Guidant Implants Small Advanced Generation Cardiac Arrhythmia Control Device in the U.S

Business Wire, March 22, 1995

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 1995--Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT) and its CPI business unit today announced the first implant of the VENTAK(R) PRx(R) III HC AICD(TM) Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator system. The implant marks the first use in the United States of the VENTAK PRx III HC in which the pulse generator serves as one of the energy electrodes for the implanted system. This configuration, in conjunction with CPI's proprietary biphasic waveform, is a new method for lowering defibrillation thresholds.

The pulse generator was implanted in a 44-year-old male police officer at Elyria Memorial Hospital in Elyria, Ohio. Lon Castle, M.D., was the electrophysiologist who performed the implant. The patient had a 5 Joule defibrillation threshold, a measure of how much energy was needed to convert the patient's abnormal heart rhythm.

The system includes the VENTAK PRx III HC pulse generator, the ENDOTAK(R) 70-series lead and the Programmer-Recorder-Monitor, Model 2950, that is used to program the device and assist in patient follow-up. The pulse generator is 30 percent smaller than its U.S. market-released predecessor. This advanced cardiac rhythm management device offers therapies for controlling life-threatening rapid heart rhythms (tachycardia) as well as treatment of slow heartbeats (bradycardia). It builds on the features of the VENTAK PRx III, which is market-released in Europe and is under review for release in the U.S., but has the additional capability of the pulse generator serving as one of the electrodes.

A multi-therapy device, the VENTAK PRx III HC provides antitachycardia pacing (a series of low energy pacing pulses designed to terminate an inappropriately fast heartbeat), cardioversion and defibrillation (higher energy pulses that are used to terminate life-threatening rapid heart rhythms) and bradycardia pacing (to speed up a heart that is beating too slow). The device also provides a complete patient history file and has advanced features, including diagnostic-quality stored electrogram capability and a biphasic waveform that is designed to lower the amount of energy needed to correct a too-rapid heart rhythm.

CPI's family of VENTAK AICD/ENDOTAK systems treat patients who experience life-threatening rapid heart rhythms by automatically providing a defibrillation pulse to restore the normal heart rhythm. The VENTAK PRx III HC builds on the success of these original devices and provides advanced treatment options in a downsized product.

A leader in the medical device industry, Guidant Corporation provides innovative, cost-effective products and services to the global cardiology and minimally invasive surgery marketplaces. Guidant comprises Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (ACS), Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. (CPI), Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc. (DVI), Heart Rhythm Technologies, Inc. (HRT), and Origin Medsystems, Inc. CPI manufactures heart pacemaker systems, AICD automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators, lead systems and related products.

CONTACT: Guidant Corp., Indianapolis

David W. Pomfret, 317/276-6765

CPI

Carol A. Lindahl, 612/582-4461