Guidant Announces Worldwide Market Release of the ZOOM Programming System.

Business Editors, Health/Medical Writers

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. & ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BW HealthWire)--July 28, 2000

Guidant Corporation (NYSE:GDT)(PCX:GDT), a worldwide leader in implantable medical device systems, today announced the worldwide market release of the ZOOM(TM) Programming System. The ZOOM programmer is used by physicians and other clinicians to analyze data from Guidant cardiac rhythm management devices, such as the VENTAK(TM) PRIZM implantable defibrillator and the PULSAR(TM) MAX pacemaker.

"The ZOOM Programming System defines new leadership standards in speed and ease-of-use for our physician customers and their clinician support staffs," said Fred McCoy, president of Guidant's Cardiac Rhythm Management Group.

The ZOOM Programming System literally brings a more intuitive, faster interface to the physician's fingers. The features of the new programming system include:

-- Near instantaneous start-up of the programmer with rapid

device interrogation -- in 6.5 seconds the physician is ready

to begin diagnosing a patient's arrhythmia.

-- High quality surface ECG -- Intended to provide physicians the

ability to precisely evaluate a patient's pacemaker or

implantable defibrillation system with confidence.

-- Ease of use -- The ZOOM Programming System is loaded with

features designed to reduce a physician's learning time on

Guidant devices. The new true-touch screen coupled with the

CONSULT(TM) software is an unbeatable interface that is

precise, fast and easy.

"The ZOOM Programming System is sleek; definitely a more user-friendly programmer to work with. Moreover, the intuitive touch screen interface makes it easier and faster for me to follow a patient's implantable device," commented Neil Bernstein, M.D., attending physician of electrophysiology, assistant professor of medicine at New York University Medical Center.

"The ZOOM programmer, with its speed and ease-of-use advantages, has the potential to generate significant time efficiencies for physicians and their staffs," McCoy noted. "The ZOOM Programming System is another compelling reason for physicians to select Guidant implantable defibrillators and pacemakers for their patients."

Guidant will begin shipping the ZOOM Programming System this month.

A global leader in the medical technology industry, Guidant Corporation provides innovative, minimally invasive and cost-effective products and services for the treatment of cardiovascular and vascular disease. For more information on Guidant's products and services, visit the company's web site at www.guidant.com.