History

A history that inspires.

It all started with a simple question: What if...?

What if there was a better way to do a surgical procedure? What if we could improve patient lives? What if we could change the way surgery was done forever? This is exactly what Dr. J. Barry McKernan accomplished in 1988 when he inserted a laparoscope into a patient’s abdomen and removed their gall bladder — all by only making a 10mm incision. The patient recovered in days, rather than weeks or months. It was the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed in the U.S. and it was revolutionary. The minimally invasive movement was born. And, shortly after, so was our company.

At Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., we take pride in this heritage. We were founded on innovation and it continues to inspire us to work smarter, think differently and never be afraid to re-imagine the world of surgery by asking the one question that started it all. What if...?