Patients and Physicians Give High Marks to the Internet-Based Medtronic CareLink Network.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

MINNEAPOLIS--(BW HealthWire)--May 8, 2002

Also, FDA approves the Medtronic CareLink(TM) Monitor and software

for use with additional ICDs by thousands of patients

In addition to providing a unique way for cardiac patients and physicians to have "virtual office visits," the Medtronic CareLink(TM) Network also is easy to use, according to the first users of the system. After patients electronically transmitted information about their heart rhythm and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) using the Medtronic CareLink(TM) Monitor, 98 percent said the monitor was easy to use. Also, 97 percent of clinicians were satisfied with the Medtronic CareLink clinician website used to review and assess patient-transmitted data.

Results from the initial rollout of the Medtronic CareLink Network involving 59 patients at 10 clinics will be presented at Saturday's late-breaking clinical trials segment of the 23rd Annual Scientific Sessions of the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology.

"CareLink significantly increases the convenience of communication between physicians and patients," said Dr. Mark Schoenfeld, associate clinical professor of medicine at Yale University School of Medicine. "With just a few website clicks after a patient downloads data from his or her implantable device at home or on vacation, I can access the same type of information I would collect during an office visit and quickly offer feedback to my patients."

Of the 19 clinicians who used the Medtronic CareLink Network during the initial rollout, 97 percent said patient data received remotely allowed them to provide comparable care to an in-office visit, and 98 percent said the time to access the patient screen was excellent or very good.

Medtronic also announced that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use of the Medtronic CareLink Monitor and software with Medtronic GEM(R), GEM(R) DR and GEM(R) III DR/VR ICDs. This approval brings the number of Americans to potentially use the Medtronic CareLink system to nearly 75,000. The FDA originally approved the monitor and software for use with GEM(R) II DR/VR ICDs. ICDs are designed to detect and stop fast heart rates known as ventricular tachyarrhythmias and revive patients from sudden cardiac arrest.

The Medtronic CareLink Network is intended to support a wide range of implanted cardiac devices, including Medtronic pacemakers, heart failure devices and monitoring/ diagnostic devices as they become available following subsequent FDA approvals.

"The overwhelmingly positive feedback from physician and patient users of the Medtronic CareLink Network, coupled with the FDA's approval in extending the system for use with additional devices, reinforces Medtronic's ability to deliver patient care through remote technologies," said Steve Mahle, president of Medtronic Cardiac Rhythm Management.

The Medtronic CareLink Monitor is a small, easy-to-use device that allows patients to collect information simply by holding a small "antenna" over their implanted device. The monitor automatically downloads the data and sends it through a standard telephone connection from anywhere in the 50 states directly to the secure Medtronic CareLink Network.

Patients can view information about their devices and conditions on their own personalized website, and family members or other caregivers also can view this information if granted access by the patient. Clinicians access their patients' data by logging onto the clinician website and make decisions at any time and from anywhere via Internet-connected computer or laptop.

Medtronic, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, is the world's leading medical technology company, providing lifelong solutions for people with chronic disease. Its website 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 Medtronic's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 2001. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.