Medtronic Announces Commercial Launch of Concerto and Virtuoso Line of Implantable Cardiac Devices in Europe

In coordination with Cardiostim 2006, the 15th World Congress inCardiac Electrophysiology and Cardiac Techniques, Medtronic, Inc.,(NYSE:MDT) today announced European approval and market availabilityof the Concerto(TM)/Virtuoso(TM) line of implantable devices, whichincludes the Concerto cardiac resynchronisation therapy-defibrillator(CRT-D) and Virtuoso single- and dual-chamber implantablecardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). These are Medtronic's firstcardiac rhythm disease management devices with wireless telemetry,enabling communication remotely between the implanted device andprogrammers in a clinician's office and at implant, or between thedevice and a patient home monitor.

Representing a new way to monitor patient health and diseaseprogression, these devices allow heart patients to automaticallyreceive visual notification on a home monitor called thePatientLook(TM) Indicator when their device detects an alert, such asatrial fibrillation, thoracic fluid accumulation, or a deviceperformance issue. If the PatientLook Indicator notes an alertcondition, patients are instructed to call their physician with thisimportant health status information. In addition, patients may alsomanually initiate a self-check to view the status of their condition,and get visual notification of their alert status.

"With the advent of wireless communication between implantablecardiac devices and programmers, as well as home monitors, we see newopportunities for more convenient and more effective implants, devicemanagement and patient care," said Professor and Dr. of MedicineChristina Unterberg-Buchwald of University Hospital Gottingen,Germany.

"These devices have the potential to improve patients' quality oflife and the care they receive, because of the availability of thealert notifications," added Dr. Dieter Zenker, University HospitalGottingen, Germany. Professor Unterberg-Buchwald and Dr. Zenker workedtogether on the earlier Concerto AT trial.

The Virtuoso ICDs and Concerto CRT-D help track and manage heartfailure symptoms. They also will deliver a shock to terminate adangerously abnormal heart rhythm. The Concerto CRT-D device alsosends tiny electrical impulses to the heart muscle to resynchronisethe contractions of the heart's lower chambers, helping the heart pumpblood throughout the body more efficiently. These devices wererecently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.Other features of the system include:

-- Conexus(TM) Wireless Telemetry with SmartRadio(TM) Technology: Utilising the Medical Implant Communication Service (MICS) radio frequency band, 402-405 MHz, Medtronic Conexus Telemetry enables reliable communication between the patient's implanted device and home monitor or clinician programmer at a range of two to five meters. The MICS band is a frequency designated by global telecommunications regulatory authorities for implantable medical device communication. Use of the MICS band protects Medtronic wireless devices from interference caused by cellular or cordless phones and other common electronic devices, providing a level of protection that cannot be offered by systems that use other frequencies.

-- OptiVol(R) Fluid Status Monitoring: OptiVol measures changes in impedance in the thoracic cavity, the chest area encompassing the lungs and heart. Using very low electrical pulses that travel across the thoracic cavity, the system can measure the level of resistance to the electrical pulses, which indicates the level of fluid in the thorax. Since normal fluid levels may vary from patient to patient and fluid accumulation can be either slow or rapid, OptiVol's ability to measure fluid status trends over time can provide important insights used in conjunction with ongoing monitoring of other patient symptoms. Previously available on the Medtronic InSync Sentry(TM) CRT-D device, OptiVol is now available to Virtuoso single- and dual-chamber ICD patients as well as Concerto CRT-D patients.

-- Left Ventricular Capture Management: LVCM, available on the Concerto CRT-D, is intended to automatically sense and adjust impulses for stimulation of the heart's lower left chamber (ventricle) and ensure cardiac resynchronisation therapy.

-- ATP During Charging(TM): Automatically uses pacing pulses to painlessly stop fast, dangerous heartbeats, while concurrently preparing to deliver a shock if needed, with no delay. Medtronic PainFREE(TM) Therapy has been clinically proven to eliminate three out of four shocks with painless pacing therapy. ATP During Charging is now available for both CRT-D and single- and dual-chamber ICD patients.

-- Managed Ventricular Pacing: MVP(TM) Mode, available on the Virtuoso DR (dual chamber) ICD, promotes intrinsic conduction and reduces right ventricular pacing by 99 percent (median), potentially reducing the risk of heart failure hospitalisations and atrial fibrillation.

"We're raising the level of innovation with the introduction ofwireless telemetry, combined with OptiVol Fluid Status Monitoring andthe most advanced therapies and diagnostics," said Steve Mahle,president of the Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management business atMedtronic. "The Concerto/Virtuoso line of implantable devicesrepresents the best in cardiac rhythm and disease management."

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 theworld.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks anduncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Quarterly Reporton Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 27, 2006. Actual resultsmay differ materially from anticipated results.