Arbor Surgical Technologies

Arbor Surgical Technologies, Inc. was a privately held cardiovascular medical device company established in 2002 by Dr. Thomas J. Fogarty and Ernie Lane. Headquartered in Irvine, California, with additional facilities in Portola Valley, the company focused on creating less invasive options for heart valve replacement. The founders combined significant medical and design expertise; Dr. Fogarty is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon and inventor, while Ernie Lane is a noted designer of heart valves.

The company's core business was the development and commercialization of advanced heart valve replacement technologies. Arbor Surgical developed a portfolio of products, including a tissue heart valve made from bovine pericardial tissue, designed for improved performance and durability over existing options. Key product lines included the modular Trilogy™ Aortic Valve System and the sutureless TRE™ implantation technologies. These systems were engineered to simplify and expedite heart valve replacement surgery, potentially expanding the adoption of minimally invasive procedures.

Arbor's business model revolved around research and development, clinical trials, and strategic partnerships to bring its products to the cardiovascular market. The company successfully raised significant capital to fund its operations. In 2005, it closed a $20 million Series B financing round. A major milestone occurred in January 2008 when Arbor secured a $20 million Series C financing led by Medtronic, Inc. This investment was part of a broader exclusive licensing agreement that granted Medtronic the global rights to manufacture, market, and distribute Arbor's trilobal pericardial valve technologies. Arbor retained the exclusive rights to its Trilogy™ Aortic Valve System and TRE™ implantation tools. Ultimately, Medtronic acquired Arbor Surgical Technologies on January 28, 2008.

Keywords: cardiovascular devices, heart valve replacement, medical devices, minimally invasive surgery, aortic valve system, sutureless implantation, pericardial tissue valve, surgical instruments, medtech, healthtech, cardiovascular technology, Trilogy Aortic Valve System, TRE implantation, Dr. Thomas J. Fogarty, Ernie Lane, structural heart, valve technology, implantable devices, surgical equipment, cardiovascular surgery