New Sophisticare Pacemaker Hits Market

May 3, 2001--Guidant Corporation, a global leader in cardiac and vascular technology, today announced the U.S. market release of its most sophisticated pacemaker ever - the PULSAR MAX II pacing system.

The PULSAR MAX II pacemaker system incorporates Guidant's separate, simultaneous dual-chamber electrograms, which are unique in the industry. This diagnostic tool provides a record of both atrial and ventricular heart rhythms to help physicians make therapy decisions. The PULSAR MAX II system adds two new features - Onset Electrograms and Event Markers -- that help make it easier for physicians to assess the origin and type of arrhythmic events.

``These electrograms give physicians valuable information about the presence or absence of arrhythmias that guide us in taking actions to make patients feel better,'' said James Coman, M.D., FACC, Oklahoma Heart Institute, Tulsa. ``For example, based on electrograms, we may be able to reduce the amount of medications patients take that make them feel tired or sluggish.''

Another new feature of the PULSAR MAX II pacemaker system is designed for patients suffering from atrial arrhythmias. This new feature, Ventricular Rate Regulation, provides pacing at regular intervals in the ventricle during atrial arrhythmias.

The PULSAR MAX II system also incorporates the highly successful blended sensor found in the PULSAR MAX pacemaker. It combines input from two sensors -- a minute-ventilation sensor that measures respiratory rate and tidal volume, and an accelerometer that measures motion. By blending the two inputs, the pacemaker can appropriately increase heart rate based on workload, not just forward motion. For example, the PULSAR MAX II pacing system provides a different heart rate for a person going for a walk than for the same person going for a walk carrying a small child.

``The sensor in the PULSAR MAX pacemaker family more closely approximates the heart's natural pacemaker - the sinus node - than any pacemaker on the market today,'' Dr. Coman said. ``My PULSAR MAX patients are the happiest patients in my practice. I now often run late in my pacemaker clinic because my PULSAR MAX patients want to tell me all about how great they feel.''

``Pacemakers are no longer just for sustaining life, they are also for enhancing life,'' said Guidant's Fred McCoy, president, cardiac rhythm management. ``Our good news for patients and their physicians is that certain symptoms people may associate with normal aging, such as shortness of breath or fatigue, may well be addressed with our advanced technologies such as the PULSAR MAX II system,'' he said.

A global leader in the medical technology industry, Guidant Corporation provides innovative, minimally invasive and cost-effective products and services for the treatment of cardiovascular and vascular disease. For more information on Guidant's products and services, visit the company's web site at www.guidant.com.