ArthroCare Names Prominent Scientist to Board of Directors; Dr. Barbara D. Boyan Brings Significant Orthopedic and Tissue Engineering Expertise to ArthroCare.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2004

ArthroCare(R) Corp. (Nasdaq:ARTC), a multi-business medical device company that develops products based on its patented Coblation(R) technology, announced today it has named Dr. Barbara D. Boyan to its board of directors.

Dr. Boyan currently holds a number of prominent positions in the fields of orthopedics and tissue engineering, including the Prince Gilbert, Jr. Chair in Tissue Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta. Appointed by the U.S. Congress, she also serves as the chair of the orthopedic device panel for the Center of Devices and Radiological Health of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Additionally, she has served on three National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientific review panels.

Dr. Boyan also has founded or co-founded a variety of medical technology companies, such as Orthonics, an early-stage spine product business, and OsteoBiologics, a developer of tissue engineering products for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions in cartilage and bone.

"We are very pleased to have someone of Barbara's stature join our board of directors," said Michael A. Baker, president and chief executive officer for ArthroCare. "She brings a tremendous amount of scientific and academic experience to ArthroCare and has served as a consultant to a variety of orthopedic device companies nationwide, which will be a great asset to us as we continue to grow and strengthen our position within the medical device industry."

In addition to her position at Georgia Tech, Dr. Boyan holds adjunct professorships at Emory University and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and has authored approximately 300 review articles, chapters and research papers during her career. She also actively participates in a number of medical community and legislative activities, most notably with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) for the purpose of educating federal agencies on the value of orthopedic research.

Dr. Boyan earned a bachelor's degree, master's degree and Ph.D. in biology from Rice University.

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 2.5 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 company's stated business outlook for fiscal 2003, continued strength of the company's fundamental position, the strength of the company's technology, the company's belief that strategic moves will enhance achievement of the company's long term potential, the potential and expected rate of growth of new businesses, 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 of the success of strategic business alliances, 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 Dec. 31, 2002 and the 10-Q for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2003. 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 expectations.