Cambridge Heart and Guidant Sign Cooperative Marketing Agreement for Alternans Test.

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--May 20, 1999--

- Partnership Targeted at Educating Cardiologists on Latest Technologies for Identifying and Treating Patients at Risk for Sudden

Cardiac Arrest -

Cambridge Heart, Inc. (NASDAQ:CAMH) today announced the signing of a cooperative marketing agreement with Guidant Corporation (NYSE/PCX:GDT) aimed at accelerating the identification and treatment of patients at high risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Under the agreement, Cambridge Heart will work with Guidant to educate cardiologists about the recently completed prophylactic ICD trials and the potential benefits of Alternans testing. Cambridge Heart will provide T-wave alternans experts that will present at national and regional seminars and symposia in the U.S. sponsored by Guidant. This relationship allows Cambridge Heart to reach a much broader audience of cardiologists than the Company could independently and supports the aggressive educational campaign launched by Cambridge Heart last month.

"Guidant, a world leader in cardiac rhythm management, is ideally positioned to advance awareness and understanding of the Alternans Test in the cardiology and electrophysiology communities," said Jeffrey M. Arnold, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge Heart. "The ability to non-invasively assess people at risk for SCA will provide new opportunities to treat patients using Guidant's defibrillator and pacemaker systems, which are increasingly being used to prevent SCA among individuals deemed to be at risk for life-threatening arrhythmias."

"An estimated 300,000 Americans die each year of SCA, a number we can significantly reduce if appropriate preventive measures are taken," said Mark Bartell, Vice President of Marketing for Guidant. "Our goal is to educate as many physicians as possible regarding the risk factors associated with SCA and have them refer patients to an electrophysiologist for testing and treatment."

About Sudden Cardiac Arrest and the Alternans Test

SCA is caused by ventricular arrhythmia, an abnormality in the beating pattern of the heart resulting in alterations in the rate and frequency of the electrical impulses in the ventricles. SCA claims approximately 300,000 lives a year in the United States.

The Alternans Test works like a "super stress test" and measures extremely subtle beat-to-beat fluctuations in a person's heartbeat called T-wave alternans. T-wave alternans is not visible on electrocardiograms used in conjunction with ordinary exercise stress tests. These tiny heartbeat variations--measured at one millionth of a volt--are detected during a typical treadmill or bicycle exercise stress test by specially designed, high-resolution electrodes placed on a patient's chest.

About Guidant

A global leader in the medical device industry, Guidant Corporation provides innovative, minimally invasive and cost-effective products and services for the treatment of cardiovascular and vascular disease. Guidant's Cardiac Rhythm Management Group is a leading provider of implantable cardioverter defibrillator systems, used primarily in the treatment of fast irregular heartbeats, and bradycardia pacemaker systems for the treatment of slow heartbeats. The Company's defibrillator and pacemaker systems have provided physicians with medical breakthroughs that help reduce mortality and improve the quality of life for their patients.

About Cambridge Heart

Cambridge Heart is engaged in the research, development and commercialization of products for the non-invasive diagnosis of cardiac disease. Using innovative technologies, the Company is addressing such key problems in cardiac diagnosis as the identification of those at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, the early detection of coronary artery disease and the prompt and accurate diagnosis of heart attack. The Company's first product, the Alternans Test, was cleared by the FDA on April 13, 1999, as the first non-invasive test cleared to identify patients at risk of arrhythmia, the cause of sudden cardiac arrest. The Company currently markets its CH 2000 stress test system and proprietary, disposable High-Resolution Electrodes in the U.S., Japan and Europe.

Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include uncertainties associated with regulatory approval processes and other factors that are included in Cambridge Heart's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 1998.