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1980 -1989

1980
  • Pete Nicholas initiates a strategy of creating separate business units to better focus on the different markets being served by a single sales force.


  • Boston Scientific acquires Kimray Medical Association (KMA), maker of the Greenfield® vena cava filter, a device designed to protect against pulmonary embolism. The acquisition also offers Boston Scientific entry into the field of cardiology with a device that monitors cardiac output.
1981

  • Boston Scientific acquires Endo-Tech to help create markets for gastrointestinal and pulmonary products.


  • Van-Tec, later acquired by Boston Scientific, is founded by Jim Vance and introduces the pigtail ureteral stent, which uses a guidewire.
1982
  • Boston Scientific changes Endo-Tech's name to Microvasive


  • Abbott Labs acquires Sorenson Research. Boston Scientific becomes a supplier to Sorenson
1983
  • Scimed begins angioplasty product development.


  • Dr. Raimund Erbel develops the first PTCA perfusion balloon catheter for Schneider.
1984

  • Medi-tech's peripheral vascular angioplasty balloon is firmly established as the world standard.


  • Interventional Technologies, Inc. (IVT) is founded.
1985

  • The United States Food and Drug Administration approves Mansfield's PTCA catheters.


  • Target Therapeutics, later acquired by Boston Scientific, is founded and launches the Tracker®, a prototype microcatheter designed to navigate through very narrow and tortuous vasculature to provide endovascular access to previously inaccessible areas of the body.
1986
  • The first human coronary stent implantation is performed using a Schneider WALLSTENT® endoprosthesis.
1987
  • Boston Scientific opens a manufacturing facility in Denmark, its first outside the United States.


  • EP Technologies is founded.
1988

  • Boston Scientific acquires Van-Tec in Spencer, Indiana, which has a large business in interventional urology.
1989
  • Boston Scientific's companies are all consolidated into one, which markets under the names Mansfield (cardiology), Medi-tech (vascular), Microvasive (urology and endoscopy) and BSIC (international).


  • Boston Scientific celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Additional Information
“It's interesting to look back at how we originally characterized who Boston Scientific was, what we did, what was important. It hasn't changed a bit, that's because the values are timeless ones: people, passion, commitment, conviction, integrity and a focus on patients.”

PETE NICHOLAS
Founder, Director and Chairman of the Board

“When we started out, the potential of less-invasive medicine to reduce risk, trauma, cost, time and aftercare was not obvious to many. But anytime someone challenges the established way of doing things, it's not welcomed right away. You have to be patient. We're still trying to convert marketplaces all over the world and in many different specialties. We're doing it with one goal in mind: providing benefits to doctors, to patients and, frankly, to society overall.”

JOHN ABELE
Founder, Director