Medtronic

Medtronic is a medical device company with its operational headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and its legal base in Galway, Ireland. Earl Bakken and Palmer Hermundslie founded it in 1949 in a garage, starting with equipment repair. The company reports results in dollars and has research sites in the United States, Europe and Asia. It spends a notable share of its sales on research.

The company makes cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, heart valves, insulin pumps, spinal implants and surgical robots. Bakken helped build one of the first wearable pacemakers in 1957. Its Hugo robotic system supports minimally invasive surgery.

Medtronic sells to hospitals and clinics in over 150 countries. It acquired Covidien in 2015 and moved its legal address to Ireland as part of that deal. In 2025 it announced plans to separate its diabetes unit. The company counts hospitals, clinics and health systems among its customers. It employs tens of thousands of people. Competitors include Abbott, Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson MedTech.