St. Jude Medical
Corporate brand
UnclaimedSt. Jude Medical was an American medical-device company best known for cardiovascular implants, electrophysiology systems, structural-heart products, and neurostimulation technologies.
Last updated August 26, 2026
Overview
St. Jude Medical, Inc. was an American global medical-device company headquartered in Little Canada, Minnesota, near Saint Paul. Founded in 1976, it began by commercializing a bileaflet artificial heart valve based on work conducted at the University of Minnesota. The company took its name from Jude the Apostle, traditionally regarded as the patron saint of lost causes. Its early valve technology used pyrolytic carbon, a material selected for its biocompatibility and resistance to blood clot formation, and helped establish St. Jude Medical as a significant cardiovascular-device manufacturer. The company went public in 1977 and expanded beyond mechanical heart valves through internal research, partnerships, and acquisitions. Its business came to include tissue heart valves, pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, cardiac-resynchronization devices, electrophysiology catheters, vascular-closure systems, cardiac mapping and visualization technologies, optical-coherence-tomography imaging, structural-heart repair products, and neurostimulation systems. By the 2010s, St. Jude Medical was organized around implantable electronic systems and cardiovascular and ablation technologies, with manufacturing, research, training, and technology operations distributed across North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions. A major part of the company’s growth strategy was acquisition-led diversification. The purchase of Pacesetter in 1994 added a major pacemaker business, while Daig expanded diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheters. Ventritex strengthened implantable-defibrillator capabilities, and later transactions added atrial-fibrillation tools, neuromodulation, structural-heart devices, wireless hemodynamic monitoring, leadless pacing, optical imaging, and ventricular-assist technologies. Acquisitions including AGA Medical, CardioMEMS, Endosense, Nanostim, Spinal Modulation, and Thoratec broadened St. Jude Medical’s portfolio across interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, heart failure, and chronic pain. Its technologies included quadripolar leads for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac-resynchronization therapy devices; MediGuide, which helped physicians track device position and reduce reliance on prolonged fluoroscopy; CardioMEMS, a wireless system for monitoring pulmonary-artery pressure in heart-failure patients; Nanostim, a catheter-delivered leadless pacemaker platform; and Ilumen Optis, which combined fractional-flow-reserve assessment with optical-coherence-tomography imaging. The company also operated physician-training and procedural-simulation technology centers in locations including Brussels, Beijing, Tokyo, Austin, Saint Paul, and Sylmar. St. Jude Medical faced regulatory and product-safety scrutiny during its final years as an independent company. Its Riata and Riata ST defibrillator leads were withdrawn from sale after concerns about insulation abrasion, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration later issued a recall. The company also received an FDA warning letter concerning processes at its Sylmar facility, although the cited concerns were not described as product-safety findings. In 2014, researchers reported a cybersecurity vulnerability involving certain St. Jude pacemakers, prompting public discussion about the security of connected implantable devices. In 2016, Abbott Laboratories announced an agreement to acquire St. Jude Medical in a transaction valued at approximately $25 billion. Abbott completed the acquisition on January 5, 2017. St. Jude Medical therefore ceased to operate as an independent publicly traded company, while many of its products, technologies, and business activities continued within Abbott’s medical-device operations.
History
St. Jude Medical was established in 1976 to develop and commercialize a bileaflet artificial heart valve originating from University of Minnesota research. Dr. Demetre Nicoloff and St. Jude Medical employee Don Hanson played important roles in the valve’s development. Founder Manny Villafana took the company public in February 1977, and Nicoloff implanted the first St. Jude Medical artificial valve in a human patient later that year. The valve used a pyrolytic-carbon coating intended to improve durability and reduce thrombogenicity. In the early 1980s, chief operating officer LaVerne Rees became chief executive officer. His decision to develop an internal carbon-coating capability led to a legal dispute with CarboMedics, then the company’s sole carbon supplier. The board reassigned Rees in 1984 while the dispute continued. Lawrence Lehmkuhl became president and CEO in 1985, after which St. Jude Medical settled the litigation and obtained permission to continue limited development and production of its own coating. The first valve using the company’s coating technology was implanted in Germany in 1986. That year, the acquisition of BioImplant expanded the company into tissue heart valves. The company created an International Division in Brussels in 1990. In 1991, it formed Heart Valve Company with Hancock Jaffe Laboratories to develop and market tissue valves in the United States; St. Jude Medical later bought Hancock Jaffe’s interest and became the sole owner. Biocor Industria, a Brazilian tissue-valve manufacturer, was acquired in 1996. During the 1990s, St. Jude Medical pursued substantial diversification. Ronald Matricaria became president and CEO in 1993, succeeding Lehmkuhl, who became board chairman. In 1994, St. Jude Medical acquired Pacesetter, the pacemaker division of Siemens, adding a large rhythm-management business. Daig Corporation, acquired in 1996, contributed cardiac diagnostic and therapeutic catheters. Ventritex, acquired in 1997, added implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, while the purchase of Tyco’s Angio-Seal business in 1999 expanded the company into vascular closure. Matricaria left the CEO role in 1999 and was succeeded by Terry Shepherd. Terry Shepherd retired in 2004 and was replaced by Daniel Starks, previously St. Jude Medical’s chief operating officer and the former head of Daig. The company expanded into atrial-fibrillation treatment through its 2005 acquisition of Endocardial Solutions and into chronic-pain and nerve-disorder therapy through the acquisition of Advanced Neuromodulation Systems. In 2008, it purchased MediGuide, an Israeli developer of sensor-based cardiac navigation and visualization technology. The 2010s brought another wave of acquisitions and organizational changes. St. Jude Medical acquired AGA Medical, adding devices for structural heart defects, and LightLab Imaging, adding optical-coherence-tomography capabilities. It acquired CardioMEMS in 2014 after making an earlier investment and securing an acquisition option. Endosense added force-sensing technology for catheter ablation, while Nanostim contributed a leadless pacemaker platform. St. Jude Medical also invested in and later acquired Spinal Modulation, whose Axium system addressed chronic pain through neurostimulation. In 2015, the company completed the acquisition of Thoratec, strengthening its heart-failure and mechanical-circulatory-support portfolio. St. Jude Medical reorganized its operations in 2012, consolidating four product divisions into two operating units and centralizing selected corporate functions. The reorganization was accompanied by workforce reductions. Further restructuring in 2014 consolidated research and development activities and combined worldwide manufacturing and supply-chain operations. The company’s final independent leadership transition occurred in 2016, when Michael T. Rousseau succeeded Daniel Starks as president and CEO. In April 2016, Abbott Laboratories announced its agreement to acquire St. Jude Medical for approximately $25 billion in cash and Abbott stock. The transaction closed on January 5, 2017, and St. Jude Medical became part of Abbott. Its technologies and products continued under Abbott’s medical-device organization rather than as an independent public company.
- 2017
Acquired by Abbott
[1]Abbott completed its acquisition of St. Jude Medical, ending the company’s independent operations.
- 2015
Thoratec acquisition completed
[1]The acquisition added heart-failure and mechanical-circulatory-support technologies.
- 2014
CardioMEMS acquisition and organizational consolidation
[1]St. Jude Medical acquired CardioMEMS and consolidated research and development and global manufacturing operations.
- 2010
AGA Medical and LightLab Imaging acquisitions
[1]The company expanded into structural-heart repair and optical-coherence-tomography imaging.
- 2005
Expansion into atrial fibrillation and neurostimulation
[1]Endocardial Solutions and Advanced Neuromodulation Systems added electrophysiology and chronic-pain technologies.
- 1997
Ventritex acquisition
[1]St. Jude Medical acquired Ventritex, expanding its implantable-cardioverter-defibrillator portfolio.
- 1994
Pacesetter acquisition
[1]The acquisition of Siemens’ Pacesetter pacemaker division established a major rhythm-management business.
- 1986
Expansion into tissue valves
[1]St. Jude Medical implanted its first valve using internally developed carbon-coating technology and expanded into tissue valves through BioImplant.
- 1977
Public listing and first human valve implant
[1]The company went public, and its artificial heart valve was implanted in a human patient for the first time.
- 1976
Company founded
[1]St. Jude Medical was founded to develop a bileaflet artificial heart valve based on University of Minnesota research.
Products and positioning
A diversified cardiovascular and implantable-device specialist whose portfolio combined long-established heart-valve and rhythm-management businesses with acquired technologies in electrophysiology, structural heart, heart-failure monitoring, imaging, and neurostimulation.
Cardiovascular implants · 1977
Artificial heart valves
St. Jude Medical’s original business centered on bileaflet mechanical heart valves. The company’s valve design used pyrolytic carbon and later internally developed coating technology. It subsequently broadened the category through tissue-valve development and acquisitions, creating a foundation for its wider cardiovascular-device portfolio.
Cardiac rhythm management
Pacemakers and CRT systems
The company manufactured implanted pacemakers and cardiac-resynchronization systems for managing abnormal rhythms and coordinating ventricular contraction. This business was significantly expanded through the acquisition of Pacesetter and remained one of St. Jude Medical’s principal operating areas.
Cardiac rhythm management
ICD and CRT-D systems
St. Jude Medical produced implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and CRT-D devices. Its systems included quadripolar lead technology, allowing multiple pacing locations on the left side of the heart through a single lead. Ventritex and subsequent internal development helped build this product family.
Cardiac navigation and visualization · 2008
MediGuide
MediGuide used miniature sensors associated with medical devices to help physicians locate and navigate devices during cardiovascular procedures. Its real-time visualization approach was designed to reduce the duration of fluoroscopic exposure while providing procedural positioning information.
Leadless pacemaker · 2013
Nanostim
Nanostim was a miniaturized pacemaker designed for catheter-based delivery directly into the heart. Unlike conventional pacemakers, it was designed without transvenous leads or a surgically created generator pocket. St. Jude Medical acquired Nanostim after obtaining an investment-based right to purchase the company.
Heart-failure monitoring · 2014
CardioMEMS HF System
CardioMEMS used a wireless sensor implanted in the pulmonary artery to measure pulmonary-artery pressure. The information was intended to help clinicians assess cardiac performance and manage patients with heart failure before worsening symptoms resulted in hospitalization.
Interventional cardiology imaging · 2013
Ilumen Optis
Ilumen Optis combined fractional-flow-reserve measurement with optical-coherence-tomography imaging. The system helped physicians assess pressure within coronary arteries while also producing detailed images of arterial interiors during evaluation and treatment of coronary artery disease.
Neuromodulation
Neurostimulation systems
Through Advanced Neuromodulation Systems and Spinal Modulation, St. Jude Medical developed implanted electrotherapy products for chronic pain and nerve disorders. The Axium Neurostimulator System was among the products associated with the company’s later neuromodulation activities.
Controversies
2014
Pacemaker cybersecurity vulnerability
MedSec Holdings reported a security vulnerability involving St. Jude Medical pacemakers, and the FDA confirmed the vulnerability. The matter contributed to wider scrutiny of cybersecurity protections for connected implantable medical devices.
2013
FDA warning concerning Sylmar facility processes
The FDA sent St. Jude Medical a warning letter following inspections of its Sylmar, California facility. The cited concerns related to company processes and were not identified as safety concerns involving St. Jude Medical products.
2010
Riata and Riata ST lead insulation concerns
St. Jude Medical voluntarily stopped selling the Riata and Riata ST defibrillator leads after concerns that the leads could experience insulation abrasion. The FDA issued a recall in 2011. A later independent analysis reported a high rate of freedom from insulation abrasion in the evaluated Durata and Riata ST data, but the episode remained a significant product-safety and regulatory issue for the company.
Brand decisions
2016
Agreement to be acquired by AbbottM&ABackground
St. Jude Medical pursued a combination with Abbott to broaden the combined company’s medical-device portfolio.
Action taken
Abbott agreed to acquire St. Jude Medical for approximately $25 billion in cash and Abbott stock.
Aftermath
The transaction closed on January 5, 2017, and St. Jude Medical ceased operating as an independent company.
Transaction value. $25 billion (Announced in 2016; completed January 2017)
2014
Further research and manufacturing consolidationStrategyBackground
The company continued efforts to streamline its operating model after the 2012 reorganization.
Action taken
St. Jude Medical combined its two operating units into one research and development division and created a separate division for worldwide manufacturing and supply-chain activities.
Aftermath
The changes concentrated product development and global operations under fewer organizational structures.
2012
Reorganized operating unitsStrategyBackground
St. Jude Medical sought to simplify its operating structure and centralize selected corporate functions.
Action taken
The company consolidated four product divisions into two operating units covering implantable electronic systems and cardiovascular and ablation technologies. Marketing, information technology, and legal functions were also centralized.
Aftermath
The reorganization coincided with reductions of approximately 5 percent of the global workforce.
Recent events
- 2017
Abbott completes acquisition of St. Jude Medical[1]
M&A
Abbott announced completion of its acquisition, ending St. Jude Medical’s existence as an independent company.
- 2016
Abbott announces agreement to acquire St. Jude Medical[1]
M&A
Abbott Laboratories announced an agreement to acquire St. Jude Medical in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $25 billion.
Sources1 sources
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