When faced with the difficulties of their daughter's heart disease, Mr. and Mrs. Tsutsui wanted to save her life in anyway they could. So, they started learning all they could about the problem by reading medical journals, joining medical associations, and so forth. They were despondent though to find that one crucial piece of medical equipment, called a catheter, needed improvement and decided to start research into this device by themselves in a corner of the vinyl plastic factory they operated.
At that time, the IABP1 balloon catheters manufactured overseas were not compatible in size to the physique of Japanese people, so there were complications and other problems, such as balloon rupture.
The Tsutsuis founded Tokai Medical Products in 1981 and used their previous experience in plastic molding technology and the results of their own research to develop Japan's first IABP1 balloon catheter, one that matched the physique of the Japanese. President Tsutsui says, "At that time we even tried to develop an artificial heart, but were unsuccessful. However, it was the research at that time which gave us the impetus to develop the catheter."
In the development of the catheter, the Tsutsuis set out to find the ultimate design and materials for the tip for the balloon catheter so that it would enter the blood vessel easier. They also made other major changes to the material and design in order to further improve its superior performance and strength. The result was a product that matched the physique of the Japanese and offered a low 0.025% rate of rupture trouble. It could be used to treat patients with advanced arteriosclerosis and those showing serious symptoms of this problem as well as for children with heart disease.

While most of the products of Tokai Medical Products, such as the IABP balloon catheter and the PTCA2 balloon catheter, have been developed for the circulatory system, particularly the heart, there is a third product called the PTA3 balloon catheter for patients who have arteriovenous occlusion. In particular, as this catheter can be used on patients undergoing dialysis who are also being treated for occlusions, it took the business operations of the company into the realm of dialysis. Now, Tokai Medical Products is also diligently developing the PTCA balloon catheter which is capable of delivering drugs to lesion, a micro-catheter that can be used for treating cancer and other such diseases, and a brain catheter that can be effectively used in regions of the brain.

To save more lives. For this reason, Tokai Medical Products continues its development.

Notes:
1. IABP (Intra-aortic Balloon Pump): A method for helping the operation of the heart when there is myocardial infarction or other related diseases.
2. PTCA (Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty): A method of treating occluded blood vessels, particularly the coronary arteries.
3. PTA (Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty): A method of treating occluded blood vessels other than the coronary arteries.