Sep 1, 2004
Guidant Wins Appeal in Defibrillator Patent Case

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals Returns the Case to Lower Court to Determine Infringement and Damages

Indianapolis, Ind. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT) today announced that it won its appeal in a defibrillator patent case against St. Jude Medical, Inc. In the lawsuit, Guidant has asserted its rights under the defibrillator patents Guidant has exclusively licensed from Mirowski Family Ventures, LLC, the entity that holds the patent rights of Dr. Michel Mirowski, the inventor of the implantable defibrillator.

"This ruling reflects the strength and breadth of the company's cardiac rhythm management intellectual property portfolio," said Fred McCoy, President, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Guidant Corporation. "At Guidant, we are proud to be the steward of the Mirowski patent portfolio. We will continue to leverage the strength of this portfolio into key evolving therapies such as the treatment of heart failure."

In July 2001, a federal district court jury found that St. Jude''s defibrillators infringed one of the Mirowski patents and awarded $140 million in damages against St. Jude. In February 2002, the federal district court judge overturned the jury's verdict and ruled that the patents were invalid and not infringed. Guidant filed an appeal limited to one of those patents.

Yesterday, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the validity of the patent on appeal and returned the case to the trial court for a determination of infringement and damages.

Guidant Corporation is a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease. The company pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to millions of cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. Driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of 12,000 employees, Guidant 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.

NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information about Guidant, including its products and services, please visit the company''s newsroom at www.guidant.com/newsroom.