Medtronic Announces European Launch of Achieve™ Mapping Catheter

Innovative Technology Designed to Optimize Arctic Front® Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System in the Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

MINNEAPOLIS, USA and TOLOCHENAZ, SWITZERLAND - Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) today announced the European launch of the Achieve™ Mapping Catheter, an intra-cardiac electrophysiology recording catheter that can be used to assess pulmonary vein isolation when treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The innovative catheter technology, which has received the CE (Conformite Europeenne) Mark, is designed to be used with the Medtronic Arctic Front® Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System, offering a more straightforward approach to the minimally invasive procedure.

“The Achieve Mapping Catheter provides valuable insight through real-time assessment of pulmonary vein isolation during cryoablation with the Arctic Front,” said Prof. Dr. Ellen Hoffmann, Klinikum Munchen-Bogenhausen.

The Achieve Mapping Catheter has a distal mapping section with a circular loop which is available in two loop diameters (15 mm and 20 mm). It is deployed through the Arctic Front guidewire lumen, allowing for a single transseptal puncture. The catheter features eight evenly spaced electrodes on a loop, enabling physicians to map electrical conduction between the left atrium and pulmonary veins. Additionally, the catheter allows for assessment of pulmonary vein potentials both before and after cryoablation and also helps physicians assess time-to-effect during cryoablation.

“The Achieve Mapping Catheter offers a significant enhancement to the Arctic Front system – presenting physicians with a simplified approach to pulmonary vein isolation,” said Reggie Groves, vice president and general manager of Medtronic’s AF Solutions division. “We are committed to providing physicians with the most advanced medical technology to treat heart rhythm diseases and improve patient quality of life.”

About the Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System
The Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System is designed to be used with fluoroscopy and does not require the use of complex, three-dimensional mapping systems. The technologies currently offered in the system include:

* The Arctic Front Cryoballoon, which inflates and fills with coolant to ablate the tissue where the pulmonary veins enter the left atrium;
* The FlexCath® Steerable Sheath, which helps deliver and position the cryocatheter in the left atrium;
* The Freezor® MAX Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter, which is a single-point catheter used to provide additional ablations, as needed; and
* The CryoConsole, which houses the coolant, electrical and mechanical components that run the catheters during a cryoablation procedure.

Note: The Achieve Mapping Catheter is not available for sale in the United States.

About Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the most common and one of the most undertreated heart rhythm disorders, affecting more than 7 million people worldwide. It is estimated that half of all diagnosed atrial fibrillation patients fail drug therapy, and if left untreated, patients have up to a five times higher risk of stroke and an increased chance of developing heart failure. Additionally, since atrial fibrillation is often age-related, as the global population continues to grow older, the need for more effective treatment options is escalating.

PAF is a type of atrial fibrillation in which irregular heartbeats in the upper chambers start and stop suddenly on their own, usually for minutes or days at a time.

About Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.