Edwards Lifesciences

The story of Edwards Lifesciences begins in 1958 with a 60-year-old engineer named Miles 'Lowell' Edwards. Holding over 60 patents and with a background in hydraulics, he dreamed of building an artificial heart. He took his idea to Dr. Albert Starr, a young cardiac surgeon, who suggested a more immediate need: a reliable artificial heart valve. This collaboration led to the first successful implantation of the Starr-Edwards mitral valve in 1960, a groundbreaking event that established Edwards Laboratories in Santa Ana, California. The company's journey saw it acquired by American Hospital Supply Corporation in 1966 and later by Baxter International in 1985. This period provided resources for growth, but the pivotal moment came in March 2000, when Edwards Lifesciences was spun off from Baxter. It became an independent, publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker 'EW'. This move allowed the company to sharpen its focus on cardiovascular disease. Today, Edwards Lifesciences is a global leader in medical technologies, particularly known for its transcatheter heart valves that offer less invasive treatment options for patients worldwide.