Pioneering Cardiovascular Surgeon Thomas J. Fogarty Dies at 91

Fogarty was remembered as a visionary who developed groundbreaking medical devices and founded successful companies.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Thomas J. Fogarty, MD, a pioneering cardiovascular surgeon who developed the Fogarty catheter and held nearly 200 patents, died on December 28 at his home in Los Altos, California, at the age of 91. Fogarty was celebrated for his innovations that transformed vascular surgery, including the Fogarty catheter, the Hancock tissue heart valve, and the AneuRx endovascular stent graft. He also founded several successful medical device companies and a nonprofit to support early-stage innovators.

Why it matters

Fogarty's innovations had a profound impact on the field of cardiovascular medicine, making procedures less invasive and risky for patients. His entrepreneurial spirit also led to the creation of companies and a nonprofit that continue to support medical innovation. His passing marks the end of an era for a true visionary in the field of surgery.

The details

Fogarty developed the Fogarty catheter, a flexible catheter with an inflatable balloon at the tip, while still in medical school. The device allowed surgeons to remove arterial blood clots through a small incision, replacing the previous open surgical methods. He also co-invented the Hancock tissue heart valve and helped pioneer the AneuRx endovascular stent graft. Over his career, Fogarty accumulated nearly 200 patents for medical devices and tools.

  • Fogarty was born on February 25, 1934, in Cincinnati.
  • In February 1963, Fogarty's technique to remove arterial blood clots using a balloon catheter was published in the journal Surgery, Gynecology & Obstetrics.
  • Fogarty founded Fogarty Engineering, Inc. in 1980 to develop prototypes and innovations for balloon catheters and other devices.
  • In 1993, Fogarty co-founded the venture capital firm Three Arch Partners.
  • Fogarty Innovation, a nonprofit to support early-stage medical device and health technology developers, was founded in 2007 and is still active today.

The players

Thomas J. Fogarty, MD

A pioneering cardiovascular surgeon who developed groundbreaking medical devices, including the Fogarty catheter, and founded several successful companies.

Vincent Gaudiani, MD

A cardiovascular surgeon at El Camino Health in Mountain View, California, and a longtime friend and colleague of Fogarty.

Tom Fogarty, Jr.

Fogarty's oldest child, who described his father's innovative mindset from a young age.

John J. Cranley, MD

A vascular surgeon who mentored the young Fogarty and helped spark his passion for medicine.

Michael Martella

A winemaker who co-founded the Thomas Fogarty Winery with Fogarty in 1981.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Tom was adept at figuring out the tools we all needed. He didn't just rely on what had existed: He imagined new tools, how they might work, and who could help make them real.”

— Vincent Gaudiani, Cardiovascular Surgeon, El Camino Health (Medscape)

“He had an ability to see anything — an object, a challenge, any scenario — from multiple perspectives at once. It wasn't like he would compare and contrast these perspectives consciously. It was more like an ability to conceptualize in 3D. That was his superpower.”

— Tom Fogarty, Jr. (Medscape)

What’s next

The Thomas J. Fogarty Innovation Prize, a $100,000 award given by Fogarty Innovation to support early-stage medical device and health technology developers, will continue to be awarded in Fogarty's honor.

The takeaway

Thomas J. Fogarty's legacy as a pioneering cardiovascular surgeon and prolific inventor will live on through the medical devices and companies he created, as well as the next generation of innovators he inspired and supported through his nonprofit organization.