our mission

To deliver life-saving neuro solutions and support you can count on.

our history

At Codman, we recognize the profound influence our past imparts on our present. Through the years, we have built a reputation for high quality, innovative product solutions, exhibiting along the way solid growth in our sales, employee base and, most importantly, the satisfaction of customers around the world.

In 1838, with the introduction of his Ether Pocket Cupping Instrument, Thomas Codman established a manufacturing business in medical and surgical devices in Boston, Massachusetts. Nearly 175 years later, Codman continues to pursue the same principles upon which it was founded: quality, innovation and excellence.

In 1860, the Company introduced its General Surgery and Amputation Set, designed to be used on the battlefield by Army surgeons during the Civil War.

In 1911, Codman began a long and productive relationship with Harvey Cushing, MD, of Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now Brigham & Women’s Hospital), Boston, MA, the ‘father of neurosurgery.’ Collaborations with Dr. Cushing resulted in the design and manufacture of silver clip devices used to control blood flow in the brain, and marked the beginning of a history of collaborating with surgeons from prominent institutions that continues to this day.

In 1964, Codman & Shurtleff, Inc. joined the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies when it was acquired by Ethicon, Inc. Two years later, Codman became a freestanding Johnson & Johnson subsidiary.

In 1974, in collaboration with I.M. Greenberg, MD, of New York, Codman released the GREENBERG Universal Retractor. This unique device was specifically designed for neurosurgery due to its ability to delicately retract organ tissue.

In 1979, in collaboration with John Bookwalter, MD, of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, VT, Codman released the BOOKWALTER Table Mounted Retractor System. This system revolutionized the world of general surgery as it allowed a device to replace a surgical assist in the responsibility of abdominal retraction.

From 1980 to 2008, Codman brought many ‘firsts’ to the neurosurgical community, including the first steerable endoscope and the first programmable shunt in the U.S. In 1994, the Company moved to its present corporate headquarters in Raynham, Massachusetts.

In 2008 and 2010, Codman’s acquisitions of two leading neurovascular businesses – Cordis Neurovascular and Micrus Endovascular, respectively – further strengthened our product offerings. In addition to being a global leader in developing and manufacturing diagnostic and therapeutic products for the treatment of neurological disorders, Codman now has one of the broadest portfolios and deepest pipelines in the worldwide neurovascular industry.

Our strong leadership position within the industry has been built on our commitment to product innovations that provide solutions to patients. Similarly, our effectiveness in the marketplace depends on meeting our customers’ needs, the needs of surgeons, operating room nurses, hospital administrators, and other healthcare professionals and the patients they treat. The Codman organization is committed to developing and delivering solutions for unmet neurological and neurovascular needs worldwide.

CODMAN sales representatives

Our effectiveness in the marketplace depends upon close contact with the surgical community we serve: surgeons, physicians, operating room nurses and managers, lab technicians, hospital administrators, and other health care professionals are routinely called on by the Company’s field sales representatives and distributor sales representatives. In many ways, the Codman sales representative is “Codman” to our customers. These individuals receive extensive in-house and field training in all aspects of product knowledge, professional selling skills and customer needs. Codman relies on its sales representatives to provide that vital link between opportunity and a satisfied customer. Face-to-face selling is today and has been through the years the single most important means of providing ultimate customer service.

corporate marketing programs

To provide programs to meet the many rapidly changing needs of our customers, Codman works with the Johnson & Johnson Hospital Services Company. Providing state-of-the-art technical support in product procurement, distributions, and accounts receivable programs, hospital customers are able to utilize one stop shopping/delivery through GATEWAY, the medical device online procurement system serving Johnson & Johnson companies. Additionally, Codman supports the corporate marketing programs of Johnson & Johnson Hospital Services with its largest national customers, the group hospital purchasing accounts.

community responsibility

As part of the DePuy Family of Companies within Johnson & Johnson, Codman associates take very seriously our responsibility to serve our communities.

Working with civic and governmental officials, Codman is an active partner in working for a better community. As a good corporate neighbor, our civic involvement includes support of local and national organizations that not only improve but even save people’s lives. In addition, through humanitarian programs, our product donations benefit patients around the world.

Through volunteer activities in which many of our associates participate, financial contributions and matching grants, as well as product donations, Codman strives to be a good neighbor, a responsible corporate citizen and a leader in fulfilling our corporate social responsibilities.