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Press release: Medtronic, HT Medical Systems Relationship Expands - New Strategic Investment Announced

(GAITHERSBURG, MD) October 25, 1999 – HT Medical Systems, Inc. announced that Medtronic, the world’s leading medical technology company, has made a significant capital investment in the company. The agreement allows Medtronic to make additional investments in HT Medical Systems in the near future.

"Our involvement with Medtronic has evolved into a multifaceted relationship that includes additional product development and now a strategic capital investment," said HT Medical Systems chairman and founder Gregory L. Merril. "Medtronic's decision to support our technology confirms its belief in the importance of virtual reality in medical education, training, and procedural rehearsal," Merril added.

Today millions of healthcare practitioners require on-going medical education, training, and certification. Although other fields, such as aviation, have successfully developed and applied virtual reality technology in professional training for years, unique technological challenges have limited the use of virtual reality in medical training. 

HT Medical Systems has developed state-of-the-art technology that simulates hands-on medical practice. The firm’s new virtual reality products allow medical practitioners to realistically interact with computer environments that accurately represent the behavior of human tissues and organs. The devices integrate proprietary computer software and tactile feedback robotics with low cost, high power graphics computers, resulting in highly realistic medical simulations. 

Using this novel technology, HT Medical Systems has launched three virtual reality medical simulation product lines, worldwide. Products include:

• CathSim™ Intravenous Training System
  
  Allows nurses, doctors, emergency medical technicians, and other medical professionals to practice a wide range of intravenous catheterization procedures. CathSim sales have averaged 47% growth per quarter for the six quarters ending August 30,1999. 
  
• PreOp™ Endoscopy Simulator
  
  Prepares medical professionals to perform various flexible endoscopic procedures such as bronchoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. This product began commercial sales in April 1999.
  
• PreOp™ Endovascular Training Simulator
  
  Allows physicians to practice angioplasty and other endovascular techniques through the manipulation of simulated guide wires, sheaths, catheters, pacemaker leads, and other devices. Through a collaborative effort with Medtronic this simulator was developed and launched in January 1999. 

HT Medical Systems continues to build strategic relationships with medical device and pharmaceutical companies. HT Medical Systems has also signed a cooperative development agreement with the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) to use the firm's simulators to evaluate the performance of practitioners.

Founded in 1987, HT Medical Systems (www.ht.com) designs, manufactures, and markets computer-based medical simulators that allow healthcare personnel to practice minimally invasive procedures without placing patients at risk.

Medtronic, Inc. is the world's leading medical technology company, specializing in interventional and implantable therapies that restore health, extend life and alleviate pain. For more information on Medtronic, please check www.medtronic.com.