Thoratec Corporation

Thoratec Corporation (Thoratec) is a manufacturer of circulatory support products for use by patients with heart failure (HF). The Company develops, manufactures and markets products that are used by physicians and hospitals for cardiac assist, vascular and diagnostic applications. Thoratec operates in two business segments: Cardiovascular and International Technidyne Corporation (ITC), a wholly owned subsidiary. The Cardiovascular segment develops, manufactures and markets medical devices used for mechanical circulatory support (MCS). ITC designs, develops, manufactures and markets point-of-care diagnostic test systems and incision products. Cardiac assist and vascular graft products represented 61% of Thoratec's product sales during the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007, (fiscal 2007). Point-of-care blood diagnostics test systems and services and incision products amounted to 39% of the Company's total product sales in 2007.