Arrow International, Inc. announced the beginning of its operation as a privately-owned company in the textile and medical industries on December 8, 1975. The business, formerly known as the Arrow Products Division of Rockwell International, was purchased by a group of Reading, PA investors.

The Internal Jugular Puncture Kit is first introduced and Arrow International, Inc. becomes the first company to offer sterile catheter kits with matched components for specific procedures. The kit focuses on the safer Seldinger spring-wire guide technique. Sales of the kit take off, especially in teaching hospitals, and it becomes a great success.

In response to physician need for a softer indwelling catheter, the company develops the first polyurethane catheter. Today, polyurethane remains the industry’s most popular material used in central venous catheter design.

The Arrowg+ard® Blue Technology is introduced as the first catheter with broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection against gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The technology, a combination of chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine, is later proven to reduce CRBSI and save money over an unprotected central venous catheter. The technology would go on to be proven safe and effective by 30+ studies.

The first Arrow® PICC is launched. The Arrow® PICC is introduced with all the hallmarks of an Arrow® Central Line: the staggered exit sites and the BlueFlexTip® Feature.

The Arrowg+ard Blue Plus® Catheter, the Arrow® Brand’s second-generation antimicrobial catheter technology, receives FDA clearance. This next generation antimicrobial catheter technology maintains the combination of chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine on the catheter while adding intra-luminal antimicrobial protection.

After more than two decades of testing, QuikClot is brought to market by Z-Medical LLC.

Teleflex introduces the first pressure injectable Arrow™ CVC. With the increasing trend of medical imaging using contrast, the added feature makes the Arrow™ CVC more functional for hospitals.

Teleflex Incorporated purchases Arrow International. The Arrow™ Brand vascular access products become one of the many trusted brands in the Teleflex portfolio.

Teleflex introduces the first broad spectrum antimicrobial PICC, the Arrowg+ard Blue Advance™ PICC. Arrowg+ard Blue Advance™ Protection is a chlorhexidine treatment on catheters that provides antimicrobial protection both intra and extraluminally. In 2012, the Arrowg+ard Blue Advance™ PICC was also cleared by the FDA for antithrombogenic protection to help protect against common complications of vessel thrombosis, fibrin sheath and catheter occlusion.

Teleflex acquires Vidacare, the maker of the intraosseous vascular access device. The EZ-IO™ Intraosseous Vascular Access System expands the Arrow™ Brand vascular access offering. The EZ-IO™ System provides immediate vascular access through the bone for the delivery of essential medications and fluids.

Teleflex acquires Z-Medica and strengthens its Emergency Medicine business and critical care portfolio across the globe.