A look at Cook.

WHAT STARTED OUT AS a small business making such things as needles and catheters has blossomed into a large, private enterprise involved in everything from medical devices and pharmaceuticals to real-estate development, travel services, even the bed-and-breakfast business.

Following are the major units linked to the Cook Group:

Cook Inc.

Launched in Bill and Gayle Cook's spare bedroom in 1963, Bloomington-based Cook Inc. makes more than 50,000 individual products and sells them around the world. It's a leading maker of catheters, wire guides, introducer needles and sheaths, stents and stent grafts, and a variety of other minimally invasive devices. The company's Diagnostic and Interventional Products Division serves cardiologists, radiologists, endovascular specialists, surgeons and others who perform percutaneous entry procedures--surgical procedures that involve access through needles and catheters rather than open Incisions. Cook Critical Care serves those involved in emergency medicine and critical care, while Cook Surgical markets medical biomaterials.

Cook Urological Inc, Based in Spencer, Cook Urological takes minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic device technologies that have already proven themselves in cardiology and radiology uses and employs them in urological health care. Its products reduce patient trauma by eliminating open surgeries and are recognized for innovation in stone management, diagnostic and therapeutic applications for the urinary system, and treatment of urinary incontinence using biomaterials. In addition, the company's Cook OB/GYN division targets products at assisted reproduction, urogynecology and related needs.

MED Institute Inc.

MED Institute was established in West Lafayette to help Cook companies identify and develop new medical-product concepts. Its activities include new product identification, prototype development, testing, clinical trial management and data analysis, education for the medical community and preparation of regulatory submissions.

Cook Biotech Inc.

Also based in West Lafayette, Cook Biotech develops and manufactures commercial biomaterials from natural tissue sources for use in medical products. The company has developed several product families using biomaterial made from small intestinal submucosa (SIS) from pigs. Among other things, the products are used as a wound dressing or to surgically repair soft tissues.

Wilson-Cook Medical Inc.

This North Carolina-based Cook Group company makes products for gastrointestinal endoscopy It works closely with prominent gastroenterologists and has become a worldwide leader in the design, development and production of endoscopic accessories.

Cook Vascular Inc.

This Pennsylvania-based unit originally joined the Cook Group as Cook Pacemaker Corp. with a focus on cardiac rhythm management and vascular-access product development and distribution.

The company revised its business objectives toward the emerging market in vascular devices in 1996, when it changed its name to Cook Vascular. Devices developed for this expanded market include a Doppler probe and monitor for short-term invasive monitoring of blood flow through grafted vessels, a jumbo vascular access port, as well as dual-valve catheters, needles for port access and tools for extracting catheters and cardiac leads.

Global Cook Group operations

Cook Group operates three companies that focus on delivering its products to the worldwide marketplace. William Cook Europe, based in Denmark, manufactures and distributes many of the same products as Cook's American operations, but also markets medical items created specifically for the differing needs of physicians in Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere. William A. Cook Australia makes a diverse range of medical products for its home customers and for Cook distributors and subsidiaries around the world. Originally focused on angiographic and interventional devices, it now also makes items used for in vitro fertilization and assisted-reproduction procedures. Cook Ireland focuses on gastroenterology, urology, obstetrics and gynecology through local product development, production and distribution. It serves markets throughout Europe, the former Soviet republics and other areas.

Sabin Corp.

Based in Bloomington, Sabin is a custom plastics processor, making preformed plastic tubing as well as molded parts to supply the needs of Cook Group companies. Sabin also produces materials for the electronic appliance industry.

K-Tube Corp.

K-Tube, based in California, is the country's largest independent hypodermic needle tubing manufacturer. It offers a full range of needle tube sizes in a variety of stainless steel and nickel alloys. Other tubing applications include industrial needles, gas vents, ink pens, mechanical guides, fluid and gas flow metering, heat exchangers, instrumentation and springs.

CFC Inc.

Originally founded in part to finance loans to Cook Group company employees, Bloomington-based CFC is now a real-estate development company with special emphasis on preserving architecturally significant buildings in Bloomington and southern Indiana. Major restoration projects include the Showers Plaza complex and Fountain Square Mall, both of which renovated Important historic structures in Bloomington's downtown district. CFC also helped stabilize and renovate the West Baden Springs Hotel, which along with the nearby French Lick Springs Hotel is now part of a partnership involving Cook and Lauth Property Group to develop an Orange County casino resort.

Cook Aviation Inc.

The Bloomington operation was created to provide aircraft refueling and a fixed-base operation for general aviation using the Monroe County Airport. Other functions include baggage handling/ ground services for private and commercial aircraft, courtesy/rental automobiles and vans; and flight food services. Through contractual arrangements with outside vendors, Cook Aviation also offers flight training.

Bloomington Antique Mall Inc.

Housed in an historic renovated warehouse, the facility provides 25,000 square feet of common space which local antique merchants share. The facility is arranged to allow multiple dealers to operate 120 individual antique booths, like small shops, combined under one roof and supervised by a central sales staff.

Grant Street Inn

This historic 1880s landmark has been restored into a modern bed and breakfast. Its north building was originally known as the Zeigler House and was located two blocks away. When it was threatened with demolition, CFC negotiated with the owner to rescue the structure, and in 1990 moved it to its current location, where it was connected with another historic property and transformed into a 24-room inn.

Star Travel Services Inc.

Star Travel Services, based in Bloomington, provides services for business travelers, group travel and leisure and recreational travelers. In addition, Star Travel offers specialty functions including educational group tours, as well as corporate and convention meeting and trip planning. Star Meetings & Events provides meeting and event planning for corporate meetings and other events.

Star of Indiana

This Bloomington organization sponsored by Cook Group was launched in 1984, competing for 10 seasons within Drum Corps International. In 1991, Star won the DCI World Championship. Soon after, the group evolved to create Brass Theater, a stage show that was featured on PBS and at various prestigious venues. The latest incarnation of Star's development is "Blast!," a stage show that won Tony and Emmy awards in 2001 and is now touring North America and Japan.

Cook Family Health Center Inc.

This unit provides managed health care for Bloomington-area Cook Group company employees and dependents. Typical medical services include routine physicals, treatment of illnesses, minor outpatient surgeries as well as maintenance checks and screenings for high blood pressure, diabetes and other chronic conditions. Cook Family Health Center also sells formulary pharmaceuticals to Cook employees under a cost-controlled fee schedule.