Mike Parkman

Thoratec Corp. develops, manufactures and markets proprietary medical devices used for circulatory support for the treatment of heart failure patients. The company's products include Ventricular Assist Devices, HeartMate Left Ventricular Assist System, HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System, Thoratec Paracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device and Thoratec Implantable Ventricular Assist. It also manufactures and markets the CentriMag Acute Circulatory System, HeartMate II, PVAD, IVAD and for pediatric patients PediMag/PediVAS Acute Circulatory System. Its ventricular assist devices products primarily serve patients suffering from late-stage heart failure. Heart Failure is a chronic disease that occurs when degeneration of the heart muscle reduces the pumping power of the heart, causing the heart to become too weak to pump blood at a level sufficient to meet the body's demands. The company operates its business through the Cardiovascular group segment, which develops, manufactures mechanical circulatory products to support the cardiovascular systems of humans and to provide product-related services. Thoratec was founded in March 1976 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, CA.

K2M, Inc. manufactures and markets medical devices. It offers deformity correction systems, spinal stabilization systems, lateral access systems, minimally invasive systems, and, constrained and translational cervical plates. The company was founded by John Philip Kostuik and Eric Major in January 2004 and is headquartered in Leesburg, VA.

W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. develops and manufactures products derived from fluoropolymers. It offers consumer products, cable and cable assemblies, electronic and electrochemical material, fabrics, fibers, filtration, medical, pharmaceutical processing, sealants and venting. The company was founded by Wilbert Lee Gore and Genevieve W. Gore on January 1, 1958 and is headquartered in Newark, DE.

Carbomedics, Inc. is a company that manufactures heart valves. The company is based in Austin, TX. Carbomedics was acquired by Snia SpA on January 22, 2003 for $110.30 million.

DePuy Spine, Inc. manufactures orthopedic devices and solutions. It orthopedic and neurosurgical products that address areas of spinal care, includes cervical, aging spine, vertebral body replacement, invasive surgery and area of biologics. The company was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Raynham, MA.