Terumo Corporation (テルモ株式会社) was founded in 1921 as Red Line Thermometer Corporation by a group of medical scientists led by Dr. Kitasato Shibasaburō to produce medical thermometers in Japan.
The company's first product was "Jintan Taionkei", the first Japanese-made thermometer available for sale, and it has since expanded into a medical devices manufacturer, producing medical disposables, cardiovascular systems and diabetes care products.[3]
In 1971, Terumo opened its first overseas office in the United States. Since then, the company has established subsidiaries in Europe (1971), South America, China, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and México. The company later expanded its product range to include coronary stents and catheters, and acquired, among others, the cardiovascular specialty companies Vascutek and Microvention in 2002 and 2006 respectively.
Business segments and products
Terumo Corporation was organized into three business segments:[4]
Terumo Penpol, the company's subsidiary in Trivandrum, India is the largest manufacturer of blood bags in India and supplies it to over 82 countries.[5]
A medical device facility called Terumo BCT is located in Denver suburb of Lakewood, Colorado, and, has been open and operating for over 20 years.[6] A 2018 investigation into the release of ethylene oxide—a sterilizing agent for the blood diagnostic and treatment devices—into the atmosphere showed no increased cancer risk for those in the neighborhood, and the EPA will continue to allow up to 10000 lb of ethylene oxide to be released annually. However, Terumo said they release only 2500 lb per year and are working to reduce that amount.[6]
- Cardiac & Vascular Business
- Intravascular ultrasound systems
- Catheters for the treatment of coronary artery disease
- Drug-eluting stents
- Angiographic catheters
- Abdominal and peripheral endovascular coils
- Heart-lung machines
- Oxygenators with integrated arterial filter
- Artificial vascular grafts
- Blood Management Business
- Automated blood collection system
- Automated blood component processing devices
- Blood bag systems with leukocyte reduction filter
- Pathogen reduction technology systems
- Therapeutic apheresis systems
- Cell expansion systems
- General Hospital Business
- IV catheters
- Infusion sets
- Syringe pumps
- Blood glucose monitoring systems
- Lancing devices for blood collection
- CAPD systems
- Digital thermometers
- Blood pressure monitors
Acquisitions
In July 1999 Terumo acquired the cardiovascular division of 3M Company, and established Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corp. in the USA.[7]
In 1999, Terumo entered into a joint venture with the Kerala company Penpol.[8]
In 2001 the company made two more acquisitions: it acquired the home oxygen division of Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., and establish Terumo Medical Care K.K., and Ikiken Co., Ltd. of Japan.[9]
In 2002 the company acquired UK-based Vascutek.[10][11]
Four years later, in 2006 the company ventured into a new field (endovascular coils for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms) by buying American company MicroVention Inc.[12]
The tissue heart valve division of Kohler Chemine GmbH was acquired in March 2007 and expanded Terumo's operations related to vascular prostheses.[13]
A year later the Japanese company Clinical Supply Co., Ltd. became a Terumo subsidiary and enhanced Terumo's interventional systems business in the field of radiotherapy.[14]
In March 2011, the company bought U.S. medical device company CaridianBCT for around $2.6 billion. It was the largest acquisition by a Japanese medical equipment maker at the time.[15]
The same year Harvest Technologies Corporation—point-of-care cell therapy—and Onset Medical Corp.—sheath technology designed for multiple, minimally-invasive clinical applications—was acquired.[16]
In 2018, after the acquisition of Bolton Medical, a merger with Vascutek Ltd. gave place to the new company Terumo Aortic, focusing on “expanding aortic treatment options.” [17]
External links
References
- Terumo At A Glance retrieved September 4, 2025^
- Terumo Financial Statements retrieved September 4, 2025^
- S. Das, A. Zutshi, J. Janardhanan. The Great Lockdown: Lessons Learned During the Pandemic from Organizations Around the World Wiley, 2021, retrieved 2023-09-11^
- Terumo Products retrieved March 17, 2014^
- Vinson Kurian. Blood bags co Terumo Penpol turns 25 The Hindu, 31 October 2010, retrieved July 24, 2011^
- Lance Hernandez. Colorado to sample air near Lakewood plant after EPA identifies potential elevated cancer risk. Assessment shows normal cancer rates 7 News, 18 August 2018, retrieved 24 September 2019^
- Terumo - About Us retrieved 1 August 2016^
- About Terumo Penpol terumopenpol.com, terumopenpol, retrieved 8 June 2023^
- Pierre-Yves Donzé. Medtech Springer, 2022^
- Sunrise medical manufacturer merges with Scottish company Sun Sentinel, 24 April 2018^
- Vascutek and Bolton Medical Merge as Terumo Aortic Endovascular Today^
- MicroVention Celebrates 25 Years in Neuroendovascular Technologies that Improve Patient Lives Yahoo Finance, 29 September 2022^
- Research and Markets: Terumo Medical Device Company Intelligence Report 2011 www.businesswire.com, 25 February 2011^
- Susanne Brucksch, Kaori Sasaki. Humans and Devices in Medical Contexts: Case Studies from Japan Springer Nature, 19 June 2021^
- Mariko Katsumura. Terumo to buy U.S. medical device firm for $2.6 billion Reuters, March 7, 2011, retrieved March 17, 2014^
- Terumo History retrieved March 17, 2014^
- Vascutek and Bolton Medical Merge as 'Terumo Aortic' retrieved May 28, 2022^