Oct 12, 2001
Guidant Launches Carotid Stent System in Europe

Indianapolis, Ind. and Menlo Park, Calif. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE and PCX: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiovascular and vascular disease, today announced that the company has launched in Europe a new stent for the treatment of carotid artery disease. The company's ACCULINK(tm) Carotid Stent System is a non-surgical alternative for patients deemed unsuitable for the traditional surgical method, called carotid endarterectomy.

"Guidant is committed to offering an innovative approach and new technology for treating carotid artery disease," said Beverly Huss, president, Endovascular Solutions, Guidant. "The ACCULINK System is Guidant's latest addition to its broad portfolio of stents and stent systems."

Patients with carotid artery disease may be at risk for stroke if particles of atherosclerotic plaque are dislodged from the carotid artery wall. As these particles travel through the blood stream they can occlude vessels in the brain, preventing adequate blood flow and causing the condition known as stroke. Nearly half a million patients in Europe die from stroke each year,1 and early deaths from stroke in the European Union result in nearly 1.5 million years of life lost.2

Carotid artery stenting is a less invasive procedure that is accomplished by using a catheter that is inserted into a small puncture in the patient's leg. The stent is carried by a catheter through the patient's vessels to the carotid artery, where the stent is implanted at the site of the blockage. The stent presses against the artery wall, and is designed to trap plaque and restore blood flow through the previously blocked area.

About the ACCULINK Carotid Stent System

Guidant's ACCULINK System is designed specifically for use in the carotid artery, and features a self-expanding crush-resistant stent constructed of nickel-titanium (nitinol). The ACCULINK Carotid Stent System is designed for precise deployment in the carotid artery, and the stent is available in both tapered and straight configurations to better fit a patient's unique anatomy.

"We are pleased to have stenting as an option for treating our patients with carotid artery disease. The ACCULINK System's design addresses the clinical issues involved in treating these cases. It is deliverable and is designed for accurate and predictable placement at the diseased site in a carotid artery," said J.P.M.G. Ernst, M.D. and M.J. Suttorp, M.D., both interventionalists at St. Antonius Hospital, Niewegein, Holland. Doctors Ernst and Suttorp implanted the first two patients with the ACCULINK Stent in Europe on Oct. 8, 2001.

Guidant Corporation pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to 7 million cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. The company, driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of 10,000 employees, develops, manufactures and markets a broad array of products and services that enable less invasive care for some of life's most threatening medical conditions.

World Health Organization (WHO), 1999. The Global Burden of Disease Study, World Health Organization (WHO): Geneva; National Institute of Public Health, Stockholm, 1997.