Medtronic Announces the U.S. Launch of Its Starfish Heart Positioner.

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MINNEAPOLIS--(BW HealthWire)--June 15, 2001

Product Joins the Octopus(R)3Tissue Stabilizer to Expand the Number

of Patients That Can Now Benefit From Beating Heart Bypass Surgery 

Rounding out its full suite of products designed to facilitate the practice of beating heart bypass surgery, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) today announced the U.S. launch of its Starfish(TM) Heart Positioner. Available for immediate shipment, the Starfish will be paired with the market-leading Octopus(R)3 Tissue Stabilizer to form the new Octopus(R) System.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 500,000 coronary artery bypass surgeries are performed in the United States each year. And increasingly, these surgeries are being performed on a beating heart - latest estimates indicate that more than 20 percent of all bypass surgeries are now being performed on a beating heart rather than a stopped heart, which is supported by the heart-lung machine. The patient benefits of undergoing beating heart rather than stopped heart bypass surgery have been increasingly well documented and can include less blood loss, less heart muscle damage and potentially a lower incidence of neurocognitive deficit following the procedure.

The introduction of the new Octopus System signals a new chapter in the practice of beating heart bypass surgery. Developed to work in concert with the preferred Octopus3 and utilizing the same suction technology, the Starfish is designed to address some of the significant challenges a cardiac surgeon may face while performing beating heart bypass surgery. These challenges can include preserving the natural hemodynamic function of the heart as it is positioned for bypass grafting and creating a large, still and clear working space where the bypass grafts can be sewn precisely into place. The Starfish, working in conjunction with the Octopus3, is designed to maximize access to all of the heart's coronary arteries - including those on the back of the heart - and minimize the hemodynamic deterioration caused by the manipulation of a beating heart.

"As the practice of beating heart bypass surgery continues to grow, Medtronic is poised to continue providing the surgical tools that will best optimize long-term outcomes for patients," said Bob Guezuraga, president of Medtronic Cardiac Surgery. "With today's introduction of the Starfish, U.S. physicians now have access to a premium product that will further accelerate the practice of beating heart bypass surgery. In using our system, they will now be able to access the most challenging, hard-to-reach coronary arteries, minimize the impact this positioning can have on the natural blood-pumping action of the heart and maximize the number of patients that can benefit from this approach."

The Starfish heart positioner is a disposable, retractor-based device comprised of silicone suction appendages, an articulating arm and a mounting clamp. The silicone appendages conform to the surface of the heart and enable the surgeon to position the beating heart in such a way as to ensure access to the coronary arteries that need to be bypassed. The Starfish's articulating arm provides additional flexibility and further multiplies the number of positioning options available to the surgeon.

Once the heart is positioned, the surgeon can place the Octopus3 tissue stabilizer parallel to the target artery to reduce motion and facilitate the suturing of the bypass graft. Working in partnership and mounted on the same sternal retractor, the Starfish and the Octopus3 provide the surgeon with optimal access to the targeted arteries, as well as a still surgical field on which to suture the bypass graft to the artery - all while the heart continues to beat.

The introduction of the Starfish furthers Medtronic's leadership in the development of technologies that support the practice of beating heart bypass surgery. In partnership with a team led by Professor Cornelius Borst at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, Medtronic pioneered and introduced one of the first tissue stabilizers in the industry - the Octopus(R) - in 1997. During the last four years, Medtronic has introduced four more generations of Octopus tissue stabilizers, and Octopus stabilizers have been used in over 100,000 beating heart surgeries worldwide. Medtronic has also developed a full suite of cardiac surgery accessories designed to maximize the benefits of the off-pump procedure.

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 30, 2000. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

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