From 1997 to 1999 World Medical Mfg. Corp. grew from under 50 employees to over 2000 with the introduction of the TALENT stent graft and April of 1998 merger with Arterial Vascular Engineering, Inc. of Santa Rosa, CA. In early 1999 Medtronic, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota completed an acquisition of the merged companies valued at $3.7 billion in stock and $600 million cash. This video was created by Howard Leonhardt the Founder and CEO of World Medical Mfg. Corporation. The main purpose was to use it as a recruiting tool for new people to join the team as TALENT (Taheri-Leonhardt) stent graft and other peripheral vascular product sales for AVE World Medical were expected to grow from $20 million to $800 million following FDA approval (which is what did occur). The TALENT stent graft (now renamed Valiant) still today remains the No. 1 selling stent graft worldwide. The Leonhardt Ventures' World Medical Team also developed and patented in that time period the first stem cell delivery catheters - PRO-CELL and the first PERCUTANEOUS HEART VALVE.
