REDMOND, Wash., Nov 15, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Physio-Control, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medtronic, Inc., (NYSE: MDT), announced today it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market LIFENET System 5.0 within the United States. LIFENET 5.0 is the latest version of Physio-Control's web-based data network, providing emergency medical services (EMS) and hospital care teams with a suite of innovative new tools and capabilities to help improve patient outcomes, trim operational costs, and streamline equipment management.

The 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care emphasize the importance of a well organized approach to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care to activate rapid access to reperfusion therapy. The LIFENET System has proven to be a key element of regional systems of care for patients experiencing a STEMI. Physio-Control has continued to add new, innovative functionality to the LIFENET System by providing tools to help teams work more efficiently.

New features available in LIFENET 5.0 include:

• LIFENET Consult - iPhone application allows physicians to perform rapid consults and provides decision support remotely to EMS and hospital care teams. The LIFENET Consult app is available for download from the iPhone App Store.
• LIFENET OnePush - Automated protocol activation, notifies necessary caregivers and allows hospital teams more time to prepare for incoming patients.
• LIFENET ePCR Delivery - Enables efficient and secure remote delivery of electronic patient care records (ePCR) to hospital printers or electronic medical record systems.
• LIFENET Asset -Provides LIFEPAK device overview and management across entire fleet including automated alerts on device status, usage information, management of setup options and software updates.
• Enhanced data integration - Enables EMS and hospitals to capture more patient data and combine it for a more-complete view of the patient.

"LIFENET has completely revolutionized our ability to get patients to our cardiac cath lab rapidly and efficiently," said Jeffrey Lubin, MD, MPH, FACEP, Director, EMS and Critical Care Transport, University Hospitals Case Medical Center. "Once the paramedics send the prehospital ECG to us, an emergency physician can quickly confirm the patient is having a STEMI and activate the lab. In many cases, cath lab personnel have actually met the EMS crew when they arrived in the ER and escorted them directly upstairs with the patient still on the stretcher."

Operational Efficiencies Impact Clinical Outcomes

Devices, such as monitors/defibrillators, are an essential investment for both EMS organizations and hospitals, and their efficient use directly impacts the success of patient care. The ability to effectively manage these devices is critical to ensuring they perform as intended and are ready when needed. The new LIFENET Asset feature facilitates device management utilizing a simple dashboard view, making it easy to track and monitor equipment status - from location, to battery life, to usage, to device setup and updates.

"LIFENET 5.0 expands on our vision of a completely connected product line, allowing for easy sharing of clinical data as well as simplifying our customers' operations", said Brian Webster, president, Physio-Control, Inc. "The significant investments we have made in the LIFENET network has built a solid infrastructure for sharing important data that also serves as a 'backbone' for providing future capabilities to customers."

LIFENET 5.0 will be available to U.S. customers in December 2010. LIFENET System 5.0 is being exhibited publicly for the first time at two cardiovascular conferences - American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2010 (Chicago, November 14-16) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Update 2010 (San Diego, December 8-10). LIFENET 5.0 is approved to market in the European Union and in Canada. Physio-Control has also announced customer availability to upgrade to LIFENET 5.0 in the United Kingdom and Canada. A video demonstrating LIFENET 5.0's capabilities is available at: www.CheckOutTheFuture.com

About Physio-Control

Physio-Control, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medtronic, Inc., is located in Redmond, Wash. Physio-Control pioneered defibrillation technology more than 55 years ago. The company is the world's leading provider of external defibrillation and monitoring technology for the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest and other cardiorespiratory emergencies. To find out more about Physio-Control, go to www.physio-control.com or call 1-800-442-1142.

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.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

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SOURCE: Medtronic, Inc.

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