ArthroCare Appoints Seasoned Health Care Executive to Board of Directors; Jerry Widman Brings Three Decades of Financial and Board of Directors Experience to ArthroCare.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2002

ArthroCare Corp. (Nasdaq:ARTC), a multi-business medical device company that develops products based on its patented Coblation(R) technology, today announced it has appointed Jerry Widman to its board of directors. Widman will replace Robert Momsen who is stepping down from ArthroCare's board after more than seven years of service.

Widman, a 30-year health care industry veteran, brings extensive financial and board experience to ArthroCare. Before retiring in 2001, Widman was chief financial officer (CFO) for Ascension Health, successor organization to the Daughters of Charity National Health System, where he helped grow company revenues from $1 billion to more than $7 billion. In addition, Widman has been a board member for more than three decades at a number of health care systems and organizations.

"We are excited to welcome someone with Jerry's expertise to our board of directors," said Michael A. Baker, president and chief executive officer for ArthroCare. "His unique combination of business and board experience will serve the company well as we continue to guide ArthroCare through its next stage of growth. On behalf of ArthroCare's shareholders and employees, I would also like to thank Bob Momsen for his many contributions to the company and wish him well in his future endeavors."

As CFO of Ascension Health/Daughters of Charity National Health System for 19 years, Widman was responsible for corporate finance, treasury functions, purchasing and materials management. He provided financial counsel on more than $4 billion in hospital capital projects and was involved in a multitude of sizable mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Widman also implemented common financial practices that were recognized by rating agencies as "best practices" among multi-hospital systems. Prior to joining Ascension Health/Daughters of Charity National Health System, Widman was a management consultant for Ernst & Young where he focused on health care engagements for 12 years.

Widman is an active board member for five other health care organizations, including Seneca Health Partners, United Surgical Partners International, Bon Secours Health System, The Audit Group and CareMedic Systems Inc. He earned a master's in business administration from the University of Denver and a law degree from Cleveland State University. In addition, Widman is a certified public accountant.

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 radiofrequency 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 1.75 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 expectations regarding trends in newly commercialized markets, the company's belief that certain surgical products and procedures will enhance achievement of the company's long-term potential, the sustainability of growth rates in certain markets, the effect of anticipated government regulatory clearances, continued success of product diversification efforts, opportunities to execute strategic initiatives, and other statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the fact that the company's operating results will fluctuate, the market price of the company's stock may be highly volatile, the sustainability of the company's growth rate, continued success of market diversification efforts. 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 and the 10-Q for the quarter ended June 29, 2002. 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.