MINNEAPOLIS, October 3, 2001 – Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) today announced the first implant of the MarquisÒ DR Model 7274 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), the initial product in the company’s next generation of ICDs. This new family of ICDs is designed to offer enhanced patient management and system performance functions for physicians ¾ such as RapidReadÔ telemetry and Cardiac CompassÔ report ¾ as well as improved safety features for patients.

Dr. Ioannis Kallikazaros implanted the Marquis DR on October 2, 2001 in a 76-year old man at the State Cardiac Clinic in Athens, Greece. The patient had previously suffered a myocardial infarction, had sustained ventricular tachycardia and presented with syncope (fainting).

“My patients’ safety is my primary concern, and the Marquis’ combination of shorter time to therapy, trended diagnostics and Patient AlertÔ gives me peace of mind when they leave my office,” said Dr. Kallikazaros. “This device will enhance the ICD treatment of my patients who have ventricular tachyarrhythmias without a history of atrial arrhythmias, and improve my practice management at the same time.”

New patient management functions of the Marquis DR ICD include:

· RapidReadÔ telemetry, which offers up to 20 times improvement in telemetry speed. This means a 10-minute, complete follow-up interrogation session can be done as quickly as 35 seconds.

· The Cardiac CompassÔ report, which provides 14 months of trended atrial and ventricular arrhythmia episode data and related heart failure diagnostics. This improves a physician’s ability to track disease progression, as well as the effects of drug therapy.

· The LeadlessÔ ECG function, which will allow the clinician to perform tests and record an ECG without attaching separate ECG leads. This reduces follow-up time and enhances patient comfort by not requiring them to disrobe.

Scheduled for global commercial release in early 2002, the Marquis DR is a full-featured, dual-chamber ICD. It offers 30 joules of delivered energy, Enhanced PR LogicÔ, increased longevity and an improved Patient AlertÔ self-monitoring function with six new safety alerts. A modified battery design offers shorter, more consistent charge times throughout the life of the device, which is a significant benefit in time to therapy, even at the time of replacement.

“This device provides significant improvements for a large group of VT/VF patients who have a low risk for atrial arrhythmias,” said Steve Mahle, president of Medtronic Cardiac Rhythm Management. “We are continuing to extend and enhance our industry-leading ICD product line. More importantly, we continue to improve the safety and performance of these devices to better serve our customers and their patients.”

Worldwide, it is estimated that less than 15 percent of patients who are indicated for the life-saving protection offered by implantable defibrillators actually receive them. In the U.S. alone, approximately 225,000 people die each year from sudden cardiac arrest.

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 http://www.medtronic.com.