LeMaitre Vascular
American medical device company focused on vascular surgery products.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
LeMaitre Vascular is an American medical device company focused on developing and selling products for vascular surgery, including vascular grafts and balloon catheters. The company is dedicated to providing innovative solutions to vascular surgeons and improving patient outcomes.
History
LeMaitre Vascular began with a clinical problem encountered by vascular surgeon George D. LeMaitre in Massachusetts. In 1981, LeMaitre treated an elderly colleague who needed a procedure to redirect blood flow in the leg and reduce the risk of amputation. The available instruments were inadequate for preparing the vein, so LeMaitre worked with an engineer to create a valvulotome. The device was designed to cut valves inside peripheral veins without requiring the surgeon to see the cutting site directly. This approach enabled vein preparation for arterial bypass through smaller incisions and with less tissue trauma than some existing techniques. LeMaitre continued refining the invention between 1981 and 1984 and then spent approximately two years attempting to persuade established medical-product companies to manufacture it. When those efforts failed, he financed the creation of his own company by mortgaging his home. LeMaitre Vascular was established in 1986 to commercialize the device, and the original LeMaitre Valvulotome received Food and Drug Administration approval during the same year. The company initially operated as a family-owned specialist business. George W. LeMaitre, the founder's son, joined the organization and contributed to its expansion. The business gradually moved from dependence on its original valvulotome toward a broader range of vascular-surgery products, including embolectomy catheters, carotid shunts, radiopaque tape, grafts, and other disposable or implantable devices. In 1996, LeMaitre introduced an expandable version of its valvulotome, replacing the earlier circular-blade configuration in the product family and representing an important generational development. External investment supported further growth. In 1998, the company raised $3 million from investors, after which the senior LeMaitre sought additional investment from fellow vascular surgeons. By 2004, the business had operations or facilities in Sulzbach, Germany; Phoenix, Arizona; St. Petersburg, Florida; Brymbo, Wales; and Tokyo, Japan. It also introduced lean-manufacturing practices in 2004 to accelerate production. During the same period, the company developed relationships with other vascular-device businesses, including a distribution arrangement involving Endologix in the late 2000s. LeMaitre continued to broaden its product portfolio through research, development, and acquisitions. In 2018 it purchased Applied Medical's vascular clot-management business. In October 2019 it acquired the biologic patch business of Admedus. In mid-2020 it acquired Artegraft, a vascular-graft manufacturer. These transactions added clot-management, biologic-patch, and graft capabilities to the company's established device portfolio. By 2022, LeMaitre's activities were organized around 13 product lines grouped into aortic, arteriovenous access, cardiac, carotid, lower-extremity, and neuro categories. Its commercial model combined direct hospital sales in 25 countries with distributor sales in more than 70 countries. The company therefore evolved from a surgeon-founded single-product venture into an internationally operating vascular-device specialist while retaining a concentrated focus on vascular surgery. Founder George D. LeMaitre died in 2018.
- 2020
Artegraft acquired
[1]LeMaitre acquired vascular-graft maker Artegraft.
- 2019
Admedus biologic patch business acquired
[1]LeMaitre acquired Admedus's biologic patch business.
- 2018
Applied Medical vascular business acquired
[1]LeMaitre acquired Applied Medical's vascular clot-management business.
- 2004
International operating footprint expanded
[1]The company had operations or facilities in the United States, Germany, Wales, and Japan and adopted lean-manufacturing methods.
- 1998
Outside investment raised
[1]The company raised $3 million from investors as it moved beyond its original family-owned structure.
- 1996
Expandable valvulotome introduced
[1]The company launched an expandable valvulotome that superseded its earlier circular-blade models.
- 1986
Company founded and original device approved
[1]LeMaitre founded the company to commercialize his valvulotome, which received U.S. FDA approval that year.
- 1981
First valvulotome developed
[1]Vascular surgeon George D. LeMaitre designed a new valvulotome after encountering shortcomings in the instruments available for a leg bypass procedure.
Products and positioning
A focused specialist supplier of vascular-surgery devices, implants, biologic materials, and related tissue services.
Lower-extremity vascular surgery · 1986
LeMaitre Valvulotome
A surgical instrument developed to cut valves in peripheral veins during vein preparation for arterial bypass. The original design was created by George D. LeMaitre in response to a clinical need and was intended to reduce the need for direct visualization of the cutting site. The device established the company's initial product identity and remained central to its later product development.
Lower-extremity vascular surgery · 1996
Expandable LeMaitre Valvulotome
An expandable-generation valvulotome introduced in 1996 as an evolution of the company's original circular-blade instruments. It is designed for use in vein preparation associated with vascular bypass procedures and represents a significant refinement of the technology that launched the company.
Vascular surgery · 2018
Vascular clot-management products
A group of products used in the management and removal of clot during vascular procedures. LeMaitre expanded this part of its portfolio through the acquisition of Applied Medical's vascular clot-management business in 2018.
Vascular and cardiovascular surgery · 2019
Biologic vascular patches
Biologic patch products used by surgeons in vascular and cardiovascular repair procedures. The business became part of LeMaitre's portfolio through its acquisition of Admedus's biologic patch business in 2019.
Vascular implants · 2020
Vascular grafts
Implantable graft products used to reconstruct or bypass diseased or damaged blood vessels. LeMaitre strengthened this product area through its 2020 acquisition of Artegraft, a vascular-graft maker.
Vascular surgery
Embolectomy catheters
Catheter-based instruments used in vascular procedures involving the removal or management of embolic material. They are part of the broader disposable-device portfolio developed and marketed by LeMaitre for vascular surgeons.
Carotid surgery
Carotid shunts
Surgical shunt products intended for use in carotid procedures where temporary blood-flow management is required. They form part of the company's carotid-focused product offering.
Tissue services
Human tissue cryopreservation services
Services involving the preservation of human tissue for use in the company's vascular and biologic-material activities. The offering complements LeMaitre's device and implant portfolio with a tissue-services capability.
Brand decisions
2020
Acquisition of ArtegraftM&ABackground
LeMaitre sought to strengthen its vascular-graft business and broaden its U.S. product portfolio.
Action taken
The company acquired Artegraft, a vascular-graft manufacturer.
Aftermath
LeMaitre expected the acquired product lines to become an important part of its U.S. sales and expanded its graft offering.
2019
Acquisition of Admedus's biologic patch businessM&ABackground
LeMaitre aimed to broaden its biologic-material offering for vascular and cardiovascular procedures.
Action taken
The company acquired the biologic patch business of Admedus.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded LeMaitre's presence in biologic vascular patches.
2018
Acquisition of Applied Medical's vascular clot-management businessM&ABackground
LeMaitre sought to expand its range of products used in vascular procedures.
Action taken
The company acquired Applied Medical's vascular clot-management business.
Aftermath
The acquisition added clot-management products to LeMaitre's vascular-surgery portfolio.
2004
Adoption of lean manufacturingStrategyBackground
As the company expanded its international operations and product range, it pursued faster and more efficient production.
Action taken
LeMaitre adopted a lean-manufacturing approach intended to speed product production.
Aftermath
The move supported the company's effort to scale manufacturing while maintaining its specialist medical-device focus.
1996
Introduction of the expandable valvulotomeGeneration changeBackground
The company sought to improve its original valvulotome technology and extend the product line beyond the initial circular-blade design.
Action taken
LeMaitre introduced an expandable valvulotome that superseded the earlier circular-blade models.
Aftermath
The product-generation change became part of the company's continuing development of its original technology.
1986
Commercial launch of the LeMaitre ValvulotomeProduct launchBackground
After established medical-product companies declined to manufacture the invention, George D. LeMaitre founded his own company to bring the valvulotome to vascular surgeons.
Action taken
LeMaitre established LeMaitre Vascular and commercialized the device following its FDA approval.
Aftermath
The valvulotome became the foundation for the company's later vascular-device portfolio.
Sources2 sources
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