About Us, History | Scanlan International

Celebrating
85 Years of Success!

Dennis R. Scanlan, Sr., founded Scanlan International 85 years ago. A well-established promoter/manager of speed skater Bobby McLean and figure skater Sonja Henie, Scanlan was interested in new opportunities to increase their chances of competitive success.

"Our instruments must be the best in the world."

- D.R. Scanlan, Sr.

Through this search, he discovered the unique qualities of Swedish stainless steel (then called non-rustable steel) and how it could benefit not only professional skating, but also the medical device industry.

Scanlan began his surgical instrumentation company in 1921 by introducing stainless steel instrumentation to the United States medical community. Working with renowned surgeons such as the Mayo brothers and Harvey Cushing, he combined new and advanced designs with the finest in materials and craftsmanship. This unique combination and commitment to high quality marked the beginning of a legacy, which would continue to grow and prosper for four generations.

"Scanlan instruments must fit each surgeon's hand."

- D.R. Scanlan, Jr.

Dennis Scanlan, Jr., carried on his father's commitment and enhanced the company by continuing to work with world-renowned surgeons and nurses to create advanced and highly specialized instrumentation, single-use and instrument care products for cardiovascular and vascular surgeons. His dedicated efforts resulted not only in the development of new products, but also new relationships within the medical community. He established the Lillehei Surgical Society and actively supported new evolving medical associations.

Scanlan surgical instruments... created by talented artisans whose skills are handed down from father to son... a continuing tradition of pride.

Timothy M. Scanlan, President and Chief Executive Officer, leads the third and fourth generations of the Scanlan Family into the future. Aggressively pursuing excellence and the commitments of his father and grandfather, he continues to expand the company resources to meet the ever-changing needs of the medical community. Today, Scanlan International continues to handcraft each surgical instrument (using the finest in materials and the most qualified artisans available) for cardiovascular, vascular and thoracic surgeons, as well as for the orthopedic, neuro, micro, and plastic surgical specialties. Our dedication to quality has established rigorous QC programs involving the FDA, GMP (ISO 9001 and EN46001) for the entire line of instrumentation, single-use and instrument care products. Scanlan also offers a unique, in-house design modification and repair facility (at the corporate headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota) to meet the exact needs of surgeons. Before, during and after the sale of each Scanlan product, we are dedicated to providing healthcare professionals and their patients with a standard of excellence and reliability second to none.

"We must remember why we make our products: To improve the quality of life."

- Timothy M. Scanlan

Into the Future

Scanlan International continues to be recognized across the world as the premier manufacturer of the highest quality surgical instruments.

From left to right: Russell Scanlan, Brigid Scanlan Eiynck, Lara Scanlan McDonough, Timothy Scanlan, Joseph Scanlan and Jesse Scanlan

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The History
of Scanlan

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1921 -- Dennis R. Scanlan, Sr., brings "non-rustable" stainless steel from Sweden to the United States for use in the manufacture of ice skate blades and surgical instruments.
1923

1923 -- Dr. William J. Mayo works in collaboration with Dennis R. Scanlan, Sr., to design and manufacture the first Mayo surgical scissors.
1925 -- Dennis R. Scanlan, Sr., makes the first Crile forceps for Dr. George W. Crile at the Cleveland Clinic.

1930

1930 -- Dennis R. Scanlan, Sr., convinces Walter Chrysler to use stainless steel for the roof of the new Chrysler Building in New York.
1935

1935 -- Dennis R. Scanlan, Sr., works in collaboration with Dr. Harvey Cushing to create neurosurgical instrumentation.
1937

1937 -- Dennis R. Scanlan, Sr., invents the portable iron lung for use in the treatment of polio patients.

1946 -- Upon returning from England, where he served as Captain in the 8th Air Force, D.R. Scanlan, Jr., began work with his father to design and manufacture new surgical instruments, as well as single-use and instrument care products.

1950

1950s -- The Scanlans work closely with Dr. C. Walton Lillehei and others at the newly founded heart surgery program of the University of Minnesota.

1961

1961 -- Surg-I-Band™ color coding is invented, beginning a new era of single-use and instrument care products.
1968

1968 -- Tim Scanlan, D.R. Scanlan, Jr.'s son, joins the company and expands the instrument line, setting up a worldwide distribution network.
1970

1970 -- Scanlan International offers the world's medical community its latest invention, the new Aortic Vein Punch, for use in coronary bypass.
1975

1975 -- The new Diamond Dust™ texture is developed to meet the need for an instrument tip surface that would provide surgeons with definite control without trauma to tissue or damage to needles.

1980

1980 -- Scanlan International begins offering complete medical packaging services.
1980

1980 -- Scanlan International develops the world's first single-use aortic vein punch.
1997

1997 -- Working with world-renowned cardiovascular surgeons, Scanlan International begins to develop innovative designs and concepts for minimally-invasive surgical instruments.
1998

1998 -- Scanlan International works in cooperation with industry-leading robotic manufacturers to develop state-of-the-art instrumentation for new robotic surgical systems for use in minimally-invasive heart surgery.