Medical Device Link.

MANUFACTURERS OF THE YEAR

From humble beginnings, Integra LifeSciences shows how to grow strong and still maintain integrity.

The firms have built their businesses in completely different ways. Integra was a pioneer in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Its original core technology allows patients to regrow skin or other cells. But when the market for its first products turned out not to be big enough to support a business, Integra broadened its product reach dramatically, both through R&D and acquisition. It adopted an unusual business model and began selling a diverse array of products to the same audience: neurosurgeons. Today, it is the market leader in neurosurgery devices and is growing exponentially.

By maintaining its focus on a complex product suite, Intuitive Surgical has found the key to market success.

Intuitive was a pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery and has stuck to that technological focus. It has grown its business not through diversification or acquisitions, but through getting its technology accepted for use in more and more applications. It has built a patent portfolio that is the envy of the device industry, ensuring that it will reap the rewards as robotic-assisted surgery continues to win converts. Intuitive has entered into a number of partnerships that have enabled it to leverage complementary technologies in order to develop new products and grow. And Intuitive’s management team is considered to be one of the best in the business by those who follow it on Wall Street.

Outstanding innovation and market success and savvy are two of the most important things we at MD&DI look for when we select our Manufacturers of the Year. Integra and Intuitive possess them both in spades. We think you will find their stories worth reading—and worth emulating.

Integra LifeSciences Corp.

Intuitive Surgical Inc.