Charles S. Taylor

Heartport, Inc. develops systems and procedures for heart surgery. The company's technologies allow surgeons to perform a wide range of less invasive open-chest and minimally invasive heart operations, including stopped heart and beating heart procedures. Heartport was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Redwood City, CA.

Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. manufactures medical devices. It also makes cardiac and peripheral vascular repair surgical systems. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA.

Nellix, Inc. develops novel solutions to vascular diseases. It develops endograft products for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms and thoracic aortic aneurysms. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA.

CardioThoracic Systems, Inc., located in Cupertino, Calif., is a leading developer of proprietary technologies in minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery. CTS introduced its first generation system for minimally invasive beating heart bypass surgery in January 1997. Since that time, over 11,000 beating heart bypass procedures, including midline and thorocotomy approaches, have been performed using CTS' propriety instruments. CTS is also developing technologies in the area of minimally invasive valve repair. CardioThoracic Systems, Inc., has been acquired by Guidant in 1999.

EoPlex, Inc. manufactures miniature electronic components and sub-assemblies. It produces components using deposition techniques based on custom printing equipment that carry ceramic, metallic or polymer materials. The firm’s products are used in cell phone antennas, RF devices, energy harvesters, fluidic devices, fuel cell parts, sensors, micropumps, and thermal devices. The company was founded by Charles S. Taylor in 2001 and is headquartered in San Jose, CA.