Medtronic Announces Canadian Launch of InSync Marquis System for Heart Failure Patients.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2002

Fourth Medtronic cardiac resynchronization device

includes advanced defibrillator capabilities

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) today announced the commercial launch of the InSync Marquis(TM) ICD system for heart failure patients in Canada. This is the company's fourth-generation cardiac resynchronization system and its second-generation cardiac resynchronization/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) system, which all are designed to help heart failure patients live better, more active lives.

The Health Canada-approved InSync Marquis system was developed specifically for people with heart failure who are indicated for an ICD and may benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy. These patients suffer from moderate-to-severe heart failure and are at risk of potentially lethal tachyarrhythmias that may lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

"We are the only company whose entire line of cardiac resynchronization/ICD systems features right-ventricular-only sensing, which minimizes the risk of inappropriate therapies seen with devices that use simultaneous sensing of both ventricles," said Steve Mahle, president, Medtronic Cardiac Rhythm Management. "With the widest array of heart failure devices and left-heart lead systems on the market in any part of the world, we are uniquely positioned to provide physicians the best possible treatment solutions for heart failure and to help many patients live well with this debilitating condition."

The InSync Marquis device combines features from three other Medtronic devices available in Canada: the cardiac resynchronization therapy of the InSync(R) ICD device; the advanced heart failure diagnostics of the InSync(R) III system; and all of the advanced features of Medtronic's Marquis(TM) DR implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

Heart Failure Epidemic

Nearly half a million Canadians suffer from heart failure, a progressive and debilitating condition that is responsible for more hospitalizations than all forms of cancer combined. A significant number of these people suffer from ventricular dysynchrony, which occurs when there is a time delay between the beating of the heart's two lower chambers, or ventricles. Cardiac resynchronization therapy delivers electrical impulses to both sides of the heart to coordinate the contractions of the heart's ventricles. This improves the heart's efficiency and increases blood flow to the body.

Heart failure, the only major cardiac disease that continues to grow in prevalence, is reaching epidemic proportions and is an increasing burden on Canadian healthcare systems.

InSync Marquis

Based on the Marquis DR platform, the InSync Marquis device is 38 cc in size, the smallest heart failure ICD on the market, with 30 joules of delivered energy, and charge times of less than 7.5 seconds throughout the service life of the device. Charge time is the time needed before an implantable device delivers life-saving defibrillation therapy once an abnormally fast heart rhythm is detected. The InSync Marquis system provides cardiac resynchronization and ICD therapies without the risk of false shocks from double sensing found in some competing systems.

Many of the InSync Marquis features are designed to help physicians manage patients efficiently and quickly. RapidRead(TM) telemetry offers up to 20 times improvement in telemetry speed over previous devices with increased range, while Leadless(TM) ECG enables patients to spend less time in the clinic during the follow-up process. Cardiac Compass(TM) helps physicians monitor cardiac disease progression for more effective treatment.

In addition to the InSync ICD and InSync Marquis devices, Medtronic also has two products that offer cardiac resynchronization therapy for patients who are not indicated for a defibrillator: the InSync(R) device and InSync III device. All of these devices are approved by Health Canada and available from Medtronic of Canada Ltd.

MIRACLE Study

Data from the recently published Multicenter InSync Randomized Clinical Evaluation trial (known as MIRACLE) in The New England Journal of Medicine validated that cardiac resynchronization therapy delivered by products like InSync can make a real difference in the lives of patients. The study showed that, on average, cardiac resynchronization therapy systems helped many patients improve by at least one New York Heart Functional Class, resulted in a greater improvement in patient quality of life than for those receiving drug therapy alone, and reduced the risk of hospitalization from worsening heart failure.

Medtronic, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, is the world's leading medical technology company, providing lifelong solutions for people with chronic disease. Its Internet address is www.medtronic.com.

Headquartered in Mississauga, Medtronic of Canada Ltd. is a member of MEDEC (Medical Devices Canada), the national industry association representing more than 120 medical device and diagnostic companies. Member companies are dedicated to serving the health care community through the provision of high quality medical products and services that benefit Canadians.

Any statements made about the company's anticipated financial results and regulatory approvals are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 26, 2002. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.