From a Repair Shop to a Global Medical Technology Leader
Medtronic was founded in 1949 as a medical equipment repair shop by Earl Bakken and his brother-in-law, Palmer Hermundslie.
Did these two men set out to change medical technology and the lives of millions of people? No. But they did have a deep moral purpose and an inner drive to use their scientific knowledge and entrepreneurial skills to help others.
That spirit — combined with our founders' personal integrity and passion — became our guiding philosophy and, ultimately, the Medtronic Mission.
Our first life-changing therapy — a wearable, battery-powered cardiac pacemaker — was the foundation for many more Medtronic therapies that use our electrical stimulation expertise to improve the lives of millions of people.
Over the years, we developed additional core technologies, including implantable mechanical devices, drug and biologic delivery devices, and powered and advanced energy surgical instruments. Today, our technologies are used to treat nearly 40 medical conditions.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR HISTORY OF INNOVATION
1949
MEDTRONIC IS FOUNDED
1960
WROTE OUR MISSION;
DEVELOPED THE FIRST IMPLANTABLE PACEMAKER
1979
ESTABLISHED THE MEDTRONIC FOUNDATION
1999
EXPANDED INTO SPINAL CARE
2002
INTRODUCED FIRST REMOTE MONTORING SYSTEM
2016
INTRODUCED THE WORLD'S SMALLEST PACEMAKER AND FIRST HYBRID CLOSED LOOP INSULIN DELIVERY SYSTEM
2019
LAUNCHED MAZOR X STEALTH EDITION SYSTEM FOR ROBOTIC-ASSISTED SPINE SURGERY
1957
CREATED FIRST BATTERY-OPERATED, EXTERNAL PACEMAKER
1977
INTRODUCED PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE
1983
EXPANDED INTO NEURO-STIMULATION
2001
EXPANDED INTO DIABETES CARE
2015
ACQUIRED
COVIDIEN
2017
INTRODUCED THE WORLD'S SMALLEST IMPLANTABLE SPINAL CORD STIMULATOR
Citizenship
From the Medtronic Foundation to employee-led volunteer projects, we're creating a healthier world — one story at a time.
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Medtronic products and therapies improve the lives of two people every second.
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