A new device under study may help prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation and free them from a lifetime of taking often problematic blood thinning medications.

The new thermacool ablation catheter has a showerhead like tip which sprays saline and prevents cardiac surface form becomming too hot. This allows physicians to safely deliver more RF power allowing creation of precise, deeper and larger lesions making ablations more effective.

As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to evaluate the safety and performance of certain implantable defibrillators manufactured by Guidant Corporation, the Agency has now classified the recalled devices.

Indianapolis, Ind. — June 24, 2005 — Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT) said today it is voluntarily advising physicians about important safety information regarding certain devices. Guidant apprised FDA of this action, and FDA may classify this action as a recall.

Indianapolis, Ind. — June 17, 2005 — Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT) said today it is voluntarily advising physicians about important safety information regarding certain devices. Guidant has apprised FDA of these actions, and FDA has indicated that it will classify them as recalls. These communications advise physicians and their patients of safety information and are intended to limit adverse events.

Indianapolis, Ind. — May 25, 2005 — Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT) initiated a communication to physicians regarding the clinical performance of its VENTAK PRIZM® 2 DR Model 1861 implantable defibrillator. There have been 26 reports of failure including one recent death.

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 11, 2005 – Medtronic, Inc., (NYSE: MDT) today said it is voluntarily advising physicians about a potential battery shorting mechanism that may occur in a subset of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) models.

Arizona Arrhythmia Consultants have opened a new east valley office in Chandler, Arizona. Patients will be seen in this clinic on Wednesday of each week. Office is located at 655 N. Dobson Road (Suite B 115) near Chandler Regional Hospital.