Guidant Licenses Innovative Tissue-Welding Technology for Cardiac Surgery; Agreement Reinforces Guidant's Leadership in Endoscopic Cardiovascular Technologies.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 2003

Guidant Corporation (NYSE:GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease, today announced an agreement with Starion Instruments to license tissue-welding technology for use in its next-generation cardiac surgery products to advance endoscopic vessel harvesting procedures. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"This agreement furthers Guidant's commitment to delivering minimally invasive technologies that create better outcomes and fewer complications for patients undergoing cardiac surgery procedures," said Maria Degois-Sainz, president, Cardiac Surgery, Guidant Corporation. "We look forward to utilizing this valuable technology to broaden and strengthen our endoscopic cardiovascular offerings."

The Starion tissue-welding technology will be used initially in Guidant's VASOVIEW(R) Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting System, which is currently utilized in more than 75 percent of endoscopic vessel harvesting procedures. Harvested vessels from the leg or the arm are used to bypass blocked coronary arteries and restore blood flow in the more than 650,000 coronary artery bypass surgeries performed worldwide each year.

Endoscopic vessel harvesting allows the clinician to remove, or harvest, the saphenous vein in the leg or radial artery in the arm through a small incision, rather than through the long incisions used in traditional or "open" harvesting procedures.

Tissue-welding technology is an alternative method for cutting and sealing smaller side branches of the main harvested vessel. The tissue-welding method is designed to simultaneously cut and seal vessel branches utilizing less energy than other methods, minimizing potential trauma to the vessel. This technology may also provide better sealing of vessels under greater pressures, such as radial arteries.

About Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting

Patients who undergo endoscopic vessel harvesting may recover more quickly than those who undergo traditional vessel harvesting. Additionally, they are at a lower risk for developing postoperative infections due to the smaller and less traumatic incision. Currently in the United States, endoscopic vein harvesting is used in more than 40 percent of cardiac procedures that require vein grafts. Guidant's VASOVIEW Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting System has been used in more than 240,000 patients to date for endoscopic harvesting of the saphenous vein in the leg. In May 2003 VASOVIEW was approved for use in harvesting the radial artery from the arm.

About Starion Instruments

Starion Instruments, a privately held company based in Saratoga, Calif., designs, manufactures, and sells surgical instruments that simultaneously seal and cut blood vessels and tissue during surgery. Their instruments incorporate a proprietary technology that is integrated into standard surgical instruments designed for a variety of open, minimally invasive, and microsurgical procedures.

Guidant Corporation pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to millions of cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. The company, driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of 11,000 employees, develops, manufactures and markets a broad array of products and services that enable less invasive care for some of life's most threatening medical conditions. For more information visit www.guidant.com.

NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information about Guidant, including its products and services, please visit the company's newsroom at www.guidant.com/newsroom.