Devices Neurosurgery Orthopaedic Acquisitions

 News Release - November 17, 2008

Medtronic Adds Innovative Bone Cement Delivery System to Its Spine Product Portfolio

Innovative Technology Will Be Used in KYPHON(R) Balloon Kyphoplasty for the Treatment of Vertebral Compression Fractures

MINNEAPOLIS – Nov. 17, 2008 – (HSMN NewsFeed) - Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) announced it has added an innovative bone cement delivery system to its spine product portfolio with the acquisition of the assets and intellectual property of Pabban Development, Inc. of California. This provides Kyphon products, made by Medtronic, with a bone cement delivery system used in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) that allows physicians to be farther from the fluoroscope than with the current Medtronic offering.

The newly acquired bone cement delivery system can be used by orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, interventional neuroradiologists, and pain management specialists during the KYPHON(R) Balloon Kyphoplasty procedure for the treatment of VCFs. With this procedure, small balloons are inserted and inflated in the fractured area of the vertebra to help restore the height of the vertebral body. After the balloons are deflated and removed, the cavity that has been created is filled with bone cement that has been developed for this procedure, creating an internal cast.

“We are excited about this addition to our product family because we can offer our customers an alternative for bone cement delivery that compares more favorably with competitive offerings,” said Robert White, president of Kyphon products, part of the Spinal and Biologics business at Medtronic, which markets KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty. “We are looking forward to incorporating this technology into our Balloon Kyphoplasty procedure, which is used by more than 12,000 doctors around the world to treat VCFs caused by osteoporosis and cancer.”

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.

About Medtronic’s Spinal and Biologics Business

The Spinal and Biologics business is based in Memphis, Tenn. It is the global leader in today’s spine market and is committed to advancing the treatment of spinal conditions. The Spinal and Biologics business works with world-renowned surgeons, researchers and innovative partners to offer state-of-the-art products and technologies for neurological, orthopaedic, dental and spinal conditions. Medtronic is committed to developing affordable, minimally-invasive procedures that provide lifestyle-friendly surgical therapies. More information about the company and its treatment therapies can be found at http://www.medtronic.com/our-therapies/spinal-bone-therapies/index.htm and its patient-education Web sites, www.back.com, www.iscoliosis.com, www.maturespine.com and www.necksurgery.com.

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 25, 2008. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

KYPHON(R) Balloon Kyphoplasty incorporates technology developed by Gary K. Michelson, M.D.

Source: Medtronic

Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its content.
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.