Medtronic Receives 2006 Humanitarian Award; American Academy of Otolaryngology Awards Medtronic for Its Role in Championing Medical and Surgical Outreach to Developing Countries

"We are pleased to receive this prestigious award from the AAO,"said Mark Fletcher, president of Medtronic's ENT business based inJacksonville, Fla. "Medtronic is passionate about making a positivedifference in people's lives, whether they are our customers ormembers of our global community. The Humanitarian Award is a wonderfulacknowledgement of our efforts, which support Medtronic's mission toalleviate pain, restore health and extend the lives of people aroundthe world."

Medtronic assisted in a commitment to aid AAO humanitarian effortsthroughout the world. In the process, Medtronic provided medical andsurgical supplies on a significant scale to implement teaching andpatient care. The company also provided medical and surgical loanerequipment and personnel support enabling AAO members to teach modernsurgical techniques for the first FESS cadaver dissection indeveloping countries.

Medtronic offers aid to AAO members in their volunteer medicalmission work in many countries, advancing their efforts to improve thehealth of patients and modernize the teaching of otolaryngology incountries with great needs.

About Medtronic's ENT Business Unit

Located in Jacksonville, Fla., the ENT business at Medtronic(www.MedtronicENT.com) is a leading developer and manufacturer ofproducts to treat diseases of the ear, nose and throat (ENT).

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 theworld.