Microlife Corporation
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 | |
| Industry | Medical diagnostics |
|---|---|
| Founded | Taipei, Taiwan (1981) |
| Headquarters | |
| Products | Blood Pressure Monitors Digital Thermometers Peak Flow Meter Heat Therapy Aids Blood Glucose Management Devices Weight Management Devices |
| Website | www |
Microlife Corporation (simplified Chinese: 百略医学科技股份有限公司; traditional Chinese: 百略醫學科技股份有限公司; pinyin: Bǎi lüè yīxué kējì gǔfèn yǒuxiàn gōngsī) is a medical diagnostics company that specializes in the development and manufacture of blood pressure monitors,[1] digital thermometers,[2] Peak Flow Meters,[3][4] heat therapy aids, blood glucose management devices and weight management devices. Microlife is currently the world's largest manufacturer of digital medical thermometers[4] and a major provider of electronic blood pressure monitoring devices.[5] The company maintains international divisions throughout the world.[3]
Microlife was founded in Taipei, Taiwan in 1981.[3] It was known as the "Micro Idea Instruments Co." upon its founding.[3] Its first product was a digital medical thermometer and, in 1985. The company added blood pressure monitors to their product lines in 1995.[2] A branch office was opened in Switzerland in 1996,[6] and the first office in the United States was opened the following year.[3] In 2002, Microlife acquired Maine-based Biddeford Blankets.[7] Four years later, it acquired the Golden, Colorado-based medical diagnostic equipment manufacturer, HealtheTech.[8]
In 2009, the company became the first medical diagnostics manufacturer to produce a blood pressure monitor that detected both hypertension and atrial fibrillation (both of which are warning signs for stroke).[6] the firm entered into a partnership with PharmaSmart in 2012 in an effort to expand their reach in the United States.[9]
The company teamed up with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a cost-effective blood pressure monitoring device (Microlife CRADLE VSA) designed for use in low- and middle-income countries. It has been used in countries like Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania.[10] Advertising activities of the Microlife company regarding slogans, e.g. "Recommended by doctors" or "Swiss products" violated the ethics of advertising, which was confirmed by, among others Advertising Council at a meeting of the advertising committee on February 11, 2015.[11][12]
Products
Microlife's medical devices are approved for hospital use.[citation needed] In addition to blood pressure management devices, the company also makes devices for fever management, asthma management, flexible heating, weight management and blood glucose management.[citation needed]