TERUMO
A Japanese medical technology company producing cardiovascular, blood-management, hospital-care, and diabetes-related devices.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Terumo Corporation is a Japanese medical technology company whose business developed from a domestic thermometer manufacturer into a diversified supplier of medical devices and systems. It was established in 1921 as Red Line Thermometer Corporation by medical scientists led by Dr. Kitasato Shibasaburō. The company's first product was Jintan Taionkei, described as the first Japanese-made thermometer available for sale. This initial focus on basic clinical equipment provided the foundation for a broader medical-device business. Over time, Terumo expanded beyond thermometers into disposable medical products, hospital equipment, cardiovascular intervention, blood collection and processing, infusion, diabetes care, and cell-therapy technologies. Its portfolio includes products used in hospitals, blood centers, laboratories, interventional cardiology, vascular surgery, extracorporeal circulation, and home or ambulatory care. The company is therefore positioned less as a consumer healthcare label than as a business-to-business medical technology provider whose products are integrated into clinical procedures and healthcare infrastructure. Terumo began international expansion with the opening of its first overseas office in the United States in 1971. It subsequently developed subsidiaries and operating activities across Europe, South America, China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, and Mexico. Its international growth combined geographic expansion with acquisitions and partnerships intended to add specialized technologies, manufacturing capacity, and access to clinical markets. The company's principal areas have been organized around three broad activities: Cardiac and Vascular, Blood Management, and General Hospital. Cardiac and Vascular products include catheters, intravascular ultrasound systems, drug-eluting stents, angiographic devices, endovascular coils, heart-lung machines, oxygenators, and artificial vascular grafts. Blood Management products include blood bags, automated collection and component-processing systems, pathogen-reduction technologies, therapeutic apheresis systems, and cell-expansion systems. General Hospital products include intravenous catheters, infusion sets, syringe pumps, blood-glucose monitoring products, lancing devices, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis systems, thermometers, and blood-pressure monitors. Acquisitions have been central to Terumo's move into higher-specialty fields. The company acquired 3M's cardiovascular division in 1999 and created Terumo Cardiovascular Systems in the United States. It expanded into vascular grafts through the acquisition of Vascutek in 2002, entered cerebral aneurysm treatment through MicroVention in 2006, and broadened its blood and cellular-therapy capabilities through the acquisition of CaridianBCT in 2011. The CaridianBCT transaction was described as the largest acquisition by a Japanese medical-equipment maker at the time. Other acquisitions added home oxygen, tissue heart valves, radiotherapy-related interventional systems, point-of-care cell therapy, and minimally invasive sheath technologies. Terumo's international manufacturing and subsidiary network also supports its role in blood-management supply chains. Terumo Penpol in India is identified as a major blood-bag manufacturer and supplies products to more than 82 countries. In the aortic field, the combination of Bolton Medical and Vascutek activities led to the formation of Terumo Aortic in 2018, with a focus on expanding treatment options for aortic disease. The brand's positioning is based on clinical reliability, procedural integration, and specialized medical engineering rather than mass-market recognition. Its products are sold and used through hospitals, blood centers, physicians, laboratories, and other healthcare institutions. Terumo remains an active global medical-device company, although the supplied reference material does not establish a current executive roster, current ownership details, or a corporate website URL.
History
Terumo's history began in Japan in 1921, when a group of medical scientists led by Dr. Kitasato Shibasaburō established Red Line Thermometer Corporation. The company's early purpose was to manufacture medical thermometers domestically. Its first product, Jintan Taionkei, was presented as the first Japanese-made thermometer available for sale, giving the enterprise an early role in Japan's development of locally produced clinical instruments. The business later broadened its scope from thermometers into medical disposables and hospital equipment. This expansion placed Terumo in markets where reliability, sterilization, and compatibility with clinical workflows were central purchasing requirements. The company subsequently developed products for intravenous therapy, infusion, glucose monitoring, blood-pressure measurement, dialysis, blood collection, blood processing, and other forms of routine and specialist care. Terumo's first major step toward internationalization came in 1971, when it opened an office in the United States. It also established European operations during the same period and later developed subsidiaries or commercial activities in South America, China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, and Mexico. International growth allowed Terumo to combine Japanese manufacturing and engineering capabilities with local sales, service, and production networks. A significant part of the company's transformation came through acquisitions. In 1999, Terumo acquired the cardiovascular division of 3M Company and formed Terumo Cardiovascular Systems in the United States. The transaction strengthened its position in cardiovascular surgery and extracorporeal circulation. In the same year, Terumo entered a joint venture with India's Penpol, later associated with Terumo's blood-bag manufacturing presence in India. In 2001, the company acquired the home oxygen division of Sumitomo Bakelite and established Terumo Medical Care, while also bringing Ikiken into its Japanese corporate structure. The 2002 acquisition of Vascutek in the United Kingdom expanded Terumo's vascular-graft business. In 2006, the purchase of MicroVention added endovascular coils for cerebral aneurysm treatment and gave Terumo a stronger presence in neurovascular intervention. The company acquired the tissue heart-valve division of Kohler Chemine in 2007, adding to its vascular-prosthesis activities. In 2008, Clinical Supply became a Terumo subsidiary, enhancing interventional systems related to radiotherapy. Terumo's largest reported expansion in the supplied historical material occurred in March 2011, when it acquired CaridianBCT of the United States for approximately $2.6 billion. The deal was described as the largest acquisition by a Japanese medical-equipment company at the time and strengthened Terumo's blood-management platform. During the same year, Terumo also acquired Harvest Technologies, which specialized in point-of-care cell therapy, and Onset Medical, whose sheath technology was designed for multiple minimally invasive applications. The company continued to consolidate and extend its vascular portfolio. In 2018, following the acquisition of Bolton Medical, the combination of Bolton Medical and Vascutek activities resulted in Terumo Aortic. The new company focused on expanding treatment options for aortic disease. Terumo's operating model consequently evolved into a combination of internally developed products, specialized subsidiaries, acquired technologies, and regional manufacturing operations. By the period described in the reference material, Terumo was organized around Cardiac and Vascular, Blood Management, and General Hospital businesses. Its products served hospitals, blood centers, laboratories, physicians, and patients requiring ongoing care. Terumo Penpol in India was identified as a major blood-bag manufacturer supplying more than 82 countries, illustrating the global reach of its blood-management operations. Terumo remained an active medical-device company with a portfolio spanning basic hospital consumables, advanced cardiovascular intervention, vascular surgery, blood processing, cell therapy, and related clinical technologies.
- 2018
Terumo Aortic is formed
[1]Following the acquisition of Bolton Medical, the combination with Vascutek activities created Terumo Aortic, focused on aortic treatment options.
- 2011
CaridianBCT is acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthened Terumo's blood-management and blood-processing activities.
- 2006
MicroVention is acquired
[1]The transaction added endovascular coils for cerebral aneurysm treatment.
- 2002
Vascutek is acquired
[1]The United Kingdom-based vascular-device company became part of Terumo's expanding cardiovascular business.
- 1999
3M cardiovascular division is acquired
[1]Terumo acquired 3M's cardiovascular division and established Terumo Cardiovascular Systems in the United States.
- 1971
First overseas office opens in the United States
[1]The United States office marked the beginning of Terumo's formal overseas expansion.
- 1921
Red Line Thermometer Corporation is founded
[1]A group of medical scientists led by Dr. Kitasato Shibasaburō established the company in Japan to produce medical thermometers.
- 1921
Jintan Taionkei enters the market
[1]Terumo's first product was a domestically made thermometer described as the first Japanese-made thermometer available for sale.
Products and positioning
A high-end, clinically oriented medical technology brand serving hospitals, blood centers, laboratories, and specialist physicians.
Cardiovascular devices
Cardiac and vascular intervention systems
This area includes intravascular ultrasound systems, coronary-treatment catheters, drug-eluting stents, angiographic catheters, endovascular coils, and other devices used in minimally invasive cardiovascular and vascular procedures. The portfolio reflects Terumo's expansion from general medical equipment into specialist intervention and includes technologies for coronary disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebral aneurysm treatment.
Cardiopulmonary support
Heart-lung machines and oxygenators
Terumo produces heart-lung machines and oxygenators used to support circulation and oxygen exchange during cardiac surgery and other extracorporeal procedures. The listed portfolio includes oxygenators with integrated arterial filters, linking the devices to the company's cardiovascular-surgery and hospital-equipment activities.
Vascular surgery
Vascular grafts and aortic devices
Artificial vascular grafts and related aortic products form a specialist segment developed through Terumo's ownership of Vascutek and the creation of Terumo Aortic. These products are intended for vascular reconstruction and the treatment of aortic disease, extending Terumo's activities beyond catheter-based intervention.
Blood management
Blood collection and processing systems
The blood-management portfolio includes automated blood-collection equipment, automated blood-component processing devices, blood bags with leukocyte-reduction filters, pathogen-reduction systems, and therapeutic apheresis equipment. These products support blood centers and clinical services involved in collection, preparation, storage, and treatment of blood components.
Cell therapy
Cell expansion and cell-therapy systems
Terumo's cell-related activities include cell-expansion systems and point-of-care cell-therapy technologies. The business was reinforced by the acquisition of Harvest Technologies in 2011 and complements Terumo's broader blood-processing and regenerative-medicine capabilities.
General hospital equipment
Hospital infusion and intravenous products
General Hospital products include intravenous catheters, infusion sets, and syringe pumps. These products are used to administer fluids and medicines and to support routine hospital care. They represent Terumo's continuing presence in high-volume clinical consumables and infusion infrastructure.
Diabetes care
Diabetes and home-care products
The listed diabetes-care range includes blood-glucose monitoring systems and lancing devices for obtaining blood samples. Terumo has also operated in home-care areas such as continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and home oxygen through related business activities.
Diagnostic and monitoring devices · 1921
Thermometers and blood-pressure monitors
Thermometers and blood-pressure monitors connect Terumo's current hospital and home-care portfolio with its original thermometer business. The company began with Jintan Taionkei and later retained basic diagnostic and monitoring devices alongside its more specialized cardiovascular and blood-management systems.
Controversies
2018
Ethylene oxide emissions investigation at Terumo BCT
A 2018 investigation examined atmospheric releases of ethylene oxide, a sterilizing agent used for blood diagnostic and treatment devices, from Terumo BCT's Lakewood, Colorado facility. The investigation reported no increased cancer risk for people in the surrounding neighborhood. The United States Environmental Protection Agency continued to permit annual releases of up to 4,500 kilograms, while Terumo stated that its actual annual release was about 1,100 kilograms and that it was working to reduce emissions.
Brand decisions
2018
Create Terumo AorticStrategyBackground
Terumo sought to combine its acquired vascular-graft activities and broaden treatment options for aortic disease.
Action taken
After acquiring Bolton Medical, Terumo combined the business with Vascutek activities to form Terumo Aortic.
Aftermath
The new company focused on expanding aortic treatment options within Terumo's vascular portfolio.
2011
Acquire CaridianBCTM&ABackground
Terumo aimed to build scale and capability in blood management and related medical technologies.
Action taken
The company acquired United States medical-device maker CaridianBCT.
Aftermath
The transaction materially expanded Terumo's blood-processing and blood-management platform and was described as the largest acquisition by a Japanese medical-equipment maker at that time.
Acquisition value. Approximately US$2.6 billion (March 2011)
2006
Enter cerebral aneurysm treatment through MicroVentionM&ABackground
Terumo identified endovascular treatment as a new specialist field for portfolio expansion.
Action taken
Terumo acquired MicroVention, an American medical-device company.
Aftermath
The acquisition added endovascular coils used in the treatment of cerebral aneurysms.
1999
Acquire 3M's cardiovascular divisionM&ABackground
Terumo sought to strengthen its cardiovascular business and international presence.
Action taken
The company acquired 3M Company's cardiovascular division and established Terumo Cardiovascular Systems in the United States.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Terumo's cardiovascular-surgery and extracorporeal-circulation activities in the United States.
Recent events
- 2025
Terumo completes acquisition of OrganOx[2]
M&A · Other
Terumo completed the purchase of all outstanding shares of British organ-preservation company OrganOx, making it a wholly owned subsidiary and entering the organ-transplantation field.
- 2025
Terumo announces acquisition of OrganOx to enter organ transplantation[3]
M&A
The proposed acquisition was presented as a long-term growth initiative centered on organ-preservation devices and solutions for transplantation.
- 2025
Terumo plans German pharmaceutical contract-manufacturing site[4]
M&A
Terumo announced the planned acquisition of a German manufacturing facility from WuXi Biologics to establish an overseas pharmaceutical contract-development and manufacturing base.
- 2025
Terumo launches the Our Promise brand direction[5]
Campaign · Other
Terumo introduced a new brand-video and corporate direction centered on an enduring promise to patients and collaboration with healthcare professionals.
- 2024
Hikaru Samejima appointed president and CEO[6]
Leadership change
Terumo announced that Hikaru Samejima would succeed Shinjiro Sato as president and CEO, with the transition taking effect in April 2024 and representative-director status following shareholder approval.
- 2011
Terumo completes acquisition of CaridianBCT[1]
M&A
Terumo bought the United States medical-device company CaridianBCT, adding blood-management and related technologies in a transaction described as the largest acquisition by a Japanese medical-equipment maker at that time.
- 2006
Terumo acquires MicroVention[1]
M&A
The acquisition brought Terumo into endovascular-coil treatment for cerebral aneurysms.
- 2002
Terumo acquires Vascutek[1]
M&A
The acquisition of the United Kingdom-based Vascutek expanded Terumo's vascular-device and graft activities.
- 1999
Terumo acquires 3M's cardiovascular division[1]
M&A
Terumo acquired 3M Company's cardiovascular division and established Terumo Cardiovascular Systems in the United States.
- 1971
Terumo opens its first overseas office in the United States[1]
Other
The company began formal international expansion by opening its first overseas office in the United States.
Sources9 sources
- 1Terumoen.wikipedia.org
- 2Terumo completes acquisition of OrganOxterumo.co.jp
- 3Terumo announces acquisition of OrganOx to enter organ transplantationnikkei.com
- 4Terumo plans German pharmaceutical contract-manufacturing sitenikkei.com
- 5Terumo launches the Our Promise brand directionterumo.co.jp
- 6Hikaru Samejima appointed president and CEOnikkei.com
- 7IceCure Expands Strategic Collaboration with Terumo: New Commercial Distribution Agreement Potentially Valued at over $7.0 Millionprnewswire.com
- 8IceCure Medical Reports Financial Results for the First Half of 2021 and Recent Operating Highlightsprnewswire.com
- 9Terumo Acquires Aortica Corporation to Further Bolster Its Vascular Graft Portfolio - Endovascular Todayevtoday.com
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