Medtronic Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance of Next-Generation Export® XT Aspiration Catheter

MINNEAPOLIS – Sept. 25, 2006 – Adding to its legacy of vascular aspiration catheter technology, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance of the Export® XT Aspiration Catheter. The Export XT is a next-generation aspiration catheter designed for removal of dangerous embolic materials that can result during vascular intervention procedures. Since its introduction in 2001, the Export aspiration catheter has been used with more than 150,000 patients worldwide for the removal of embolic debris.

Based on the proprietary “full-wall variable braiding technology” found in the Medtronic Launcher® and Sherpa NX guide catheters, the Export XT aspiration catheter promotes optimal performance during cardiovascular interventions. Aspiration catheters are important because they allow physicians to remove, or “aspirate,” dangerous foreign particles (embolic debris such as blood clots and fat globules) that may become dislodged in a blood vessel during interventional procedures.

The Export XT aspiration catheter features a soft tip material with a short, beveled design for minimal vessel trauma and improved debris capture, plus a hydrophilic coating for greater lubricity. The “full-wall variable braiding” also helps eliminate segment joints and weak points in the catheter to improve kink resistance, and allows enhanced deliverability due to seamless transition of shaft stiffness from one end of the catheter to the other.

Available immediately from Medtronic, the Export XT aspiration catheter is available in a length of 140 cm and is compatible with a 0.014-inch guidewire and a 6F guide catheter or sheath configuration.

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.

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Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 28, 2006. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

Contact Information

Scott Papillon

Senior Public Relations Manager

Medtronic, Inc.

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