St. Jude Medical

St. Jude Medical was an American global medical device company that existed until 2017 when it was acquired by Abbott Laboratories. The company was headquartered in Little Canada, Minnesota, and had operations and clients globally.

History

Founded in 1976 by Manuel A. Villafaña, St. Jude Medical initially focused on the development of bi-leaflet artificial heart valves. As years progressed, the company expanded its product portfolio to include various other medical devices and technologies, ultimately becoming one of the leading names in the field.

Products

Throughout its history, St. Jude Medical had a diversified range of products, which included:

• Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices - Such as pacemakers and defibrillators.
• Cardiovascular - Products like heart valves, vascular closure devices, and angioplasty balloons.
• Atrial fibrillation (AF) - Solutions and tools for treating irregular heartbeats.
• Neurostimulation - Devices for managing chronic pain and movement disorders.
• Chronic Pain Therapy - Devices for pain management in patients with chronic conditions.

Notable Achievements

St. Jude Medical was renowned for its continuous research and innovations in the medical device field. Some of its groundbreaking products, like the bi-leaflet artificial heart valve, have been pivotal in transforming patient care.

Acquisition by Abbott Laboratories

In 2017, Abbott Laboratories, a global healthcare company, acquired St. Jude Medical in a deal valued at approximately $25 billion. This merger further strengthened Abbott's position in the cardiovascular devices segment.

Controversies and Challenges

Like many global companies, St. Jude Medical faced its share of challenges. The company, at times, had to address concerns related to product safety and recalls. It always strived to ensure the highest level of patient safety and compliance with all regulatory standards.

See Also

• Abbott Laboratories
• Medical devices
• Cardiovascular health

External Links

• [(https://www.abbott.com/ Abbott's official website]
• Overview of St. Jude Medical's acquisition by Abbott