May 20, 2003
Guidant's Virtual Reality Physician Training Technology Added to Paris Course on Revascularization

State-of-the-Art Simulation Programs Expand Guidant''s Medical Education Offerings to Physicians

Indianapolis, Ind. and Brussels, Belgium - Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease, and the Paris Course on Revascularization (EuroPCR) jointly announced that Guidant''s Virtual Reality (VR) training technology for catheter-based procedures has been integrated into the core curriculum of the course.

The VR hands-on skills training system is part of Guidant''s ongoing commitment to providing doctors with the latest innovations in training and technology to advance the treatment of cardiovascular disease and improve patient outcomes.

"We are extremely pleased that EuroPCR has added Guidant''s VR training technology to its sessions," said Nicky Spaulding, president, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Canada, Guidant Corporation. "Guidant remains strongly committed to training and education as part of our partnership with physicians who treat cardiovascular diseases. We will continue to expand and deepen our training technology to benefit our physician partners and, ultimately, the patients."

"This virtual reality system allows physicians to practice most catheter-based procedures and techniques in very rapid succession," said Prof. Jean Marco of Clinique Pasteur, Toulouse, France, and course director at Guidant''s Institute for Therapy Advancement in Brussels. "In the same way we expect that the pilot flying our plane has been trained repeatedly on a flight simulator, I believe it is unthinkable that in the future physicians will perform an interventional procedure on a patient before going through VR training for that procedure."
Guidant Advances Clinical and Educational Training Programs Worldwide

Guidant continues to broaden its educational and training offerings for physicians through innovative programs. Together with medical simulation company Mentice, Guidant''s Institute for Therapy Advancement - based in Brussels - facilitates educational courses on cardiac and vascular therapies for approximately 2,000 clinicians each year. In addition, Guidant will expand its Virtual Reality educational programs to Japan with the planned opening in late summer 2003 of a second Institute for Therapy Advancement facility in Tokyo. Other locations also are being considered for establishing training facilities with groundbreaking Virtual Reality programs.
About the Paris Course on Revascularization

The annual Paris Course on Revascularization, held May 20 - 23 in Paris, is focused on education and training of physicians who treat patients with cardiovascular diseases. Advanced education techniques and programs related to patient treatment are of particular interest and value at the well-attended event. More information about the event can be found online at www.europcr.com.

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 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.