MEDTRONIC LANDMARX ENT IMAGE SYSTEM WINS MDEA AWARD.

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), Minneapolis, was named a 2007 Medical Device Excellence Award (MDEA) Silver Award winner for its LandmarX Element ENT Image Guidance System (IGS). Manufactured for the company's Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) business unit by the Navigation business at Medtronic, the LandmarX Element provides advanced technology to support the essential IGS functions an ENT surgeon needs for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS).

The LandmarX Element system is a surgical platform that supports use of special application software and associated instruments. The procedure-specific automated software requires no more than three to five minutes to complete the steps necessary for FESS navigation. The simplified user interface and minimized pre-operative set-up time make it an attractive and cost-effective solution for FESS surgeries performed at ambulatory surgery centers, where support staff can be trained in one to two cases.

The system reformats patient-specific CT images acquired before surgery and displays them onscreen from a variety of perspectives (axial, sagittal, coronal). During surgery, the system tracks the position of the instruments in or on the patient anatomy and continuously updates the instrument position on these images. LandmarX eNV instruments were the first to market with rotating arrays that maintain line of sight for both right- and left-handed surgeons, enabling uninterrupted navigation. Announced in April of this year, the winning products in the 2007 Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition received their gold or silver recognition at a ceremony held June 13 during the Medical Design & Manufacturing East 2007 Conference and Exposition at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

MDEA, a worldwide competition, is the premier awards program for the medical technology community. Winning entries are chosen based on innovative use of materials or processes and design and engineering features that enhance the ability of medical professionals to provide healthcare, offer improved patient benefits, and better overall delivery of care.

About the ENT Business at Medtronic

Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the ENT business at Medtronic develops and manufactures products designed to treat ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases. As the market leader in ENT, Medtronic is changing the way ENT surgery is performed with innovative, minimally invasive products and techniques that benefit both patients and surgeons. Main products include powered tissue-removal systems and other microendoscopy instruments, nerve monitoring systems, disposable fluid control products, image-guided surgery systems and a disease therapy device. Learn more about the ENT business on the web at http://www.MedtronicENT.com.

About Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.

For more information, visit http://www.medtronic.com or call 763/505-2998.