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St. Jude Medical Highlights New Arrhythmia Devices at Heart Rhythm 2006 Meeting

Posted on: Tuesday, 16 May 2006, 18:08 CDT

St. Jude Medical will showcase a broad array of new cardiac rhythm management (CRM) products at the Heart Rhythm Society's 27th Annual Scientific Sessions, an international meeting of clinicians who treat patients with heart rhythm disorders, including heart failure.

In recent weeks, St. Jude Medical received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals for several significant CRM devices. In April 2006, the company received FDA approval for the Merlin(TM) Patient Care System, a state-of-the-art computer that programs St. Jude Medical implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and pacemakers. The Merlin Patient Care System, which supports current and previous generation devices, is designed to help physicians conduct patient follow-up exams more efficiently and quickly using an interface that mimics the natural workflow of a clinic.

Earlier today, St. Jude Medical announced FDA approvals for the Epic(R) II ICD and the Epic(R) II HF CRT-D (cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator). The Epic II devices are St. Jude Medical's newest and most advanced ICD and CRT-D products for treating patients with potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias and heart failure.

St. Jude Medical ICDs are known for including features that are helpful in treating the typical patient, plus more advanced, flexible features for treating the more challenging patient. Advancements in the Epic II ICD and Epic II HF CRT-D include faster telemetry functionality for speedier follow-up exams, and a patient notifier, designed to notify even patients with difficulty hearing (via a gentle vibration) of critical changes in device function.

St. Jude Medical also will highlight additional cardiac rhythm technologies that have been recently released or are now entering U.S. commercial distribution, including:

-- The Cardiac Positioning System (CPS(TM)) family of lead delivery tools for left-heart lead placement, designed to give physicians greater control and precision when navigating the challenging and critical left side of the heart during CRT device implants.

-- The Riata(R) ST lead, the world's thinnest ICD lead, designed to allow physicians to navigate more easily through a patient's veins.

-- The QuickSite(R) XL 1058T lead, designed with a more pronounced S-shaped curve for increased stability in patients with average- to large-size veins.

-- The new Tendril(R) ST 1782 pacing lead, which received FDA approval in February 2006, and is St. Jude Medical's first active fixation atrial J lead designed for quick and easy right atrial appendage placement.

-- The Victory(R) pacemaker family introduces an important combination of features including VIP(TM) (Ventricular Intrinsic Preference) designed to minimize right ventricular pacing, optimized settings to save time at implant, and faster follow-up exams with 80 percent of standard follow-up testing automatically reported by the device.

"We've listened to physicians and incorporated their feedback into these new products," said Michael J. Coyle, president of Cardiac Rhythm Management at St. Jude Medical. "The products released during 2006 reflect significant physician input, and will help them provide the same or better care in less time, thanks to increased speed and ease of use."

Heart Rhythm 2006 will be held May 17-20 in Boston. St. Jude Medical will exhibit these and other exciting products at booth 713 at the Boston Convention Center.

About St. Jude Medical

St. Jude Medical is dedicated to making life better for cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients worldwide through excellence in medical device technology and services. The Company has five major focus areas that include: cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation, cardiac surgery, cardiology and neuromodulation. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., St. Jude Medical employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide. For more information, please visit www.sjm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include the expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including potential clinical success, regulatory approvals, anticipated future product launches, revenues, margins, earnings, and market shares. The statements made by the Company are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include market conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control and the risk factors and other cautionary statements described in the Company's filings with the SEC, including the risk factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 16, 2006 (see Item 1A on pages 15-21) and the cautionary statements described in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2006 (see pages 29-30). The Company does not intend to update these statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstance.

Source: Business Wire

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