Medtronic Joins CIMIT Vulnerable Plaque Program
as a Contributor

CAMBRIDGE, MA - April 29, 2004 - We are pleased to announce that Medtronic has joined the CIMIT Vulnerable Plaque Program as a Contributor.

Medtronic is the world's leading medical technology company, with deep roots in the treatment of heart disease. Key businesses with whom we will be interacting are:

• Medtronic Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) develops products that restore and regulate a patient's heart rhythm, as well as improve the heart's pumping function. The business markets implantable pacemakers, defibrillators, cardiac ablation catheters, monitoring and diagnostic devices and cardiac resynchronization devices, including the first implantable device for the treatment of heart failure. In addition, the business markets automated external defibrillators (AEDs) - which are increasingly being placed in public places, such as businesses, airports, shopping centers and even homes - and the industry's first Internet-based network to enable physicians to remotely monitor their patients who have cardiac devices.
  
  
• Medtronic Cardiac Surgery develops products that are used in both arrested and beating heart bypass surgery. The business also markets the industry's broadest line of heart valve products for both replacement and repair, plus autotransfusion equipment and disposable devices for handling and monitoring blood during major surgery.
  
  
• Medtronic Vascular develops products and therapies that treat a wide range of vascular diseases and conditions. These products include coronary, peripheral and neurovascular stents, stent graft systems for diseases and conditions throughout the aorta, and distal protection systems. The business is also moving forward with the development of a drug-eluting stent to prevent restenosis. Medtronic Vascular also markets a full line of balloon angioplasty catheters, guide catheters, guidewires, diagnostic catheters and accessories.

Medtronic does business in more than 120 countries and has scientific, manufacturing, education and sales facilities worldwide.

Current sponsors of the CIMIT Vulnerable Plaque Program are:

• Cordis
• Terumo
• Guidant
• Amersham
• Boston Scientific
• Medtronic