PLEASANTON, Calif., Oct. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Thoratec Corporation (NASDAQ: THOR), a world leader in mechanical circulatory support therapies to save, support and restore failing hearts, announced today that all proposals necessary for St. Jude Medical, Inc.’s acquisition of Thoratec Corporation were approved by Thoratec Corporation’s shareholders at its shareholder meeting held today.
As previously announced, on July 21, 2015, Thoratec and St. Jude Medical entered into a definitive agreement by which St. Jude Medical will acquire Thoratec.
What does this mean for the development of the LVAD
St. Jude Medical was founded in 1976 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, as a pioneering manufacturer of bi-leaflet implantable mechanical heart valves. Our innovative heart valve design soon became the “gold standard” for mechanical heart valves.
Since its first major acquisition of Pacesetter™ in 1994, St. Jude Medical has continued to grow into a global leader in cardiac and neurological device technology, broadening our product portfolio through internal development and strategic acquisitions.
What if a company could invent breakthrough technologies that transform the treatment of some of the world’s most expensive epidemic diseases? At St. Jude Medical we are turning what if into why not by partnering with physicians, hospitals and insurers to save and improve millions of lives worldwide – while reducing health care costs for all.
As a true leader, St. Jude Medical is committed to meeting or exceeding the high quality and safety expectations of our patients, customers and regulators. Quality is the shared belief that unites all our nearly 18,000 employees – it is built into everything we do and is the guiding principle behind every product we create.
Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., USA, St. Jude Medical is a global medical technology leader focused on six key treatment areas:
Heart Failure – St. Jude Medical is pioneering heart failure disease management with innovative solutions that help reduce hospitalizations and improve the quality of life of patients.
Arrhythmias – Our unparalleled product portfolio gives physicians the diagnostic, access, mapping and therapy solutions they need with designed integration for enhanced diagnosis and treatment of heart arrhythmias.
Vascular Disease – Our breakthrough solutions guide health care providers in their treatment decisions – helping improve patient outcomes and provide cost savings opportunities.
Structural Heart – Our catheter-based and surgical treatment solutions for structural heart disease are focused on ease-of-use and improving quality of life.
Chronic Pain – Patients around the world benefit from our transformational pain management technologies that enable them to return to work and live fuller, more satisfying lives.
Neurological Diseases – As pioneers in the field, St. Jude Medical has developed cutting-edge neuromodulation technologies for the treatment of neurological diseases.
The development of the LVAD will get a positive boost in sharing the experience and knowledge available at St. Jude Medical.