Bear Medical Systems, Inc.

In 1962, doctors from the University of Iowa approached engineers at Bourns to assist in development of an "Augmentor" to help premature infants breathe. The result of this concept was the LS 104 Volume Ventilator, and it went into production in 1964. In 1969, production was moved from Iowa to Riverside, CA and became known as Bourns' Life Systems Division.

During the early 1970's Bourns released their first pressure limited infant ventilator, the BP-200. During this same time, Bourns was also developing a new ventilator for the adult patient, the Bourns Electronic Adult Respirator. This new ventilator was released to market in 1976 as the BEAR 1. In 1979, Bourns sold the Life Systems Division to the Thomas Tillings Corporation; the new company became known as Bear Medical Systems, Inc.

The 1980's saw Bear significantly increase market acceptance and product array; ventilators released in the 1980's included the BEAR 2, the BEAR CUB BP-2001, the BEAR 5, the BEAR 33, and the BEAR 3.

In 1992, Bear released the BEAR 1000 Adult/Pediatric Ventilator and in 1996, they released the BEAR CUB 750vs Infant Ventilator. These two products, along with the BEAR 33, are the ventilators still in active production. Allied Healthcare Products, Inc. acquired Bear Medical Systems, Inc. and Bicore Monitoring Systems, Inc. of Irvine, CA adding the Bicore CP-100 Pulmonary Monitor to the product line.

In 1997, Bear Medical Systems, Inc. and Bicore Monitoring Systems were integrated into one company and were acquired by Thermo Electron Corporation.