Study Offers Hope of Better Surgery for Nasal Obstruction Sufferers with Enlarged Turbinates.

Medtronic Device Enables Novel Surgical Technique(1),

Improved Quality of Life and Few Postoperative Complications

MINNEAPOLIS -- Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced today that results of a study published in the September issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery were favorable toward the use of Medtronic's powered inferior turbinoplasty technique. The study demonstrates that patients with nasal obstruction and enlarged inferior turbinates (bony projections) caused by inflammation of the nasal membranes experience significantly improved quality of life and few postoperative complications after undergoing powered inferior turbinoplasty treatment.

Symptoms of nasal obstruction can be linked to multiple causes, of which deviations of the septum and inferior turbinate hypertrophy are the most common. Other techniques for reducing nasal obstruction symptoms may include complete or partial turbinectomy and septoplasty (straightening of the nasal septum). However, traditional treatment techniques, including manual instrumentation, radiofrequency energy and cauterization, have been linked to numerous complications, somewhat unpredictable outcomes, and high relapse rates.2

"In contrast, patients in this study who were treated with powered inferior turbinoplasty demonstrated significant improvement in all subjective and objective measures, including nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing and postnasal drip," said Bo Lewis, senior director of marketing for the ENT business at Medtronic. "One year postoperatively, all patients had very few complications. There was no postoperative bleeding, no crusting, no scarring, no foul odor, and no atrophic change. Five patients did experience mucosal tears, but there was no loss of mucosa, the important mucous tissue lining the surface of the turbinates."

The study compared the preoperative and one-year postoperative results of both objective and subjective assessments in 50 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and substantial inferior turbinate hypertrophy (enlargement) who underwent powered inferior turbinoplasty. The technique was performed using Medtronic's XPS[R] 3000 Powered ENT System and Inferior Turbinate Blade, a microdebrider with a small (2mm) blade incorporated with an elevator. Patients did not take any medication for allergic rhinitis within one month of the preoperative and one-year postoperative assessments.

"Our results suggest that endoscopic microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty is effective for decreasing nasal resistance (obstruction) and improving quality of life in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis who have substantial nasal congestion," writes Dr. Tsung-Wei Huang, department of Otolaryngology at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. "We believe that this procedure offers effective volume reduction and preservation of physiologic functioning of the turbinates, and averts complications."

How the Powered Inferior Turbinoplasty Technique Works

The powered inferior turbinoplasty technique can be performed using the Medtronic XPS[R] 3000 Microdebrider and Inferior Turbinate Blade with patented elevator tip. Manufactured by the ENT business at Medtronic and available in the United States, this system features a tiny, rotating tip that allows the surgeon to remove tissue more precisely than traditional surgery tools. Using the Medtronic microdebrider, surgeons can remove enough tissue to correct the nasal obstruction while preserving the mucous lining and normal turbinate function. Preservation of mucosa is considered an important factor in better postoperative outcomes in patients who have undergone nasal surgery. This technique is associated with very low relapse rates (better long-term effectiveness) as presented by Sacks et al.2

About the ENT Business at Medtronic

Located in Jacksonville, Fla., the ENT business at Medtronic (www.MedtronicENT.com) is a leading developer and manufacturer of products to treat diseases of the ear, nose and throat (ENT). Patients seeking additional information about inferior turbinates and the powered inferior turbinoplasty technique should visit www.ObstructedNose.com.

About Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 28, 2006. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

1. Huang T-W, Cheng P-W. Changes in nasal resistance and quality of life after endoscopic microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2006;132:990-3.

2. Sacks R, Thornton MA, Boustred RN. Modified endoscopic turbinoplasty - long term results compared to submucosal electrocautery and submucosal powered turbinoplasty. Presented at the American Rhinologic Society, May 14, 2005; Boca Raton, FL.