HeartPort

Heartport was a pioneering medical device company that revolutionized cardiac surgery through the development of its proprietary Port-Access technology. The company's systems enabled surgeons to perform complex heart procedures, such as bypass surgery and valve repairs, through small incisions or "ports" rather than a traditional full sternotomy. By utilizing specialized endovascular catheters to arrest the heart and maintain blood circulation, Heartport's technology aimed to reduce patient trauma, shorten hospital stays, and accelerate recovery times. Founded in 1991 and based in Redwood City, California, the company became a leader in the minimally invasive surgical market before being acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2001. Its innovations laid the groundwork for modern less-invasive cardiac interventions.