Needles are one of the most basic and least glamorous types of medical devices. But, every day, doctors and nurses rely on "sharps" to administer medicine, draw blood, conduct biopsies and perform many other vital medical procedures.

Over its 30-year history, Bovie Medical Corp. has gone from making disposable penlights to becoming the largest manu-facturer of battery-operated cauteries in the world. The company manufactures products for some of the largest medical OEMs in the United States.