September 23, 2004

ST. PAUL, MN, September 23, 2004 -- St. Jude Medical Inc. (NYSE: STJ) and Endocardial Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECSI) jointly announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement whereby St. Jude Medical will acquire Endocardial Solutions, Inc. for $11.75 per share in cash consideration which represents an aggregate purchase price of approximately $273 million.

Endocardial Solutions, Inc. (ESI), located in St. Paul, Minnesota, develops, manufactures, and markets the EnSite® System used for the navigation and localization of diagnostic and therapeutic catheters used in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and other electrophysiology catheterization procedures. The EnSite® System also is used for the diagnostic mapping of abnormal heart rhythms with a 3D graphical display of the heart’s electrical activity. ESI has a strategic focus of increasing clinical adoption of its EnSite® System for the diagnosis and treatment of AF and other arrhythmias and will become part of St. Jude Medical’s AF Division.

“This transaction is another step forward in St. Jude Medical’s drive for leadership in providing medical devices and services to help cure AF as well as benefit the broader field of electrophysiology,” said Daniel J. Starks, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Jude Medical. “Endocardial Solutions’ impressive technology and new product pipeline, combined with the global distribution, products, and infrastructure of St. Jude Medical, creates compelling clinical value for the benefit of the customers, employees and shareholders of both companies. We look forward to completing this transaction toward the end of this year and welcoming the employees of Endocardial Solutions to St. Jude Medical.”

Endocardial Solutions’ President and Chief Executive Officer, James W. Bullock, said, “Endocardial Solutions and St. Jude Medical clearly have a common commitment and focus to advance medical technology and services to help patients around the world suffering from atrial fibrillation and other cardiac rhythm disorders. It also is clear that the two companies’ AF programs will be stronger together than either company’s AF program would be on its own. Once this transaction is completed, Endocardial Solutions’ unique technology, as well as its customers and employees, will benefit from St. Jude Medical’s strong global presence, resources, and comprehensive programs for the electrophysiologist.”

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, regulatory approvals and approval by ESI shareholders and is expected to close toward the end of December 2004. The Company will record a $10 to 12 million in-process R&D charge in the fourth quarter in connection with this transaction. St. Jude Medical estimates this transaction will be neutral to 2005 earnings and accretive to earnings beginning in 2006.

After heart failure, AF is one of the most prevalent, debilitating, and expensive cardiovascular diseases in the world. It is a pervasive cardiac rhythm disorder in which the upper chambers of the heart do not beat effectively. AF results in reduced cardiac output, exacerbates heart failure, and can result in the pooling and clotting of blood in the heart, often leading to stroke or other neurological problems. The prevalence of AF worldwide is in excess of six million patients. AF is progressive, expanding in incidence and severity with age. The economic impact to public and private healthcare systems of AF is increasing as populations age.

The agreement to acquire ESI follows St. Jude Medical’s earlier acquisition of Epicor Medical, Inc. and STJ’s definitive agreement to acquire Irvine Biomedical, Inc. Completion of the acquisition of ESI will further broaden St. Jude Medical’s electrophysiology technology and programs consistent with the Company’s “surround AF” strategy, offering physicians sophisticated devices and catheter systems to diagnose, suppress and cure atrial fibrillation.

St. Jude Medical pacemaker and ICD systems incorporate the Company’s unique AF suppression algorithm, the first clinically proven technology to suppress atrial fibrillation. The Company also offers a broad range of advanced catheter systems for use by clinicians in the clinical management of patients with AF. An investigational device exemption (IDE) application has been approved by the FDA for a feasibility study using St. Jude Medical’s proprietary Lineage™ PV catheter ablation system.

St. Jude Medical will host a webcast conference call with the investment community Friday, September 24 at 8 AM CDT to discuss the Endocardial Solutions acquisition. To logon to this webcast conference, visit the following website www.sjm.com.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=73836&p=irol-EventDetails&EventId=947449.

Any statements made regarding St. Jude Medical’s anticipated future product launches, regulatory approvals, revenues, earnings, market shares, and potential clinical success are forward-looking statements which are subject to risks and uncertainties, such as those described in the Financial Section of the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (see pages 11-16). Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

St. Jude Medical, Inc. is dedicated to the design, manufacture and distribution of innovative medical devices of the highest quality, offering physicians, patients and payers unmatched clinical performance and demonstrated economic value.

Contacts:
John Heinmiller
Executive VP & CFO
651.490.4326

Peter Gove
Media Relations
651.481.7790