“A LIVING LEGEND IN MEDICINE”
DR. MANNY VILLAFAÑA
FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN & CEO OF MEDICAL 21
A Strong History of Innovation and Creating Value
Across four major programs, innovations founded or co-invented by Dr. Villafaña progressed from breakthrough R&D to market leadership and were ultimately acquired — often multiple times — culminating in multi-billion dollar outcomes. Medical 21 continues this lineage with next-generation vascular graft technology aimed to perform at the forefront of Dr. Villafaña’s primary cardiac devices.
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Lithium Powered Pacemaker
A technology that has become the standard for cardiac devices due to its ability to provide a compact, reliable and long-lasting energy supply. The lithium-iodide pacemaker uses a solid-state battery where lithium combines with iodine to produce energy.
These hermetically sealed, primary cells can power a pacemaker for up to a decade or longer, far exceeding previous battery technologies.
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St. Jude Heart Valve
A mechanical, bileaflet heart valve made from durable, blood-repelling pyrolytic carbon that became the "gold standard" for heart valve replacements after its first implantation in 1977.
Designed with low-profile, central-flow characteristics to provide favorable blood flow, the valve was a significant advancement in cardiac prostheses and has been used in millions of patients worldwide.
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ATS Heart Valve
A bileaflet mechanical valve, now a part of Medtronic, that features a unique Open Pivot design where the pivot is located within the orifice, minimizing the valve’s height and providing durability.
Its leaflets pivot on protruding spheres, creating a larger orifice and reducing blood stagnation. This design contributes to favorable safety and performance outcomes, thereby improving the patient’s quality of life.
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Nitinol Vascular Support
A nickel-titanum alloy known for its super elasticity and shape memory properties. These devices are used to treat narrowed or blocked arteries and restore blood flow.
Key benefits of nitinol include its flexibility, allowing for navigation through tortuous vessels and to adapt to constant body movement. It’s biocompatibility and corrosion resistance make it a reliable material for implants and progress in modern medicine.
Co-Inventor
First Lithium Powered Pacemaker
CUMULATIVE OUTCOME:
Boston Scientific Acquires Guidant (2006), Figures Adjusted For Inflation$50B+
St. Jude Heart Valve & St. Jude Medical Inc.
Co-Developer & Founder
CUMULATIVE OUTCOME:
Abbott Acquires St. Jude Medical (2017), Figures Adjusted For Inflation$50B+
ATS Heart Valve & ATS Medical Inc.
Co-Inventor & Founder
CUMULATIVE OUTCOME:
Medtronic Acquires ATS Medical (2010), , Figures Adjusted For Inflation$1.1B+
Nitinol Support (Vascular Graft Tech Lineage)
Co-Inventor
CUMULATIVE OUTCOME:
Medical 21 In Development$TBD
A History Of Innovation
THE DEFINITION OF AN AMERICAN DREAM
Raised in the South Bronx, NY by Puerto Rican immigrant parents, Manny’s story is one of perseverance and limitless work ethic. After the early passing of his father and brothers, Manny was raised solely by his mother. He started working at the Kips Bay Boys’ & Girls’ Club at the age of nine, with all his earnings going to helping his mother pay for their home and his school.
With nothing but a high school diploma and an unwavering determination for a brighter future,
Manny began his career at Picker International in 1964 as a sales representative and quickly
rose to handling high-profile accounts like Medtronic.
By 1967, he was working for Medtronic as its first international sales administrator for the cardiac pacemaker. Manny was in the room with surgeons who implanted pacemakers for the first time, teaching doctors and surgeons about the pacemaker technology. After moving to Argentina a few years later, he expanded Medtronic’s market size substantially.
Having lost his mother, father, and brothers to heart disease, advancing cardiac devices and
saving as many lives as possible remains his driving force for innovation and success.
