The French company Charrière, founded by Joseph-Frédéric-Benoêt Charrière in the early 19th century, stands as a testament to innovation in medical instrument manufacturing. Born in 1803 in Switzerland, Charrière moved to Paris as a teenager and eventually took over his mentor's cutlery workshop. He became renowned for producing high-quality surgical instruments, notably in lithotripsy and anesthesia. Charrière's technical skill, creativity, and eagerness to learn from surgeons directly influenced his designs. He is also credited with creating the 'Charrière scale,' a measurement standard for medical instruments (also known as 'French gauge'). After his death the company worked under the name Maison Collin till 1957 when it was taken over by Maison Gentile. Charrière's legacy in medical technology endures, symbolizing groundbreaking advancements in healthcare tools.

Maison Lüer was founded in Paris in 1837 by Georg Wilhelm Amatus Lüer (1802–1883), a German-born craftsman. The company gaining renown for precision surgical instruments, initially in ophthalmology and later expanding into other specialties. His son-in-law Hermann Wülfing-Lüer further developed the firm after, patenting an innovative all-glass syringe in 1895, designed for aseptic procedures and resistant to high-temperature sterilization. This syringe, known as "Luer-syringe" featured a precisely ground barrel and plunger, eliminating the need for gaskets. Many surgical tools still bear the Lüer name, and his legacy endures through standardized syringe connections, known for their safety, simplicity, and wide compatibility.