ArthroCare Announces Worldwide Release of TOPAZ MicroDebrider for Arthroscopic Surgery; Early Clinical Results Promising.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif. & WASHINGTON--(BW HealthWire)--April 25, 2002

ArthroCare Corp. (Nasdaq:ARTC) today announced that it is pleased with the early clinical results of the use of Coblation(R) technology in tendons which will be presented at the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) meeting held in Washington, D.C. this week. James P. Tasto, M.D., San Diego Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center, who performed the clinical study, will present the results. Dr. Tasto is also a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of California, San Diego.

As part of the study, Dr. Tasto clinically evaluated the company's TOPAZ(TM) MicroDebrider, which is being introduced this week at both AANA and the European Society of Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) meeting in Rome.

The TOPAZ MicroDebrider is available in international markets for patients with chronic tendonopathies like tennis elbow and jumpers' knee, while cleared in the United States only for general applications including the ablation and debridement of soft tissue, such as tendons in the knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle and wrist.

"This clinical study concludes a larger, three-year research program evaluating the effectiveness of this technology," said Dr. Tasto. "While the results of the TOPAZ procedure are preliminary, we are highly satisfied by what we have seen thus far. Potentially, this minimally invasive technology offers an alternative for millions of patients for whom conservative therapies have failed."

About ArthroCare

ArthroCare Corp. (www.arthrocare.com), headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., is a multi-business medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets minimally invasive soft tissue surgical products based on its patented Coblation technology. Coblation uses low-temperature radio-frequency energy to gently and precisely dissolve rather than burn soft tissue, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. ArthroCare targets a multi-billion dollar market opportunity across several medical specialties, significantly improving surgical procedures and enabling new, minimally invasive procedures. ArthroCare's Coblation-based devices have been used in more than 1.5 million surgical procedures worldwide. The company has developed and marketed Coblation-based products for arthroscopic, spine/neurologic, ear, nose and throat, cosmetic, urologic, gynecologic and laparoscopic/general surgical procedures, and continues research in other areas.

Safe Harbor Statements

Except for historical information, this press release includes forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, the anticipated success of newly-introduced products, the company's belief that certain surgical products and procedures will enhance achievement of the company's long-term potential, the affect of anticipated government regulatory clearances, continued success of product diversification efforts, and other statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the uncertainty of success of the company's non-arthroscopic products, competitive risk, uncertainty over reimbursement, need for governmental clearances or approvals before selling products, and the uncertainty of protecting the company's patent position. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including ArthroCare's Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2001. Forward-looking statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "believes," "intends," "expects," and similar words and phrases. Actual results may differ materially from management plans.