,
- 1990: ResMed relocates to San Diego, Ca
- 1990: IMED (owned by Fisher Scientific) is acquired by Advanced Medical Technologies (AMT)
- 1990: New World Medical is founded by Dr. Mateen Ahmed
- 1992: Endologix is founded by Michael M. Hansen in Irvine, Ca
- 1992: Medical Delivery Devices, Inc. is formed in San Diego by Mark McWilliams and Steve Ross
- 1992: Endologix is founded by Michael M. Hansen in Irvine, Ca
- 1992: Medical Delivery Devices, Inc. is formed in San Diego by Mark McWilliams and Steve Ross
1993 - 1995
- 1993: Biosense formed by brothers Shlomo & Amit Ben-Haim
- 1993: Advanced Bionics is formed in Valencia, Ca by Alfred E. Mann
- 1994: Cardionet founded in San Diego, CA by Jim Sweeney
- 1994: Pacesetter Systems (PSI), a division of Siemens, acquired by St. Jude Medical for $500M
- 1995: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) moves it west coast headquarters from Los Angeles to Irvine, Ca
- 1993: Advanced Bionics is formed in Valencia, Ca by Alfred E. Mann
- 1994: Cardionet founded in San Diego, CA by Jim Sweeney
- 1994: Pacesetter Systems (PSI), a division of Siemens, acquired by St. Jude Medical for $500M
- 1995: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) moves it west coast headquarters from Los Angeles to Irvine, Ca
- 1995: Irvine Biomedical (IBI) formed by Peter Chen
- 1995: IVAC (owned by Eli Lily) sells to River Medical of San Diego, CA
- 1995: JenaValve is formed by Hans Figulla, MD & Markus Ferrari, MD of Friedrich Schiller University
- 1995: IVAC (owned by Eli Lily) sells to River Medical of San Diego, CA
- 1995: JenaValve is formed by Hans Figulla, MD & Markus Ferrari, MD of Friedrich Schiller University
1996
- Micro Therapeutics (MTI) is formed in Irvine, Ca by George Wallace
- Biosense in Irwindale, Ca is acquired by Cordis, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johson creating Biosense Webster
- Cardiac Science re-starts in Irvine, Ca under Ray Cohen
- IVAC (owned by River Medical) sells to Advance Medical Technologies (AMT) in San Diego, CA
- Medication Delivery Devices, Inc. is acquired by Baxter
- Biosense in Irwindale, Ca is acquired by Cordis, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johson creating Biosense Webster
- Cardiac Science re-starts in Irvine, Ca under Ray Cohen
- IVAC (owned by River Medical) sells to Advance Medical Technologies (AMT) in San Diego, CA
- Medication Delivery Devices, Inc. is acquired by Baxter
1997 & 1998
- 1997: AMT forms Alaris Medical Systems out of IVAC and IMED acquisitions in San Diego, Ca
- 1997: Microvention is formed in Tustin, Ca by Brian J. Cox & Bob Rosenbluth
- 1997: McGaw Labs is acquired by B Braun Melsungen AG
- 1997: Beckman / Coulter merger is completed
- 1997: Nuvasive is formed in San Diego, Ca by James Marino & Jim McKinley
- 1997: Intralase Corporation was formed by Tibor Juhasz, PhD and Ronald Kurtz, MD
- 1997: HydraFacial is formed in Long Beach, Ca by Roger Ignon
- 1998: Illumina, Inc. is formed in San Diego, Ca by David Walt, Larry Brock, John Stuelpnagel, Anthony Czarnik and Mark Chee
- 1997: Microvention is formed in Tustin, Ca by Brian J. Cox & Bob Rosenbluth
- 1997: McGaw Labs is acquired by B Braun Melsungen AG
- 1997: Beckman / Coulter merger is completed
- 1997: Nuvasive is formed in San Diego, Ca by James Marino & Jim McKinley
- 1997: Intralase Corporation was formed by Tibor Juhasz, PhD and Ronald Kurtz, MD
- 1997: HydraFacial is formed in Long Beach, Ca by Roger Ignon
- 1998: Illumina, Inc. is formed in San Diego, Ca by David Walt, Larry Brock, John Stuelpnagel, Anthony Czarnik and Mark Chee
- 1998: Glaukos is founded in Orange County, Ca by Morteza Gharib
- 1998: REVA Medical founded in San Diego, Ca by Tom Steinke and Robert Stockman
- 1998: REVA Medical founded in San Diego, Ca by Tom Steinke and Robert Stockman
1999 & 2000
- 1999: Dexcom is founded in San Diego, Ca by Scott Glenn, John Burd, Lauren Otsuki, Ellen Preston and Bret Megargel
- 2000: Baxter spins out Edwards Lifesciences, Michael Mussallem is appointed CEO
- 2000: Volcano Corporation founded in San Diego, Ca
- 2000: Volcano Corporation founded in San Diego, Ca
- 2000: Cameron Health is founded in San Clemente, Ca by Gust Bardy and Richard Cappato
- 2000: Aspen Medical Products is formed via merger of International Healthcare Devices and Fiji Enterprises.
- 2000: Aspen Medical Products is formed via merger of International Healthcare Devices and Fiji Enterprises.
2001 & 2002
- 2001: Medtronic acquires Minimed Technologies
- 2002: Allergan spins out its ophthalmic surgical and contact lens business to form Advanced Medical Optics (AMO)
- 2002: Allergan spins out its ophthalmic surgical and contact lens business to form Advanced Medical Optics (AMO)
2003 & 2004
- 2003: St. Jude Medical acquires Irvine Biomedical
- 2003: GenSci Regeneration Sciences (Seaspine today) is acquired by Switzerland based Isotis
- 2003: Vessix Vascular (initially called Minnow Medical) is founded by Tom Steinke
- 2004: Nuvasive IPO
- 2004: Alaris Medical Systems acquired by Cardinal Health
- 2004: Masimo Corp in Irvine, Ca wins $420M IP lawsuit against Nellcor (then a subsidiary of Tyco Healthcare)
- 2003: GenSci Regeneration Sciences (Seaspine today) is acquired by Switzerland based Isotis
- 2003: Vessix Vascular (initially called Minnow Medical) is founded by Tom Steinke
- 2004: Nuvasive IPO
- 2004: Alaris Medical Systems acquired by Cardinal Health
- 2004: Masimo Corp in Irvine, Ca wins $420M IP lawsuit against Nellcor (then a subsidiary of Tyco Healthcare)
2005 & 2006
- 2005: MTI acquired by eV3
- 2005: Calhoun Vision is founded by Dr. Robert Grubbs and Dr. Dan Schwartz (aka RxSight)
- 2006: Terumo acquires Microvention;
- 2006: Danaher acquires Sybron Dental
- 2005: Calhoun Vision is founded by Dr. Robert Grubbs and Dr. Dan Schwartz (aka RxSight)
- 2006: Terumo acquires Microvention;
- 2006: Danaher acquires Sybron Dental
- 2006: Fjord Ventures incubator is formed in Laguna Hills, Ca by Olav Bergheim
- 2006: JenaValve Technology is formed by cardiologists Hans Figulla and Markus Ferrari in Germany
- 2006: Fisher Scientific and Thermo Electron, both of San Diego, CA, merge to form Thermo Fisher Scientific
- 2006: Abbott acquires Guidant Corp's Vascular Business Unit for $4.1B (which includes Temecula, CA production operation)
- 2006: JenaValve Technology is formed by cardiologists Hans Figulla and Markus Ferrari in Germany
- 2006: Fisher Scientific and Thermo Electron, both of San Diego, CA, merge to form Thermo Fisher Scientific
- 2006: Abbott acquires Guidant Corp's Vascular Business Unit for $4.1B (which includes Temecula, CA production operation)
2007 - 2010
- 2007: Intralase is aquired by AMO for $808M
- 2007: Isotis is acquired by Integra Lifesciences
- 2007: Ivantis is founded in Irvine, Ca
- 2008: LenSx founded by Dr. Ron Kurtz
- 2008: ev3 (with holdings in Irvine, CA) acquires FoxHollow Technologies for $780M
- 2009: Mesa Biotech forms in San Diego, CA by Hong Cai and R. Bruce Cary
- 2009: Abbott acquires AMO
- 2009: Cardinal Health spins out CareFusion
- 2009: Advanced Bionics is acquired by Sonova Holding AG for $489M
- 2010: Covidien acquires eV3 for $2.6B
- 2010: LenSx is acquired by Alcon for $744M
- 2007: Isotis is acquired by Integra Lifesciences
- 2007: Ivantis is founded in Irvine, Ca
- 2008: LenSx founded by Dr. Ron Kurtz
- 2008: ev3 (with holdings in Irvine, CA) acquires FoxHollow Technologies for $780M
- 2009: Mesa Biotech forms in San Diego, CA by Hong Cai and R. Bruce Cary
- 2009: Abbott acquires AMO
- 2009: Cardinal Health spins out CareFusion
- 2009: Advanced Bionics is acquired by Sonova Holding AG for $489M
- 2010: Covidien acquires eV3 for $2.6B
- 2010: LenSx is acquired by Alcon for $744M
2011 & 2012
- 2011: Blockade Medical is founded in Irvine, Ca by Dave Ferrera and Marc Tilman
- 2011: Danaher acquires Beckman Coulter
- 2011: Novartis acquires Alcon
- 2011: Inari Medical is formed inside incubator Inceptus in Aliso Viejo, Ca
- 2011: Valencia Technologies in is formed in Valencia, CA
- 2012: Vessix Vascular of Laguna Hills, Ca is acquired by Boston Scientific
- 2012: Boston Scientific acquires Cameron Health
- 2012: Covidien acquires Newport Medical of Costa Mesa, Ca
- 2012: ClarVista Medical is formed by Bob Atkinson
- 2011: Danaher acquires Beckman Coulter
- 2011: Novartis acquires Alcon
- 2011: Inari Medical is formed inside incubator Inceptus in Aliso Viejo, Ca
- 2011: Valencia Technologies in is formed in Valencia, CA
- 2012: Vessix Vascular of Laguna Hills, Ca is acquired by Boston Scientific
- 2012: Boston Scientific acquires Cameron Health
- 2012: Covidien acquires Newport Medical of Costa Mesa, Ca
- 2012: ClarVista Medical is formed by Bob Atkinson
2013 - 2015
- 2013: Thermo Fisher acquires Life Technologies Corp in San Diego, CA for $13.6B
- 2013: Valeant Pharmaceuticals buys Bausch & Lomb
- 2013: Axonics Modulation is formed in Irvine, Ca
- 2014: Medtronic acquires Covidien for $42.9B
- 2014: Volcano Corp in San Diego, Ca acquired by Philips
- 2014: Thermo Fisher Scientific acquires Life Technologies in Carlsbad, Ca
- 2014: Stryker acquires Surgicount (aka Patient Safety Technologies) of Irvine, Ca
- 2014: Swift Health Systems is formed (aka Inbrace)
- 2014: Danaher acquires Nobel Biocare
- 2014: CareFusion is acquired by Becton Dickinson
- 2015: Actavis acquires Allergan
- 2015: Glaukos IPO
- 2015: Integra Lifesciences spins out Seaspine
- 2015: Beta Bionics is formed by Ed Damiano
- 2015: Square-1 Engineering is formed in Lake Forest, CA by Travis Smith (yes, we're plugging ourselves)
- 2013: Valeant Pharmaceuticals buys Bausch & Lomb
- 2013: Axonics Modulation is formed in Irvine, Ca
- 2014: Medtronic acquires Covidien for $42.9B
- 2014: Volcano Corp in San Diego, Ca acquired by Philips
- 2014: Thermo Fisher Scientific acquires Life Technologies in Carlsbad, Ca
- 2014: Stryker acquires Surgicount (aka Patient Safety Technologies) of Irvine, Ca
- 2014: Swift Health Systems is formed (aka Inbrace)
- 2014: Danaher acquires Nobel Biocare
- 2014: CareFusion is acquired by Becton Dickinson
- 2015: Actavis acquires Allergan
- 2015: Glaukos IPO
- 2015: Integra Lifesciences spins out Seaspine
- 2015: Beta Bionics is formed by Ed Damiano
- 2015: Square-1 Engineering is formed in Lake Forest, CA by Travis Smith (yes, we're plugging ourselves)
2016 & 2017
- 2016: French based Balt acquires Blockade Medical to form Balt Group in Irvine, Ca
- 2016: Sequent Medical in Aliso Viejo, CA is acquired by Terumo for an initial $280M
- 2017: Johnson & Johnson (J&J) acquires AMO, creating J&J Vision
- 2017: Clarvista Medical is acquired by Alcon for $130M
- 2016: Sequent Medical in Aliso Viejo, CA is acquired by Terumo for an initial $280M
- 2017: Johnson & Johnson (J&J) acquires AMO, creating J&J Vision
- 2017: Clarvista Medical is acquired by Alcon for $130M
2018 & 2019
- 2018: Axonics IPO
- 2018: Vyaire Medical is created via the acquisition of Becton Dickinson (BD) respiratory solutions business by Apax Partners PE
- 2019: Inbrace (formerly Swift Health Systems) lands $45M Series-C funding
- 2019: Novartis spins out Alcon as a stand alone company (again)
- 2019: Danaher Corp spins out Ormco, Kavo Kerr and Nobel Biocare to form Envista Holdings Corp
- 2019: Spyglass Pharma is formed by Malik Kahook, MD and Glenn Sussman
- 2019: Breathe Technologies acquired by HillRom for $130M
- 2018: Vyaire Medical is created via the acquisition of Becton Dickinson (BD) respiratory solutions business by Apax Partners PE
- 2019: Inbrace (formerly Swift Health Systems) lands $45M Series-C funding
- 2019: Novartis spins out Alcon as a stand alone company (again)
- 2019: Danaher Corp spins out Ormco, Kavo Kerr and Nobel Biocare to form Envista Holdings Corp
- 2019: Spyglass Pharma is formed by Malik Kahook, MD and Glenn Sussman
- 2019: Breathe Technologies acquired by HillRom for $130M
2020 & 2021
- 2020: Inari Medical IPO
- 2021: Thermo Fisher acquires Mesa Biotech in San Diego, CA
- 2021: BioTelemetry, formerly CardioNet, of San Diego, CA is acquired by Philips
- 2021: Planet Innovation of Australia acquires BIT Group in Irvine, CA
- 2021: Envista Holdings sells KaVo Kerr business unit to Planmeca for $455M
- 2021: Thermo Fisher acquires Mesa Biotech in San Diego, CA
- 2021: BioTelemetry, formerly CardioNet, of San Diego, CA is acquired by Philips
- 2021: Planet Innovation of Australia acquires BIT Group in Irvine, CA
- 2021: Envista Holdings sells KaVo Kerr business unit to Planmeca for $455M
2022 & 2023
- 2022: JenaValve closes $100M in Series-C financing
- 2022: Bausch & Lomb acquires AcuFocus out of Irvine, Ca
- 2022: Alcon completes acquisition of Ivantis
- 2022: Cordis announces acquisition of Irvine, CA based MedAlliance for initial $35M, up to $1.1B based on milestones
- 2023: Seaspine merges into and under OrthoFix Medical
- 2023: Nuvasive is acquired by Globus Medical
- 2023: SunMed to acquire Vyaire Medical's respiratory and anesthesia consumables business unit
- 2023: Spyglass Pharma gets $90M series C funding
- 2023: Beta Bionics gets $100M series D funding
- 2023: Bright Uro lands $23M series A funding
- 2023: SetPoint Medical of Valencia, CA achieves $80M funding round
- 2022: Bausch & Lomb acquires AcuFocus out of Irvine, Ca
- 2022: Alcon completes acquisition of Ivantis
- 2022: Cordis announces acquisition of Irvine, CA based MedAlliance for initial $35M, up to $1.1B based on milestones
- 2023: Seaspine merges into and under OrthoFix Medical
- 2023: Nuvasive is acquired by Globus Medical
- 2023: SunMed to acquire Vyaire Medical's respiratory and anesthesia consumables business unit
- 2023: Spyglass Pharma gets $90M series C funding
- 2023: Beta Bionics gets $100M series D funding
- 2023: Bright Uro lands $23M series A funding
- 2023: SetPoint Medical of Valencia, CA achieves $80M funding round
2024
- 2024: Irvine, Ca based Axonics is acquired by Boston Scientific for $3.7B equity
- 2024: Nalu Medical out of Carlsbad, CA closes $65M Series-D funding round
- 2024: BD acquires Edwards Lifesciences' Critical Care business unit for $4.2B
- 2024: Atacor Corp out of San Clemente, CA secures $28M series C funding
- 2024: Edwards Lifesciences acquires 4 companies: JenaValve Technology, EndoTronix, JC Medical, and Innovalve
- 2024: Zoll Medical acquires out of bankruptcy the last remaining portion of Vyaire Medical
- 2024: Stryker acquires Orange County, CA based Vertos Medical
- 2024: Nalu Medical out of Carlsbad, CA closes $65M Series-D funding round
- 2024: BD acquires Edwards Lifesciences' Critical Care business unit for $4.2B
- 2024: Atacor Corp out of San Clemente, CA secures $28M series C funding
- 2024: Edwards Lifesciences acquires 4 companies: JenaValve Technology, EndoTronix, JC Medical, and Innovalve
- 2024: Zoll Medical acquires out of bankruptcy the last remaining portion of Vyaire Medical
- 2024: Stryker acquires Orange County, CA based Vertos Medical
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