Oct 5, 2004
Guidant Launches Next-Generation Technology for Less-Invasive Coronary Bypass Surgery

Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting Reduces Pain, Minimizes Scarring and Speeds Recovery

Indianapolis, Ind. and Santa Clara, Calif. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT) today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and U.S. launch of the company''s VASOVIEW® 6 Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting System for extracting vessels used by surgeons to perform coronary artery bypass procedures.

The VASOVIEW 6 Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting System allows the clinician to remove a vein from the leg or an artery from the arm through one small incision. Endoscopic vessel harvesting has been shown to reduce postoperative pain, recovery time, infection rates and scarring, allowing patients to walk sooner and more easily after surgery. Guidant''s VASOVIEW® Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting Systems have been used in nearly 400,000 patients to date. The company''s sixth-generation VASOVIEW System incorporates improvements to enhance performance and make the system easier to use. The VASOVIEW 6 Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting System is supported with personalized training.

"Endoscopic vessel harvesting is a valuable component in making cardiac surgery less invasive while reducing post-operative pain and minimizing scarring, leading to a faster recovery," said Maria Degois-Sainz, president, Cardiac Surgery, Guidant Corporation. "Guidant is committed to the ongoing development of technology that enables minimally invasive approaches in treating cardiovascular disease with decreased complications and improved patient outcomes."

"VASOVIEW has significantly changed coronary bypass surgery for our patients," commented Mark Connolly, M.D., Director, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, St. Michael''s Medical Center, Newark, New Jersey. "When we used to create a long leg incision to harvest the vein, patients complained after surgery more about leg pain than about pain caused by opening the chest. With endoscopic vessel harvesting, patients don''t complain about leg pain, they walk sooner, and they recover more rapidly after bypass surgery."

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 12,000 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.