Jul 21, 2003
Guidant Announces European Market Launch of its Most Advanced Pacemaker Line

Latest Addition to Pacemaker Portfolio Offers Improved Therapy Options While Maintaining Size and Longevity

Brussels, Belgium and St. Paul, Minn. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease, today announced the European market launch of the newest addition to the INSIGNIA® family of pacemakers'"the INSIGNIA Ultra line. The INSIGNIA Ultra line represents Guidant''s most advanced pacemaker offering and delivers industry-leading therapies and diagnostics in a small, smart and long-lasting device.

"The INSIGNIA Ultra system incorporates new programming features while maintaining the physiologic shape and small size that has made the INSIGNIA line so successful," said Fred McCoy, president, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Guidant Corporation.

The INSIGNIA Ultra pacemaker includes a new feature that combines the enhanced security of beat-to-beat pacing verification with the ease of one-button programmability. Guidant''s automatic capture feature looks at every beat to see if the lower chambers of the heart contracted in response to the delivered pacing pulse from the device. If no contraction is detected, a backup pace with more energy is issued to ensure contraction. This allows the pacemaker to operate at lower energy levels to optimize energy delivery. Guidant''s one-button programmability solution allows physicians to spend more time with their patients and less time programming device features.

"Feedback from the clinical investigators in Europe on automatic capture has been excellent and they have been eagerly awaiting its commercial release," said Nicky Spaulding, president, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Canada, Guidant Corporation.

The INSIGNIA pacing system''s unique teardrop shape and smaller size give the device a more physiologic dimension intended to facilitate insertion during implant. In addition to being smaller than previous Guidant pacemakers, this new platform also offers improved longevity over its predecessors.

The INSIGNIA Ultra device is designed to treat bradycardia, a condition in which the heart beats too slowly-usually less than 60 beats per minute. As a result, the body does not get enough oxygen and nutrients to function properly. More than 600,000 people worldwide receive pacemaker treatment each year for bradycardia.

Guidant Corporation pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to millions of cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. The company, driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of more than 11,000 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. For more information visit www.guidant.com.
About the INSIGNIA Ultra pacemaker

The INSIGNIA Ultra pacemaker builds upon Guidant''s commitment of providing the advanced therapy of physiologic pacing through Guidant''s proprietary blended-sensor technology. The blended sensor is designed to measure patient workload through respiration and motion providing optimal rate response during changing levels of patient activity. With the blended sensor, Guidant is able to approximate a normal heart response in patients who have the inability to do so on their own. The new AutoLifestyle feature found in this device makes it even easier for patients to benefit from the blended sensor technology through automatic sensor optimization. The pacemaker''s unique AutoLifestyle enhancement automatically tailors Guidant''s blended sensor technology to each individual patient, providing personalized rate responsive pacing.

The ventricular automatic capture feature continually monitors effectiveness of therapy delivery. This allows the pacemaker to operate at lower energy levels to optimize energy delivery, an important consideration in increasing device longevity. The INSIGNIA Ultra pacemaker''s automatic capture feature works with a wide variety of pacing leads, making this device an ideal choice for both new and replacement implants.

The INSIGNIA Ultra pacemaker''s small size, 10.8 cc in weight and 44x42x8 mm (HxWxD), and physiologic shape is intended to help facilitate insertion during implant and provide greater patient comfort.
About Bradycardia

A normal heart typically beats 60 to 80 times a minute. At this rate, the heart pumps about five liters of blood throughout your body per minute. However, if the signal rate is too slow, the chambers of your heart do not contract often enough to supply the proper amount of blood and oxygen to your body. This condition is called bradycardia. Bradycardia can affect the very young to the very old, though it is most commonly diagnosed among the elderly.

Typical symptoms of bradycardia include fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Even routine activities, such as getting up from a chair or walking to the mailbox, may leave you short of breath. Often, the symptoms of bradycardia occur gradually, which causes many people to think they are "just tired" or "getting older" rather than that they are experiencing a heart problem.

The most common treatment for bradycardia is a pacemaker.