April 29 will officially be known as “Medtronic Day” in Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz shared in a proclamation this morning.

The honorary day coincides with the 75^th anniversary of the founding of Medtronic, now the world’s leading medical device maker. Medtronic was founded as a medical electronics repair business in a Northeast Minneapolis garage on April 29, 1949, by Earl Bakken and his brother-in-law Palmer Hermundslie.

Minnesota origins

The first Medtronic product, a battery-operated pacemaker, originated from a large power outage in Minneapolis on Halloween of 1957.

At the time, pacemakers used by open-heart surgery patients were bulky boxes plugged into electrical outlets. Concerned for his patients after the power outage, pioneering University of Minnesota heart surgeon Dr. C. Walton Lillehei asked Bakken if he could create a battery-operated version instead.

Within four weeks, Bakken did just that, and the revolutionary device began saving lives. Hermundslie, an accomplished pilot, also played an important role — flying all over the United States delivering pacemakers to customers.

Global expansion

The invention of the battery-powered pacemaker served as the foundation of the Medtronic Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. Today, the company offers technologies and therapies for 70 health conditions and serves more than 74 million patients worldwide each year.

With operational headquarters, key manufacturing facilities, and 10,000 employees across the Twin Cities area, Minnesota remains a key hub of the organization. And Medtronic is continuing to build on its role in the state, leading the effort to establish Minnesota as a global medtech hub with Minnesota Medtech 3.0.

“We’re truly honored to have received this recognition from the state of Minnesota and Governor Walz,” said Geoff Martha, Medtronic chairman and chief executive officer. “For 75 years, the Twin Cities have served as the ideal backdrop for our company’s transformative growth. Today, we reflect on the power of our Mission and the profound impact we’ve had on patients worldwide. And we honor the dedicated people who have put that Mission to work as we continue to accelerate innovation to create an even brighter future for generations to come.”

About Medtronic

Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across more than 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow Medtronic on LinkedIn.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

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