Medtronic Announces First Implant of Kappa 900 Series Pacemaker.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

MINNEAPOLIS--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 25, 2001

Latest pacemaker offers new monitoring and diagnostic functions

designed to allow better patient management decisions

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), announced today the first implant of the Kappa(R) 900 series pacemaker. The Kappa 900 family of pacing systems represents the next offering in Medtronic's premium pacemaker line and features atrial monitoring and diagnostic functions -- such as Opposite Chamber Trend and Duration Monitoring, and expanded EGM with selectable chamber collection. These functions are designed to allow physicians to make better patient management decisions.

Dr. Johannes Sperzel recently implanted the Kappa 900 pacemaker (Model KDR901), including a Medtronic CapSureFix lead, in a 76-year-old woman, during a 45-minute procedure at the Kerckhoff Klinik in Bad Nauheim, Germany.

The patient has third-degree atrio-ventricular block, a condition in which electrical signals from the heart's natural pacemaker in the atrium are interrupted before reaching the ventricles. The patient had a history of first-degree block (in which signals are slowed but still reach the ventricles), which worsened to third-degree block due to bypass surgery performed two weeks prior to her implant. Because of this complete heart block condition, the patient is now dependent on the Kappa 900 pacemaker to maintain an adequate heart rate.

"The Kappa 900 pacemaker provides all of the good functions of the Kappa 700, plus additional functions," said Dr. Sperzel. "The atrial diagnostics in Kappa 900 will help in treating patients with atrial arrhythmias, especially patients with paroxysmal (sudden) fibrillation, and the improved Capture Management function will provide more safety for the patient."

The Kappa 900 pacemaker is expected to be released in early 2002 and will succeed the Kappa 700 device, which is the number one prescribed pacemaker in the world. The Kappa 900 is a fully adaptive pacing system with enhanced atrial arrhythmia management capabilities and the Kappa family suite of patient safety features. The Kappa 900 system builds on the foundation of Kappa 700, adding new features to appeal to physicians facing the clinical problems of patients today.

The Kappa 900 pacing system offers:

-- New Arrhythmia Diagnostics and Monitoring, which provide arrhythmia
diagnostic information such as:

-- Opposite Chamber Monitoring

-- Expanded and selectable EGM

-- Initial Interrogation Report

-- Tracking of the physiologic atrial rate up to 210 beats-per-minute, to meet
the needs of pediatric and active patients

-- A new Overdrive Pacing Algorithm designed to reduce the incidence of atrial
tachyarrhythmias following a mode switch episode. This feature currently is
only available in certain countries outside the U.S.

-- Enhanced, adaptive Capture Management to safely and accurately manage pacing
thresholds

-- Kappa's quick, precise mode switch to reduce patient symptoms

"The Kappa 900 delivers premium pacing therapy, while providing physicians with new diagnostic and monitoring information," said Steve Mahle, president of Medtronic Cardiac Rhythm Management. "This type of information is an industry first and will help physicians provide the best possible medical care to their arrhythmia patients."

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.

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 the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 2001. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

EDITOR'S NOTE: An electronic image is available by contacting Bob Hanvik, 763-505-2635.