MEDTRONIC MINIMED INTRODUCES NEW INSULIN PUMP SOFTWARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE
DIABETES MANAGEMENT

Solutions* Software 5.0 Enables Diabetes Patients and Clinicians to View
Important Data, Identify Trends and Optimize Diabetes Care

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Aug. 6, 2003 -Medtronic MiniMed, the diabetes
management business of Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), today announced the
availability of a new software program, which captures important information
from insulin pumps and glucose meters, allowing patients and clinicians to
view important data and adjust therapy to improve diabetes care. Solutions*
Software 5.0 was introduced at the American Association of Diabetes
Educators (AADE) meeting in Salt Lake City.

Solutions Software 5.0 creates easy-to-understand graphs and charts using
information from many Medtronic MiniMed insulin pumps and a variety of
popular blood glucose meters, including the Paradigm Link(tm) Blood Glucose
Monitor. By viewing blood sugar and insulin delivery (basal and bolus) data
from the software, clinicians and patients can more easily identify trends
and adjust diabetes therapy to improve blood sugar control. Maintaining
blood sugar control within a normal range can improve health and extend life
for many diabetes patients.

"By having easy-to-read reports during office visits, I am able to quickly
assess therapy changes and spend more quality time with my patients to
improve their care," said H. Peter Chase, MD, professor of Pediatrics,
Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Health
Services Center, in Denver. "Information contained in these reports is
accurate and reliable since the information comes directly from the pump and
meter, enhancing my ability to make more informed treatment decisions.
Additionally, patients who previously relied on handwritten logbooks can use
this software to be more proactive in their own diabetes care."

The software also captures food carbohydrate values entered by the user into
Medtronic MiniMed's recently released Paradigm. 512 pump. The new pump uses
carbohydrate data in its Bolus Wizard(tm) calculator, which performs complex
"diabetes math" and recommends an insulin dosage based upon information
preset by the user. The Paradigm 512 pump system's Paradigm Link monitor,
co-developed with BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), serves as
the information conduit, transferring important data from Paradigm insulin
pumps to the software stored in a personal computer.

"Solutions Software 5.0 represents an important step forward in data
management for clinicians and patients," said Jeffery A. McCaulley, vice
president and general manager of Medtronic MiniMed. "When used with our new
integrated, 'intelligent' insulin pump and glucose monitor system, users can
optimize diabetes therapy by easily sorting data to monitor historical pump,
meter and carbohydrate activity. Accurate reports of this kind can help
improve diabetes management, making life better for many patients."

Solutions Software 5.0 downloads data from Medtronic MiniMed Models 507C and
508 pumps, Paradigm 511 and 512 pumps, and a variety of blood glucose
meters. In addition, Web-enabled users have access to "Solutions on the
Web," an Internet-based software "tutorial" to help users navigate through
reports to enhance their understanding of this important data.

It is estimated that more than 1 million Americans with Type 1 diabetes and
another 3 million Type 2 diabetes patients use insulin to control blood
sugar levels, improve their health and attain a better quality of life.
High and low blood sugar fluctuations can cause loss of consciousness or
even death, as well as long-term complications such as blindness, kidney
failure, amputation, impotence and heart disease. For many patients,
managing diabetes is difficult without frequent blood glucose monitoring and
the use of an insulin pump.

Medtronic MiniMed (<A HREF="http://www.minimed.com/">www.minimed.com</A> <<A
HREF="http://www.minimed.com/">http://www.minimed.com/</A>>) designs,
develops, manufactures and markets advanced infusion systems with a primary
emphasis on the intensive management of diabetes. The company's products
include external pumps, related disposables, and a continuous glucose
monitoring system. Medtronic, Inc. (<A
HREF="http://www.medtronic.com/">www.medtronic.com</A>
<<A HREF="http://www.medtronic.com/">http://www.medtronic.com/</A>>),
headquartered in Minneapolis, is the world's
leading medical technology company, providing lifelong solutions for people
with chronic disease. More information about Solutions Software is
available online at <A HREF="http://www.minimed.com/">www.minimed.com</A>
<<A
HREF="http://www.minimed.com/">http://www.minimed.com</A>>.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Detailed information about diabetes, insulin pump therapy
and the Paradigm 512 pump and Paradigm Link system is available by accessing
Medtronic's online newsroom at
<<A
HREF="http://www.medtronic.com/newsroom/media_kits_Diabetes.html">http://www
.
medtronic.com/newsroom/media_kits_Diabetes.html</A>>.

Any statements made about the company's anticipated regulatory approvals are
forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties such as those
described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
April 25, 2003. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated
results.