ST JUDE MEDICAL INC
10-K, 1998-03-27
ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

                         ------------------------------

                             FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT

              [X]  ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                   THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                   FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997

                           COMMISSION FILE NO. 0-8672

                         ------------------------------

                             ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

          MINNESOTA                                              41-1276891
(State or other jurisdiction                                  (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                            Identification No.)

                               ONE LILLEHEI PLAZA
                            ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 55117
                     (Address of principal executive office)

                                 (612) 483-2000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                         ------------------------------

           SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:

COMMON STOCK ($.10 PAR VALUE)                    PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS
       (Title of class)                                  (Title of Class)

        SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT: NONE

                         ------------------------------

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, or will not be contained, to
the best of the Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. _____

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months; and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. YES [X] NO [_]

     The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the Registrant was approximately $2.9 billion at March 20, 1998, when the
closing sale price of such stock, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange,
was $35.50.

     The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's Common Stock, $.10 par
value, as of March 20, 1998, was 83,962,846 shares.

     Portions of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December
31, 1997, are incorporated by reference in Parts I, II and IV. Portions of the
Proxy Statement dated March 27, 1998, are incorporated by reference in Part III.

                         ------------------------------

     The exhibit index is set forth on pages 16, 17 and 18. This Form 10-K
consists of 69 pages, consecutively numbered 1 through 69.


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                             ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.

                                    1997 10-K

                                     PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

GENERAL

     St. Jude Medical, Inc. ("St. Jude" or the "Company") designs, manufactures
and markets medical devices and provides services for the cardiovascular segment
of the medical device industry. The Company's products are distributed in more
than 100 countries worldwide through a combination of direct sales personnel,
independent manufacturers' representatives and distribution organizations. The
main markets for the Company's products are the United States, Western Europe
and Japan.

     Effective May 15, 1997, St. Jude acquired Ventritex, Inc., ("Ventritex") a
California-based manufacturer of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs)
and related products. ICDs are used to treat hearts that beat too fast.

     Effective November 29, 1996, St. Jude Medical's Pacesetter subsidiary
acquired substantially all of the assets of Telectronics Pacing Systems, Inc.
("Telectronics"), a pacemaker company, and Medtel, a distribution company in the
Asia-Pacific region. In addition to state-of-the-art pacing technologies,
Telectronics enhances the Company's cardiac rhythm management division
operations by adding important intellectual property assets.

     Effective September 23, 1996, the Company acquired Biocor(R) Industria E
Pesquisas Ltd., a Brazilian manufacturer of tissue heart valves.

     Effective May 31, 1996, the Company acquired Daig Corporation ("Daig"), a
Minnesota based manufacturer of specialized cardiovascular catheters and related
products for the electrophysiology and interventional cardiology markets.

     St. Jude provides products and services for a single industry segment, that
of cardiovascular medical devices. Substantially all of its operations and
assets are attributable to cardiovascular medical devices. The Company currently
operates through two global business units. The Heart Valve Division is
responsible for the Company's heart valve disease management products including
mechanical and tissue heart valves and annuloplasty rings. The Cardiac Rhythm
Management Division (CRMD) is responsible for the Company's cardiac rhythm
management products including bradycardia pulse generators, leads and
programmers and tachycardia implantable cardioverter defibrillators and leads.
CRMD also provides a broad array of catheter product offerings for
interventional cardiology, and electrophysiology catheters for diagnostic
mapping of the heart, ablation of malfunctioning heart tissue and temporary
cardiac pacing catheters. In addition, the Company maintains geographically
based sales and marketing organizations which are responsible for marketing,
sales and distribution of the Company's and third party products in Europe,
Africa, the Middle East, Japan, Canada, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific
region.

     Typically, the Company's net sales are somewhat stronger in the first and
second quarters and weaker in the third quarter. This results from patient
tendency to defer, if possible, cardiac procedures during the summer months and
from the seasonality of the domestic and Western European markets where summer
vacation schedules normally result in fewer surgical procedures. Manufacturers'
representatives randomly place large orders which can distort the net sales
pattern noted above. In addition, new product introductions, acquisitions, and
regulatory approvals can modify the expected net sales pattern.

     In 1997, approximately 72% of net sales were derived from cardiac rhythm
management products, and approximately 28% from heart valve disease management
products. Approximately 59% of the Company's 1997 net sales were in the U.S.
market, which was consistent with 1996 results.

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CARDIAC RHYTHM MANAGEMENT

     The Cardiac Rhythm Management Division ("CRMD") is headquartered in Sylmar,
California and has manufacturing facilities in Sylmar and Sunnyvale, California,
Arizona, Minnesota, South Carolina, Sweden and Scotland. Pacesetter(R)
pacemakers and pacing leads treat patients with hearts that beat too slow and
which are irregular, a condition known as bradycardia. Ventritex(R) implantable
cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) and related systems treat patients with hearts
that beat too fast and which are irregular, a condition known as tachycardia.
Daig(R) specialized disposable cardiovascular catheters and related devices are
used in the electrophysiology and interventional cardiology markets.

     Typically implanted just below the collarbone, pacemakers, or pulse
generators, monitor the heart's rate and, when necessary, deliver low-level
electrical impulses that stimulate an appropriate heartbeat. The pacemaker is
connected to the heart by one or two leads, insulated wires that carry the
electrical impulses to the heart and information from the heart back to the
pacemaker. An external programmer enables the physician to retrieve diagnostic
information from the pacemaker and reprogram the device in accordance with the
patient's changing needs. Single-chamber pacemakers stimulate only one chamber
of the heart (atrium or ventricle), while dual-chamber devices can sense and
pace in both the upper and lower chambers.

     CRMD's current Pacesetter(R) pacing products include the Trilogy(R) family
of pacemakers, containing the proven Omnisense(TM) activity-based sensor, and
the Tempo(TM) pacemaker family, which uses fifth-generation Minute Ventilation
sensor technology. Both pacemaker families are highly automatic and contain many
advanced features and diagnostic capabilities to optimize cardiac therapy. Both
are small and physiologic in shape to enhance patient comfort. The Tempo(TM) DR
device is the smallest dual-chamber rate-responsive pacemaker in the world.

     Outside the United States, CRMD also offers the world's smallest
single-chamber pacemaker, the Microny(TM) SR+, and the Regency(TM) pacemaker
family, which are in clinical trials in the United States. These pacemakers
include the proprietary AutoCapture(TM) pacing system, a technology that enables
the pacemaker to monitor every paced beat for heart capture, deliver a back-up
pulse in the event of noncapture, continuously measure threshold, and make
adjustments in energy output to match changing patient needs. For patients and
physicians, this technology means a new measure of automaticity, simplicity, and
safety in pacing--and a new level of efficiency in follow-up care.

     CRMD's current pacing leads include the active-fixation Tendril(R) family
and the passive-fixation Passive Plus(R) family which are available worldwide,
and the passive-fixation Membrane(TM) EX family which is currently only
available outside the United States. All three lead families feature steroid
elution, which helps suppress the body's inflammatory response to a foreign
object, are designed to maximize energy efficiency and promote pacing system
longevity.

     CRMD offers two pacemaker programmers, the APS(TM) III patient management
system, and the highly portable APS(TM)(mu) (micro), which allow the physician
to efficiently utilize the extensive diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of
CRMD's pacemakers.

     CRMD's Ventritex(R) ICDs monitor the heartbeat and deliver higher energy
electrical impulses, or "shocks," to terminate ventricular tachycardia (VT) and
ventricular fibrillation (VF). In ventricular tachycardia, the lower chambers of
the heart contract at an abnormally rapid rate and typically deliver less blood
to the body's tissues and organs. VT can progress to VF, in which the heart
beats so rapidly and erratically that it can no longer pump blood. Like
pacemakers, defibrillators are typically implanted pectorally, connected to the
heart by leads, and programmed non-invasively.

     The current Ventritex offerings include the full-featured Angstrom(TM) II
and Contour(R) II ICDs, which are the thinnest defibrillators in the world. The
Angstrom(TM) II is also the world's smallest defibrillator, at 12 millimeters
thin and 44 cubic centimeters in volume. The Contour(R) II is the most powerful
ICD in the world, with maximum stored energy of 42 joules. Also available in
European markets are the Angstrom(TM) MD and Contour(R) MD ICDs, which feature a
unique Morphology Discrimination algorithm designed to differentiate between

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ventricular tachyarrhythmias and less serious atrial tachyarrhythmias in order
to protect against unnecessary shocking.

     These ICDs are used with the dual electrode Ventritex(R) SPL(R) and single
electrode Ventritex(R) TVL(R) transvenous leads, which have superior handling
characteristics and performance. Ventritex ICDs are currently programmed with
the recently introduced PR-3500 programmer, which is both fast and
user-friendly.

     Specialized disposable cardiovascular devices, sold under the Daig name,
include percutaneous (through the skin) catheter introducers, diagnostic
guidewires, electrophysiology catheters and bipolar temporary pacing catheters
(used with external pacemakers). Percutaneous catheter introducers are used to
create passageways for cardiovascular catheters from outside the human body
through the skin into a vein, artery or other location inside the body. Daig's
percutaneous catheter introducer products consist primarily of peel-away
sheaths, sheaths with and without hemostasis valves, dilators, guidewires,
repositioning sleeves, obturators and needles. All of these products are offered
in a variety of sizes and packaging configurations. Diagnostic guidewires are
used in conjunction with percutaneous catheter introducers to aid in the
introduction of intravascular catheters. Daig's diagnostic guidewires are
available in multiple lengths and incorporate a surface finish for lasting
lubricity.

     Electrophysiology catheters are placed into the human body percutaneously
to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart
rhythms). Between two and five electrophysiology catheters are generally used in
each electrophysiology procedure. Daig's electrophysiology catheters are
available in multiple configurations. Bipolar temporary pacing catheters are
inserted percutaneously for temporary use (less than one hour to a maximum of
one week) with external pacemakers to provide patient stabilization prior to
implantation of a permanent pacemaker, following a heart attack, or during
surgical procedures. Daig produces and markets several designs of bipolar
temporary pacing catheters.

HEART VALVE DISEASE MANAGEMENT

     The Heart Valve Division (HVD) is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota and
has manufacturing facilities in St. Paul, Puerto Rico, Canada and Brazil. Heart
valve replacement or repair may be necessary because the natural heart valve has
deteriorated due to congenital defects or disease. Heart valves facilitate the
one-way flow of blood in the heart and prevent significant backflow of blood
into the heart and between the heart's chambers.

     HVD offers both mechanical and tissue replacement heart valves and valve
repair products. The St. Jude Medical(R) mechanical heart valve is the most
widely implanted valve in the world with over 800,000 valves implanted to date.
The Company markets the Toronto SPV(R) stentless tissue valve, the world's
leading stentless tissue valve, and SJM(R) Biocor(TM) tissue valves. The Company
received FDA approval for the U.S. market release of the Toronto SPV(R) in
November 1997 at which time the product was launched and physician training
commenced.

     Annuloplasty rings are prosthetic devices used to repair diseased or
damaged mitral heart valves. The Company has executed a license agreement with
Professor Jacques Seguin to manufacture and market an advanced semi-rigid
annuloplasty ring. The SJM(R) Seguin annuloplasty ring was cleared by the FDA
for U.S. release during first quarter 1997.

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     HVD has also entered into several other relationships to provide additional
products and services for heart valve disease management, including:

     1)  An agreement with Heartport, Inc. to use the Company's heart valve
         prosthesis in combination with Heartport's proprietary Port-Access(TM)
         technology to perform less invasive heart surgery.

     2)  An agreement with LifeNet Transplant Services which enables HVD to
         assist in the marketing of human donated allograft heart valves.

     3)  An alliance with DuPont Pharma to jointly develop educational programs
         concerning the use of anticoagulant drugs with mechanical heart valves.

     4)  An alliance with Boehringer Mannheim Corporation which provides valve
         patients the opportunity to use a home test kit for measuring
         anticoagulation levels.

     5)  A worldwide license agreement with Spire Corporation to utilize their
         proprietary anti-bacterial silver coating (SilzoneTM) on the sewing
         cuffs of heart valves and related products.

SUPPLIERS

     Under an agreement with CarboMedics, Inc. (CMI), which covers the supply of
pyrolytic carbon heart valve components for the mechanical heart valve, the
Company must purchase components that equal a minimum of 20% of its current year
unit sales through 1998 at negotiated prices. If CMI is unable or fails to
perform under the agreement, the license permits the Company to self-manufacture
its component requirements during the supply interruption. The agreement can be
extended for additional one year terms after 1998 at the Company's option and
prices the Company would pay in 1999 and beyond would be adjusted annually by a
producer price index based formula established in the agreement.

     The Company purchases raw materials and other items from numerous suppliers
for use in its products. The Company maintains sizable inventories of up to
three years of its projected requirements for certain materials, some of which
are available only from a single vendor. The Company has been advised from time
to time that certain of these vendors may terminate sales of products to
customers that manufacture implantable medical devices in an effort to reduce
their potential products liability exposure. Some of these vendors have modified
their positions and have indicated a willingness to either temporarily continue
to provide product until such time as an alternative vendor or product can be
qualified or to reconsider the supply relationship. While the Company believes
that alternative sources of raw materials are available and that there is
sufficient lead time in which to qualify such other sources, any supply
interruption could have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to
manufacture its products.

COMPETITION

     Within the medical device industry, competitors range from small start-up
companies to companies with significant resources. The Company's customers
consider many factors when choosing supplier partners including product
reliability, clinical outcomes, product availability, inventory consignment,
price and product services provided by the manufacturer. Market share can shift
as a result of technological innovation, product recalls and product safety
alerts. This emphasizes the need to provide the highest quality products and
services. St. Jude expects the competition to continue to increase by using
tactics such as consigned inventory, bundled product sales and reduced pricing.

     The Company is the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of mechanical
heart valves. There are two other principal and several other smaller mechanical
heart valve manufacturers. The Company competes against two principal and a
large number of other smaller tissue heart valve manufacturers.

     CRMD has traditionally been a technological leader in the bradycardia
pacemaker market. Worldwide there are six primary manufacturers and suppliers of
bradycardia pacemakers, including the Company. One other company and CRMD
account for well over half of the worldwide bradycardia pacemaker net sales. The
Company has strong market share positions in all major developed markets.

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     There are three principal manufacturers and suppliers of ICDs. This is a
rapidly growing and highly competitive market. Two of the competitors account
for more than 80% of the worldwide ICD sales. These two competitors are larger
than the Company and have invested substantial amounts in ICD research and
development. 

     The market areas Daig focuses on are the cardiac catherization laboratories
and the electrophysiology laboratories throughout the world. These are growing
markets with numerous competitors.

     The cardiovascular segment of the medical device market is a dynamic market
currently undergoing significant change due to cost of care considerations,
regulatory reform, industry consolidation and customer consolidation. The
ability to provide cost effective clinical outcomes is becoming increasingly
more important for medical device manufacturers.

MARKETING

     The Company's products are sold in over 100 countries throughout the world.
No distributor organization or single customer accounted for more than 10% of
1997 net sales.

     In the United States, St. Jude sells directly to hospitals through an
employee based sales organization for its heart valve and catheter products and
a combination of independent manufacturers' representatives and an employee
based sales organization for its pacemaker products. In Western Europe, the
Company has an employee based sales organization selling in 14 countries.
Throughout the rest of the world the Company uses a combination of independent
distributor and direct sales organizations.

     Payment terms worldwide are consistent with local practice. Orders are
shipped as they are received and, therefore, no material back orders exist.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

     The Company is focused on the development of new products and improvements
to existing products. In addition, research and development expense reflects the
Company's efforts to obtain FDA approval of certain products and processes and
to maintain the highest quality standards of existing products. The Company's
research and development expenses, exclusive of purchased research and
development, were $104,693,000 (10.5% of net sales), $107,644,000 (12.3%) and
$101,264,000 (11.9%) in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

     The medical devices manufactured and marketed by the Company are subject to
regulation by the FDA and, in some instances, by state and foreign governmental
authorities. Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the "Act"), and
regulations thereunder, manufacturers of medical devices must comply with
certain policies and procedures that regulate the composition, labeling,
testing, manufacturing, packaging and distribution of medical devices. Medical
devices are subject to different levels of government approval requirements, the
most comprehensive of which requires the completion of an FDA approved clinical
evaluation program and submission and approval of a pre-market approval ("PMA")
application before a device may be commercially marketed. The Company's
mechanical and tissue heart valves, implantable cardioverter defibrillators,
certain pacemakers and leads and certain electrophysiology catheter applications
are subject to this level of approval or as a supplement to a PMA approval.
Other pacemakers and leads, annuloplasty ring products and other
electrophysiology and interventional cardiology products are currently marketed
under the 510(k) pre-market notification procedure of the Act.

     In addition, the FDA may require testing and surveillance programs to
monitor the effect of approved products which have been commercialized and it
has the power to prevent or limit further marketing of a product based on the
results of these post-marketing programs. The FDA also conducts inspections
prior to approval of a PMA to determine compliance with current good
manufacturing practice regulations (which also regulate product design) and may,
at any time after approval of a PMA, conduct periodic inspections to determine
compliance with both good manufacturing practice regulations and/or current
medical device reporting regulations. If the FDA were to conclude that St. Jude
was not in compliance with applicable laws or regulations, it could institute
proceedings to detain or seize products, issue a recall, impose operating
restrictions, assess civil penalties and 

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recommend criminal prosecution to the Department of Justice. Furthermore, the
FDA could proceed to ban, or request recall, repair, replacement or refund of
the cost of, any device manufactured or distributed.

     The FDA also regulates record keeping for medical devices and reviews
hospital and manufacturers' required reports of adverse experiences to identify
potential problems with FDA authorized devices. Aggressive regulatory action may
be taken due to adverse experience reports. FDA device tracking and post-market
surveillance requirements are expected to increase future regulatory compliance
costs.

     Diagnostic-related groups ("DRG") reimbursement schedules regulate the
amount the United States government, through the Health Care Financing
Administration ("HCFA"), will reimburse hospitals and doctors for the inpatient
care of persons covered by Medicare. In response to the U.S. government budget
deficit and rising Medicare and Medicaid costs, several legislative proposals
have been advanced which would restrict future funding increases for these
programs. While the Company has been unaware of significant domestic price
resistance directly as a result of DRG reimbursement policies, changes in
current DRG reimbursement levels could have an adverse effect on its domestic
pricing flexibility.

     St. Jude business outside the United States is subject to medical device
laws in individual foreign countries. These laws range from extensive device
approval requirements in some countries for all or some of the Company's
products to requests for data or certifications in other countries. Generally,
regulatory requirements are increasing in these countries. In the European
Economic Union ("EEU"), the regulatory systems have been harmonized and approval
to market in EEU countries (the "CE mark") can be obtained through one agency.
In addition, government funding of medical procedures is limited and in certain
instances being reduced.

     The Office of the Inspector General (the "OIG") of the United States
Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") is currently conducting an
investigation regarding possible hospital submissions of improper claims to
Medicare/Medicaid programs for reimbursement for procedures using cardiovascular
medical devices that were not approved for marketing by the FDA at the time of
use. Beginning in June 1994, approximately 130 hospitals received subpoenas from
HHS seeking information with respect to reimbursement for procedures using
cardiovascular medical devices (including certain products manufactured by the
Company) that were subject to investigational exemptions or that may not have
been approved for marketing by the FDA at the time of use. The subpoenas also
sought information regarding various types of remuneration, including payments,
gifts, stock and stock options, received by the hospital or its employees from
manufacturers of medical devices. Civil and criminal sanctions may be imposed
against any person participating in an improper claim for reimbursement under
Medicare/Medicaid. The OIG's investigation and any related change in
reimbursement practices may discourage hospitals from participating in clinical
trials or from including Medicare and Medicaid patients in clinical trials,
which could lead to increased costs in the development of new products. St. Jude
believes it is too early to predict the possible outcome of this matter or when
it will be resolved. There can be no assurance that the OIG's investigation or
any changes in third-party payors' reimbursement practices will not materially
adversely affect the medical device industry in general or the Company in
particular. In 1995, HCFA, part of HHS, issued a regulation clarifying that
certain medical devices subject to investigational requirements under the Act
may qualify for reimbursement. In April 1996, a Federal District Court in
California declared the Health Care Financing Administration's governmental
guidelines, denying reimbursement for investigational devices, to be invalid.
The government appealed this decision, but the Court of Appeals referred the
case back to the district court to determine certain issues. There can be no
assurance that the OIG's investigation or any resulting or related changes in
third-party payors' reimbursement practices will not materially adversely affect
the medical device industry in general or St. Jude Medical in particular.

     In 1994 the predecessor organization to Pacesetter entered a consent decree
which settled a lawsuit brought by the United States in U.S. District Court for
the District of New Jersey. The consent decree which remains in effect
indefinitely requires that Pacesetter comply with the FDA's good manufacturing
practice regulations and identifies several specific provisions of those
regulations. The consent decree provides for FDA inspections and that Pacesetter
is obligated to pay certain costs of the inspections.

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     In May 1995 Telectronics and its President entered into a consent decree
with the FDA. The consent decree provided that Telectronics would not
manufacture or ship products for distribution in the United States until
Telectronics established to the satisfaction of the FDA that its manufacturing
facility in Florida operates in conformity with the FDA's good manufacturing
practice regulations. Telectronics has satisfied its obligations in this regard
and was released from these restrictions of the consent decree in June 1996. The
consent decree which remains in effect indefinitely requires that Telectronics
comply with the FDA's good manufacturing practice regulations and identifies
several specific provisions of those regulations. The consent decree provides
for FDA inspections and that Telectronics is obligated to pay certain costs of
the inspections.

     In 1994 a state prosecutor in Germany began an investigation of allegations
of corruption in connection with the sale of heart valves. As part of that
investigation, the prosecutor seized documents from St. Jude's offices in
Germany as well as documents from certain competitors' offices. The
investigation is continuing and has been broadened to include other medical
devices. Subsequently, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
issued a formal order of private investigation covering sales practices in
Europe of St. Jude and other manufacturers.

PATENTS AND LICENSES

     The Company's policy is to protect the intellectual property rights in its
work on medical devices. Where appropriate, St. Jude applies for United States
and foreign patents. In those instances where the Company has acquired
technology from third parties, it has sought to obtain rights of ownership to
the technology through the acquisition of underlying patents or licenses.

     While the Company believes design, development, regulatory and marketing
aspects of the medical device business represent the principal barriers to entry
into such business, it also recognizes that its patents and license rights may
make it more difficult for its competitors to market products similar to those
produced by the Company. St. Jude can give no assurance that any of its patent
rights, whether issued, subject to license or in process, will not be
circumvented or invalidated. Further, there are numerous existing and pending
patents on medical products and biomaterials. There can be no assurance that the
Company's existing or planned products do not or will not infringe such rights
or that others will not claim such infringement. The Company's principal patent
covering its mechanical heart valve will expire in the United States in July
1998. No assurance can be given that the Company will be able to prevent
competitors from challenging the Company's patents or entering markets currently
served by the Company.

INSURANCE

     The medical device industry has historically been subject to significant
products liability claims. Such claims could be asserted against the Company in
the future for events not known to management at this time. Management has
adopted risk management practices, including products liability insurance
coverage, which management believes are prudent.

     The Company's former products liability insurance carrier is currently
seeking to rescind its coverage of Pacesetter products for the period October 1,
1994, through December 31, 1995. Should the carrier prevail, the Company would
be self-insured for Pacesetter claims made during that period. St. Jude cannot
predict the outcome of the dispute. See Item 3 "Legal Proceedings".

     California earthquake insurance is currently difficult to procure,
extremely costly, and restrictive in terms of coverage. The Company's earthquake
and related business interruption insurance for its operations located in Sylmar
and Sunnyvale, California does provide for limited coverage above a significant
self-insured retention. There are several factors that preclude the Company from
determining the effect an earthquake may have on its business. These factors
include, but are not limited to, the severity and location of the earthquake,
the extent of any damage to the Company's manufacturing facilities, the impact
of such an earthquake on the Company's California workforce and the
infrastructure of the surrounding communities, and the extent, if any, of damage
to the Company's inventory and work in process. While the Company's exposure to
significant losses occasioned by a California earthquake would be partially
mitigated by its ability to manufacture certain of the Pacesetter products at
its Swedish manufacturing facility, any such losses could have a material
adverse effect on the 

                                       7
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Company, the duration of which cannot be reasonably predicted. The Company has
expanded the manufacturing capabilities at its Swedish facility and has
constructed a pacemaker component manufacturing facility in Arizona. In
addition, the Company has moved significant finished goods inventory to
locations outside California. These facilities and inventory transfers would
further mitigate the adverse impact of a California earthquake.

EMPLOYEES

     As of December 31, 1997, the Company had 3,772 full-time employees. It has
never experienced a work stoppage as a result of labor disputes and none of its
employees are represented by a labor organization, with the exception of the
Company's Swedish employees and certain employees in France.

INDUSTRY SEGMENT AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

     The medical products and service industry is the single industry segment in
which the Company operates. The Company's domestic and foreign net sales,
operating profit and identifiable assets, and its export sales to unaffiliated
third parties are described in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements
on page 37 of the 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders and are incorporated herein
by reference.

     The Company's foreign business is subject to such special risks as exchange
controls, currency devaluation, the imposition or increase of import or export
duties and surtaxes, and international credit or financial problems. Since its
international operations require the Company to hold assets in foreign countries
denominated in local currencies, many assets are dependent for their U.S. dollar
valuation on the values of a number of foreign currencies in relation to the
U.S. dollar. The Company may from time to time enter into purchase and sales
contracts in the forward markets for various foreign currencies with the
objective of protecting U.S. dollar values of assets and commitments denominated
in foreign currencies.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

     St. Jude Medical's principal executive offices are owned and are located in
St. Paul, Minnesota. Manufacturing facilities are located in California,
Minnesota, Arizona, South Carolina, Canada, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Scotland and
Sweden. Approximately 51%, or 356,000 square feet, of the total manufacturing
space is owned by the Company and the balance is leased.

     The Company also maintains sales and administrative offices inside the
United States at 11 locations in 6 states and outside the United States at 36
locations in 18 countries. With the exception of one location, all of these
locations are leased.

     In management's opinion, all building and machinery and equipment are in
good condition and suitable for their purposes and are maintained on a basis
consistent with sound operations.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     GUIDANT LITIGATION

     On November 26, 1996, Guidant Corporation ("Guidant"), a competitor of
Pacesetter and Ventritex, CPI (a wholly owned subsidiary of Guidant), Guidant
Sales Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of CPI) ( "GSC"), and Eli Lilly and
Company (the former owner of CPI) ("Lilly") (collectively, the "Guidant
Parties"), filed a lawsuit against St. Jude Medical, Inc., Pacesetter Inc.
("Pacesetter"), Ventritex Inc. ("Ventritex") and certain members of the
Telectronics Group in State Superior Court in Marion County, Indiana (the
"Telectronics Action"). The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that, pursuant
to an agreement entered into in 1993, CPI and Lilly granted Ventritex certain
intellectual property licenses relating to cardiac stimulation devices, and that
such licenses would terminate upon the consummation of the merger of Ventritex
into Pacesetter (the "Merger"). The lawsuit further alleges that, pursuant to an
agreement entered into in 1994 (the "Telectronics Agreement"), CPI and Lilly
granted the Telectronics Group certain intellectual property licenses relating
to cardiac stimulation devices (the "CPI/Telectronics License"). The lawsuit
seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, among other things, to prevent and
invalidate the transfer of the Telectronics Agreement to Pacesetter in
connection with Pacesetter's acquisition of Telectronic's assets (the
"Telectronics Acquisition") and the application of license rights granted under
the 

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
Telectronics Agreement to the manufacture and sale by Pacesetter of Ventritex's
products following the consummation of the Merger.

     On December 17, 1996, St. Jude Medical, Pacesetter, Ventritex and the
Telectronics Group removed the lawsuit to the United States District Court for
the Southern District of Indiana, and filed a motion to dismiss the complaint
or, in the alternative, to stay proceedings pending arbitration of the dispute
pursuant to the arbitration provisions of the Telectronics Agreement. On January
16, 1997, the Guidant Parties filed a motion to remand the lawsuit to Indiana
state court which was granted in May 1997. St. Jude Medical, Pacesetter and
Ventritex then filed a motion in Indiana state court to dismiss the complaint
or, in the alternative, to stay the proceedings pending arbitration. This motion
was denied by the Indiana state court on July 21, 1997. The Indiana state court
action is currently in discovery and St. Jude Medical and Pacesetter are
continuing to vigorously defend the claims which the Guidant Parties have
asserted in this action. The Indiana state court has set a January 11, 1999
trial date for this case.

     CPI, GSC and Lilly (collectively the "Federal Court Guidant Parties")
simultaneously filed suit against St. Jude Medical, Pacesetter and Ventritex in
the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana seeking
(i) a declaratory judgment that Pacesetter's manufacture, use or sale of cardiac
stimulation devices of the type or similar to the type which Ventritex
manufactured and sold at the time the Federal Court Guidant Parties filed their
complaint would upon consummation of the Merger, be unlicensed and constitute an
infringement of patent rights owned by CPI and Lilly, (ii) to enjoin the
manufacture, use or sale by St. Jude Medical, Pacesetter or Ventritex of cardiac
stimulation devices of the type which Ventritex manufactured at the time the
Federal Court Guidant Parties filed their complaint and (iii) certain damages
and costs. On December 19, 1996, St. Jude Medical, Pacesetter and Ventritex
filed a motion to dismiss the complaint or, in the alternative, to stay
proceedings pending resolution of the Telectronics Action or arbitration. The
court denied this motion. The federal court action is currently in discovery,
and St. Jude Medical and Pacesetter are continuing to vigorously defend against
the claims which the Federal Court Guidant Parties asserted in this action. The
federal court has reserved time in November 1998 for the trial of this case.

     St. Jude Medical and Pacesetter believe that the foregoing state and
federal court complaints contain a number of significant factual inaccuracies
concerning the Telectronics Acquisition and the terms and effects of the various
intellectual property license agreements referred to in such complaints. For
these reasons and others, St. Jude Medical and Pacesetter believe that the
allegations set forth in the complaints are without merit, and, as previously
indicated, they intend to defend the actions vigorously.

     On December 24, 1996, the Telectronics Group and Pacesetter filed a lawsuit
and a motion against the Guidant Parties in the United States District Court for
the District of Minnesota seeking (i) a declaratory judgment that the
Defendants' claims, as reflected in the Telectronics Action, are subject to
arbitration pursuant to the arbitration provisions of the Telectronics
Agreement, (ii) an order that the Defendants arbitrate their claims against the
Telectronics Group and Pacesetter in accordance with the arbitration provisions
of the Telectronics Agreement, (iii) to enjoin the Defendants preliminarily and
permanently from litigating their dispute with the Telectronics Group and
Pacesetter in any other forum and (iv) certain costs. On February 27, 1997, the
court entered an order denying the motion brought by the Telectronics Group and
Pacesetter and dismissing their complaint. On March 27, 1997, the Telectronics
Group and Pacesetter filed a Notice of Appeal from the court's February 27, 1997
order. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral argument in this appeal on
February 12, 1998. No decision has yet been issued by the Court of Appeals.

     IRS LITIGATION

     The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") completed an audit examination of the
Company's 1990-1991 corporate income tax returns and issued deficiency notices
in early 1997 for taxes of $16.4 million. In addition, the IRS completed an
audit examination of the Company's 1992-1994 income tax returns in early 1998
and has proposed an adjustment of $41.8 million in taxes. Both adjustments
relate primarily to the Company's Puerto Rican operations. The deficiency
amounts do not include interest, state taxes, or offsetting Puerto Rico tax
refunds, the net effect of which is not material. It is likely that a similar
additional adjustment will be proposed for 1995. The Company is vigorously
contesting this adjustment. The Company is refuting the IRS deficiency

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
for 1990-1991 and asserting the Company is in fact owed a refund in a petition
filed in Tax Court on June 24, 1997. The Company expects that the ultimate
resolution will not have material adverse effect on its financial position or
liquidity, but could potentially be material to the net income of a particular
future period if resolved unfavorably.

     OTHER LITIGATION AND PROCEEDINGS

     From 1987 to 1991, Siemens AG through its Pacesetter and other affiliates
("Siemens") manufactured and sold approximately 32,000 model 1016T and 1026T
pacemaker leads of which approximately 25,000 were sold in the U.S. In March
1993 Siemens was sued in federal district court in Cincinnati, Ohio ("the Wilson
case"). The suit alleged that the model 1016T leads were negligently designed
and manufactured. Class action status was granted by the court in September
1993.

     When St. Jude acquired from Siemens substantially all of its worldwide
cardiac rhythm management business ("Pacesetter") on September 30, 1994, the
purchase agreement specifically provided that Siemens retain all liability for
the Wilson case, as well as all other litigation that was pending or threatened
before October 1, 1994. The purchase agreement also provided that St. Jude would
assume liability for other products liability claims which arose after September
30, 1994.

     Siemens and St. Jude were named defendants in a class action suit filed in
March 1995 in Houston, Texas for alleged defects in models 1016T and 1026T
pacemaker leads (the "Hann case"). The suit sought class action status for
patients who had inner insulation failures of these leads after March 22, 1993
and who were not members of the Wilson class. Siemens and St. Jude settled the
Wilson and Hann cases in November 1995. Management currently estimates the
Company's share of the settlement to be approximately $6.8 million. Apart from
this class action settlement, additional claims could be made or lawsuits
brought by patients with these leads whose leads fail at a later date or whose
leads fail for reasons outside the class definition.

     St. Jude's products liability insurance carrier, Steadfast, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Company ("Zurich"), has denied coverage for this
case and has filed suit against St. Jude in federal district court in
Minneapolis seeking rescission of the policy covering Pacesetter business
retroactive to the date St. Jude acquired Pacesetter. Zurich alleges that St.
Jude made material negligent misrepresentations to Zurich including failure to
disclose the Wilson case in order to procure the insurance policy. St. Jude has
filed an answer denying Zurich's claim and has alleged that Zurich specifically
had knowledge of the Wilson case.

     The terms of the products liability insurance policy which Zurich is
seeking to rescind provide that St. Jude would be entitled to $10 million in
coverage for the 1016T and 1026T pacemaker lead claims after payment by St. Jude
of a self insured retention. St. Jude is investigating whether it may have
claims against any entities, in addition to Zurich, arising from this situation,
and has brought suit against its former insurance broker, Johnson & Higgins.

     The Company is unaware of any other pending legal proceedings which it
regards as likely to have a material adverse effect on its business.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     Not applicable.

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 4A.   EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name                        Age                          Position*
- ------------------------   -----   -----------------------------------------------------------
<S>                        <C>     <C>
Ronald A. Matricaria        55     Chairman (1995) and Chief Executive Officer (1993)
Fred B. Parks               50     President and Chief Operating Officer (1998)
Daniel J. Starks            43     Chief Executive Officer, Cardiac Rhythm Management Division
                                   (1997) and Daig (1996)
Terry L. Shepherd           45     President, Heart Valve Division (1994)
James W. Dennis             49     President Cardiac Rhythm Management Division (1997)
Patrick P. Fourteau         50     President, International (1998)
Michael J. Coyle            35     President Daig (1997)
John P. Berdusco            61     Vice President, Administration (1993)
Peter L. Gove               50     Vice President, Corporate Relations (1994)
Robert E. Munzenrider       53     Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer (1997)
Kevin T. O'Malley, Esq.     46     Vice President and General Counsel (1994)
</TABLE>
- -----------------------
* Dates in brackets indicate period during which the named executive officers
  began serving in such capacity. Executive officers serve at the pleasure of
  the Board of Directors and are elected annually for one year terms.

     Mr. Matricaria's business experience is set forth in the Company's
definitive Proxy Statement dated March 27, 1998 under the Section "Election of
Directors." The information is incorporated herein by reference.

     Dr. Parks' business experience is set forth in the Company's definitive
proxy statement dated March 27, 1998 under the section "Election of Directors".
The information is incorporated herein by reference.

     Mr. Stark's business experience is set forth in the Company's definitive
Proxy Statement dated March 27, 1998 under the section "Election of Directors."
The information is incorporated herein by reference.

     Mr. Shepherd joined the Company in 1994 as President of the St. Jude
Medical Division. Prior to joining St. Jude, Mr. Shepherd was President and CEO
of Hybritech, Inc. where he had been employed for 3 years. Prior to that, Mr.
Shepherd held various management positions at Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. (CPI) and
Eli Lilly & Company where he worked for 15 years. Hybritech and CPI were both
wholly owned subsidiaries of Eli Lilly & Company.

     Mr. Dennis joined the Company in 1996 with the Company's acquisition of
Telectronics. He was appointed as President of the Company's Cardiac Rhythm
Management Division in 1997. At Telectronics he served as its President from
1994 to 1996 and as its Senior Executive Vice President of Operations from 1993
to 1994. From 1986 to 1993, Mr. Dennis held an operations management position
with Nellcor, Inc., a critical care monitoring company. From 1979 to 1986, Mr.
Dennis held an operations management position with IVAC, a medical instrument
division of Eli Lilly and Co.

     Mr. Fourteau joined the Company in 1995 as President of St. Jude Medical
Europe. He was appointed President of the Pacesetter Division in May 1996. Mr.
Fourteau was appointed as President of the International Division in 1998. Prior
to joining the Company, he was employed by Eli Lilly and Co. for 19 years in
various positions including his last position of vice president of
pharmaceutical operations for Lilly International.

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
     Mr. Coyle joined St. Jude Medical in 1994 as Director, Business Development
and was appointed as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Daig in 1997.
Prior to joining St. Jude, he spent nine years with Eli Lilly & Company in a
variety of technical and business management roles in both its Pharmaceutical
and Medical Device Divisions.

     Mr. Berdusco joined the Company in 1993 as Vice President, Administration.
Prior to joining the Company, he was Executive Director Corporate Facilities
Planning, Manufacturing Strategy Development and Sourcing for Eli Lilly &
Company. From 1962 to 1993, Mr. Berdusco held various management positions with
Eli Lilly & Company in both domestic and international operations.

     Mr. Gove joined the Company in 1994 as Vice President, Corporate Relations.
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Gove was Vice President, Marketing and
Communications of Control Data Systems, Inc., a computer services company, from
1991 to 1994. From 1981 to 1990, Mr. Gove held various executive positions with
Control Data Corporation. From 1970 to 1981, Mr. Gove held various management
positions with the State of Minnesota and the U.S. Government.

     Mr. Munzenrider joined the Company in 1997 as Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Munzenrider was Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer of Travelers Express Company, Inc. from 1991
to 1997. From 1983 to 1991 Mr. Munzenrider held financial executive positions
with Restaura, Inc. and Bell Atlantic Systems Leasing, Intl.

     Mr. O'Malley joined the Company in 1994 as Vice President and General
Counsel. Prior to joining St. Jude, Mr. O'Malley was employed by Eli Lilly and
Co. for 15 years in various positions including his last position of General
Counsel of the Medical Device and Diagnostics Division.


                                    PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER
        MATTERS

     The information set forth under the captions "Supplemental Market Price
Data" and "Dividends" on page 40 of the Company's 1997 Annual Report to
Shareholders is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     The information set forth under the caption "Five Year Summary of Selected
Financial Data" on page 39 of the Company's 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders
is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
        FINANCIAL CONDITION 

     The information set forth under the caption "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition" on pages 21 through
26 of the Company's 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders is incorporated herein by
reference.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

     The following Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and Report
of Independent Auditors set forth on pages 27 through 38 of the Company's 1997
Annual Report to Shareholders are incorporated herein by reference:

     Consolidated Statements of Income - Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and
     1995

     Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 1997 and 1996

     Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - Years ended December 31,
     1997, 1996, and 1995

     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996
     and 1995

     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ITEM 9. DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

     None.


                                    PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

     The information set forth under the caption "Election of Directors" in the
Company's definitive Proxy Statement dated March 27, 1998, is incorporated
herein by reference. Information on executive officers is set forth in Part I,
Item 4A hereto.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The information set forth under the caption "Executive Compensation and
Other Information" and "Election of Directors" in the Company's definitive Proxy
Statement dated March 27, 1998, is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     The information set forth under the caption "Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management" and "Election of Directors" in the Company's
definitive Proxy Statement dated March 27, 1998, is incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     The information set forth under the caption "Election of Directors" in the
Company's definitive Proxy Statement dated March 27, 1998, is incorporated
herein by reference.


                                     PART IV

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)  List of documents filed as part of this Report

     (1)  Financial Statements

          The following Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and
          Report of Independent Auditors as set forth on pages 27 through 38 of
          the Company's 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders are incorporated
          herein by reference:

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
          Consolidated Statements of Income - Years ended December 31, 1997,
          1996 and 1995

          Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 1997 and 1996

          Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - Years ended December
          31, 1997, 1996, and 1995

          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended December 31, 1997,
          1996 and 1995

          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     (2)  Financial Statement Schedule

     The following financial statement schedule is filed as part of this Form
10-K Annual Report:

SCHEDULE                                                                       
 NUMBER                      DESCRIPTION                             PAGE NUMBER
- --------   -------------------------------------------------------   -----------
II         Valuation and Qualifying Accounts                             22

     The report of the Company's Independent Auditors with respect to the
above-listed financial statements and financial statement schedule appears on
page 21 of this Report.

     All other financial statements and schedules not listed have been omitted
because the required information is included in the consolidated financial
statements or the notes thereto, or is not applicable.

         (3)  Exhibits

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   EXHIBIT                                   EXHIBIT INDEX                                PAGE NUMBER
- ---------------    -------------------------------------------------------------------    ------------
<S>                <C>                                                                    <C>                      
     3.1           Articles of  Incorporation  as amended on September  5, 1996,  are         ---
                     incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company's  Form
                     10-K filed on March 27, 1997.

     3.2           Bylaws are  incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3(ii) of the         ---
                     Company's Form 10-Q filed on November 10, 1997.

     4.1           Rights  Agreement  dated as of June 16, 1997,  between the Company         ---
                     and American Stock  Transfer and Trust Company,  as Rights Agent
                     including  the  Certificate  of  Designation,   Preferences  and
                     Rights of Series B Junior  Preferred  Stock is  incorporated  by
                     reference to Exhibit 4 of the  Company's  Form 10-Q dated August
                     12, 1997.

     4.2           Indenture  dated as of August 21,  1996,  between  the Company and         ---
                     State Street Bank and Trust Company,  as Trustee is incorporated
                     by reference to Ventritex's Form S-3/A (no.  333-07651) filed on
                     August 2, 1996.

     10.1          Employment  letter dated as of March 9, 1993,  between the Company         ---
                     and  Ronald  A.  Matricaria  is  incorporated  by  reference  to
                     Exhibit 10.1 of the  Company's  Form 10-K Annual  Report for the
                     year ended December 31, 1993.*

</TABLE>

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   EXHIBIT                                   EXHIBIT INDEX                                PAGE NUMBER
- ---------------    -------------------------------------------------------------------    ------------
<S>                <C>                                                                    <C>                      
     10.2          Supply  Contract  dated  April 17,  1990,  between the Company and         ---
                     CarboMedics,  Inc.  (portions  of this exhibit have been deleted
                     and  filed   separately   with  the   Securities   and  Exchange
                     Commission  pursuant to Rule 24b-2) is incorporated by reference
                     to the  Company's  Form 8 filed on April 17, 1990  amending  the
                     Company's  Form 10-K Annual  Report for the year ended  December
                     31, 1989.

     10.3          Form of  Indemnification  Agreement  that the  Company has entered         ---
                     into with officers and  directors.  Such  agreement  recites the
                     provisions  of  Minnesota  Statutes  Section  302A.521  and  the
                     Company's Bylaw provisions  (which are  substantially  identical
                     to the  Statute)  and is  incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit
                     10(d) of the  Company's  Form 10-K  Annual  Report  for the year
                     ended December 31, 1986.*

     10.4          Form of  Employment  Agreement  that the Company has entered  into         ---
                     with officers  relating to severance  matters in connection with
                     a change in  control is  incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit
                     10(f) of the  Company's  Form 10-K  Annual  Report  for the year
                     ended December 31, 1987.*

     10.5          Retirement  Plan for members of the Board of  Directors as amended         ---
                     on March 15, 1995, is  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6
                     of the  Company's  Form 10-K  Annual  Report  for the year ended
                     December 31, 1994.*

     10.6          Management Savings Plan dated February 1, 1995, is incorporated by         ---
                     reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Company's Form 10-K Annual
                     Report for the year ended December 31, 1994.*

     10.7          The St. Jude Medical,  Inc. 1992 Employee Stock  Purchase  Savings         ---
                     Plan is incorporated by reference to the Company's Form S-8
                     Registration Statement dated June 10, 1992, (Commission
                     File No. 33-48502).

     10.8          1989  Restricted  Stock Plan is  incorporated  by reference to the         ---
                     Company's  Form S-8  Registration  Statement  dated June 6, 1989
                     (Commission File No. 33-29085).*

     10.9          The St. Jude  Medical,  Inc.  1991 Stock Plan is  incorporated  by         ---
                     reference  to the  Company's  Form  S-8  Registration  Statement
                     dated June 28, 1991 (Commission File No. 33-41459).*

</TABLE>

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   EXHIBIT                                   EXHIBIT INDEX                                PAGE NUMBER
- ---------------    -------------------------------------------------------------------    ------------
<S>                <C>                                                                    <C>                      
    10.10          The St. Jude Medical,  Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan is incorporated         ---
                     by reference to the Company's  Form S-8  Registration  Statement
                     dated July 1, 1994 (Commission File No. 33-54435).*

    10.11          The St. Jude Medical Inc.  1997 Stock Option Plan is  incorporated         ---
                     by reference to the Company's  Form S-8  Registration  Statement
                     dated December 22, 1997 (Commission File No. 333-42945).*

    10.12          The Management  Incentive  Compensation  Plan is  incorporated  by         --
                     reference  to  Appendix  A of  the  Company's  definitive  Proxy
                     Statement dated March 27, 1995.*

      13           1997 Annual Report to  Shareholders.  Except for those portions of         23
                     such report  expressly  incorporated  by  reference in this Form
                     10-K Annual  Report,  the Annual Report to  Shareholders  is not
                     deemed  to  be  "filed"   with  the   Securities   and  Exchange
                     Commission.

      21           Subsidiaries of the Company                                                67

      23           Consent of Independent Auditors                                            69

      27           Financial Data Schedule

      27.1         Restated Financial Data Schedule -- 1995
    
      27.2         Restated Financial Data Schedule -- 1996

</TABLE>
- -----------------------------
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

(b)  REPORTS ON FORM 8-K DURING THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 
     No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Company during the fourth 
     quarter 1997.

(c)  EXHIBITS: Reference is made to Item 14(a)(3).

(d)  SCHEDULES:  Reference is made to Item 14(a)(2).

     For the purposes of complying with the amendments to the rules governing
Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned Company hereby
undertakes as follows, which undertaking shall be incorporated by reference into
the Company's Registration Statements of Form S-8 Nos. 33-29085 (filed June 6,
1989), 33-41459 (filed June 28, 1991), 33-48502 (filed June 10, 1992), 33-54435
(filed July 1, 1994) and 333-42945 (filed December 22, 1997):

          Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
     Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
     controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
     otherwise, the Company has been advised that, in the opinion of the
     Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public
     policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore,
     unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
     liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or
     paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the
     successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is 

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
     asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
     the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of
     its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to
     a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
     indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
     will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                       ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.



Date: March 27, 1998                   By   /S/ RONALD A. MATRICARIA
                                          ----------------------------
                                          Ronald A. Matricaria
                                          Chief Executive Officer
                                          (Principal Executive Officer)


                                       By   /S/ ROBERT E. MUNZENRIDER
                                          ----------------------------
                                          Robert E. Munzenrider
                                          Vice President, Finance and
                                          Chief Financial Officer
                                          (Principal Financial and 
                                          Accounting Officer)


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.


  /S/ RONALD A. MATRICARIA               Director         3/27/98    
- ----------------------------                                         
Ronald A. Matricaria                                                 

  /S/ FRED B. PARKS                      Director         3/27/98    
- ----------------------------                                         
Fred B. Parks                                                        

  /S/ PAUL J. CHIAPPARONE                Director         3/27/98    
- ----------------------------
Paul J. Chiapparone                                                  

  /S/ THOMAS H. GARRETT III              Director         3/27/98    
- ----------------------------                                         
Thomas H. Garrett III                                                

  /S/ KENNETH G. LANGONE                 Director         3/27/98    
- ----------------------------                                         
Kenneth G. Langone                                                   

  /S/ WILLIAM R. MILLER                  Director         3/27/98
- ----------------------------                                         
William R. Miller

  /S/ WALTER F. MONDALE                  Director         3/27/98 
- ----------------------------                                         
Walter F. Mondale                                             
                                                               
  /S/ WALTER L. SEMBROWICH               Director         3/27/98 
- ----------------------------                                         
Walter L. Sembrowich                                          
                                                               
  /S/ DANIEL J. STARKS                   Director         3/27/98 
- ----------------------------
Daniel J. Starks                                              
                                                               
  /S/ ROGER G. STOLL                     Director         3/27/98 
- ----------------------------
Roger G. Stoll                                                
                                                               
 /S/ GAIL R. WILENSKY                    Director         3/27/98 
- ----------------------------
Gail R. Wilensky                                              

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We have audited the consolidated financial statements of St. Jude Medical, Inc.
as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1997, and have issued our report thereon dated February 12,
1998. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the
Index at Item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits.

In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.


                                       /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 12, 1998

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
                     ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997

                 SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 COL. A                             COL. B                     COL. C                COL. D            COL. E
- -----------------------------------------    ---------------------    -------------------------    ------------    ----------------
                                                                        ADDITIONS CHARGED TO
              DESCRIPTION                         BALANCE AT          -------------------------                       BALANCE AT
                                             BEGINNING OF PERIOD       EXPENSE        OTHER         DEDUCTIONS      END OF PERIOD
- -----------------------------------------    ---------------------    ----------    -----------    ------------    ----------------
<S>                                          <C>                      <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>
Year ended December 31, 1997
     Allowance for doubtful accounts(3).             $8,160                $678      $4,037(5)       $163(1)           $12,712
     Products liability claims                        8,304                 ---         ---         2,099(2)             6,205
     reserve(4)

Year ended December 31, 1996
     Allowance for doubtful accounts(3)               9,845                 650          13(5)      2,348(1)             8,160
     Products liability claims                        8,558                 ---                       254(2)             8,304
     reserve(4)

Year ended December 31, 1995
     Allowance for doubtful accounts(3)               6,192               2,584       1,256(5)        187(1)             9,845
     Products liability claims                        1,500                 ---       8,000(5)        942(2)             8,558
     reserve(4)
</TABLE>
- -------------------------
(1)  Reserve for uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries.
(2)  Reserve for claims written off, including settlements paid.
(3)  Deducted from accounts receivable on the balance sheet.
(4)  Included in other accrued expenses on the balance sheet.
(5)  Balance assumed through acquisitions.

                                       20

<PAGE>
                                                                      EXHIBIT 13
 
St. Jude Medical, Inc.
1997 Annual Report
Improving Lives Around the World


About  St. Jude Medical, Inc.

St. Jude Medical, Inc., develops, manufactures and distributes medical devices
for the global cardiovascular market. The Company serves health care
professionals and their patients with the highest quality products and services
including heart valves, cardiac rhythm management systems, specialty catheters
and other cardiovascular devices.

The Company's three operating divisions provide the medical marketplace with
products and services across a wide variety of cardiovascular applications: the
Heart Valve Division is the global leader in heart valve disease management; the
Cardiac Rhythm Management Division is an innovator in cardiac rhythm management;
and Daig is a pioneer in specialty catheters for electrophysiology and
cardiology.

The Company's products are sold in more than 100 countries. St. Jude Medical has
fourteen operations and manufacturing facilities around the world. As of
December 31, 1997, the Company employed 3,772 people. St. Jude Medical products
and services improve and save lives around the world every day. Heart valve or
cardiac rhythm management products developed by St. Jude Medical have enabled
these four young people to grow up healthier and happier.

Table of Contents

1    Financial Highlights
2    Letter to Shareholders
7    Heart Valve Disease Management
12   Cardiac Rhythm Management
19   Specialty Catheters
20   Global Business
21   Management's Discussion and Analysis
27   Report of Management
27   Report of Independent Auditors
28   Consolidated Financial Statements
39   Five-Year Summary of Selected Financial Data
40   Investor Information
41   Leadership and Board of Directors

Captions
Edmund Pacleb, 4, loves riding his bike.
Ryan Johnson, 6, tries out the chair of Ron Matricaria, Chairman and CEO.
Lindsay Simpson, 6, shows off her dance costume.
Maria Eugenia Viveros, 13, models her new dress.

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
Financial Highlights

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Year Ended December 31                  1997         1996   % Change
- -----------------------                 ----         ----    -------
Income Statement                                             
Net sales                            $ 994,396   $ 876,747     13%
Operating profit                        86,817      69,469     25%
Net income                              53,140      60,637    (12%)
Diluted earnings per share                0.58        0.66    (12%)
Balance Sheet                                                
Cash and marketable securities       $ 184,536   $ 235,395    (22%)
Property, plant and equipment, net     307,645     289,274      6%
Total assets                         1,458,616   1,472,494     (1%)
Long-term debt                         220,000     229,500     (4%)
Shareholders' equity                   987,022     922,061      7%
Other Financial Data
Current ratio                            3.0/1       2.3/1
Debt to total capital ratio                 18%         20%

*The 1997 and 1996 results include pre-tax special charges and purchased
research and development associated with the Telectronics and Ventritex
acquisitions that totalled $58,669 and $93,276, respectively. The 1994 results
include purchased research and development pre-tax charge of $40,800 relating to
the Pacesetter acquisition.


To Our Shareholders

1997 was a year of contrasts for St. Jude Medical. We achieved many important
milestones and made substantial progress in all businesses. However, earnings
did not meet our expectations.

While the complexity of integrating several companies into St. Jude Medical
affected 1997 financial results, this challenge was not strategic in nature. We
are now positioned to effectively compete in all segments of the large and
growing cardiac rhythm management market.

In 1997, we again achieved record net sales of $994 million, a 13% increase over
1996. Earnings per share were affected by the costs associated with integrating
strategic acquisitions and related special charges.

Our financial condition is excellent. Creating value for our shareholders
remains a principal objective. The Company recently announced a self-tender
offer to repurchase eight million shares of common stock, to optimize our
capital structure.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
St. Jude Medical is a considerably larger and stronger Company today than it was
in 1993, when we began our diversification into multiple medical technology
platforms. We believe we have made the correct long-term strategic and
investment decisions for the Company and its shareholders.

We expect 1998 will represent for your Company a year of sales growth and
improved earnings. Each of our businesses is stronger and better positioned in
its respective markets. Our focus in 1998 is on gaining market share and
improving operational effectiveness.

The worldwide medical technology market is dynamic and represents a major
opportunity for the continued growth and profitability of St. Jude Medical as we
develop and bring to market advanced medical technology products and services in
three important and growing global therapeutic markets: heart valve disease
management, cardiac rhythm management and interventional cardiology.

In 1997, the Heart Valve Division strengthened its position as the supplier of
choice of products and services to deal with all aspects of heart valve disease.

St. Jude Medical is the undisputed leader in the worldwide mechanical heart
valve market. In October, we held a special event at the University of Minnesota
to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first implant of this remarkable
technology, arguably the most successful prosthetic medical device ever brought
to market.

In November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Toronto
SPV(R) tissue valve. This is the first tissue valve St. Jude Medical has offered
in the $100 million U.S. market--a major growth opportunity. Substantial
progress was also made in expanding SJM Biocor(TM) tissue valve sales. Several
additional tissue valve products with enhanced technologies are in development.

Other significant developments included the first implants in Europe of St. Jude
Medical(R) mechanical heart valves with our proprietary Silzone(TM)
anti-microbial coating and a global launch of a new, innovative heart valve
repair product, the SJM(R) Seguin annuloplasty ring.

The CoaguChek(TM) system, offered under an exclusive alliance with Boehringer
Mannheim Corporation, was approved in the United States. This system offers
heart valve patients easy self-testing to measure blood coagulation levels at
home.

We continue to support clinicians and innovators who are introducing minimally
invasive products and techniques for heart valve replacement and repair
surgeries.

The Cardiac Rhythm Management Division (CRMD) made tremendous progress in 1997
as we integrated Pacesetter, Telectronics and Ventritex into one organization to
address the needs of the large and growing global cardiac rhythm management
market.

In May, we completed the acquisition of Ventritex, Inc., a manufacturer of
implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). This transaction substantially
completed a strategy initiated in 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
1994 with the Pacesetter acquisition to build a cardiac rhythm management
business. Our cardiac rhythm management organization now offers a complete
product line for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

In just over three years, we have assembled from zero sales, assets or employees
in cardiac rhythm management, a $700 million business with extensive technology,
intellectual property, product, manufacturing and distribution assets. While we
underestimated the time it would take to integrate these acquisitions, feedback
from our customers and investment analysts supports our strategic direction.

To deal with CRMD integration challenges, we implemented an aggressive cost
reduction program, put a new senior management team in place, and are
consolidating ICD manufacturing.

During 1997, CRMD launched 22 pacemaker and ICD system products. We opened three
state-of-the-art research and manufacturing facilities, two in the United States
and one in Sweden.

CRMD was granted more 1997 U.S. patents in the field of cardiac stimulation than
any of its competitors, and has an intellectual property portfolio of more than
900 patents--an important asset that we intend to continue to grow and
aggressively protect.

As we begin 1998, the outlook for our cardiac rhythm management business is very
encouraging. Market growth is strong and CRMD's product pipeline is robust with
new pacing, defibrillator, and catheter products.

In 1997, Daig had excellent results, with sales growth exceeding 17%. Several 
new electrophysiology and interventional cardiology products were launched,
including the Livewire(TM) Duo-Decapolar catheter.

Daig's core competencies in catheter design and manufacturing are important
assets for St. Jude Medical as new implantation techniques require specialty
catheters.

We continued to expand and strengthen our global operations in 1997. All regions
reported sales increases. We deployed for the first time an international
organization responsible for all geographies outside the United States. We
continue to invest in sales and support infrastructure where we believe major
growth will occur in the next several years.

St. Jude Medical is well positioned to take advantage of opportunities in two
very large therapeutic markets for device technology--atrial fibrillation (AF)
and congestive heart failure (CHF). Both the AF and CHF markets are larger, in
terms of patient populations, than many markets currently served by the Company.

Atrial fibrillation, an arrhythmia of the upper chambers of the heart, affects
millions of people and is the most common heart rhythm disorder. Annual health
care expenditures to treat atrial fibrillation exceed $6 billion in the United
States alone.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
St. Jude Medical is pursuing a variety of approaches to treat atrial
fibrillation using catheter ablation and pulse generator systems. Daig received
the first FDA investigational device exemption (IDE) to explore catheter
ablation approaches to chronic AF. This early clinical experience has been
invaluable as Daig refines its approach to AF therapy.

Congestive heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization for people over
65 and, like AF, is a major health care cost. CHF occurs when the heart muscle
gradually weakens, losing pumping efficiency. We expect to announce this year
the first U.S. clinical implants under an FDA IDE of a Pacesetter pulse
generator and special lead system to treat CHF.

We recruited two new executives to St. Jude Medical. In August, Robert E.
Munzenrider was named Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Bob
brings to the Company extensive experience in financial strategy and information
systems management from Dial/Viad Corp.

In January 1998, Fred B. Parks joined the Company as President and Chief
Operating Officer, a new position consistent with our succession planning
program and reflecting that St. Jude Medical is now a much more complex company
to manage. Fred comes to St. Jude Medical after a successful career with EG&G, a
diversified global technology company. Fred Parks also was elected to the Board
of Directors.

We also welcomed Walter F. Mondale, former U.S. Senator, Vice President and
Ambassador to Japan, to the Board of Directors. We are honored and delighted to
add Mr. Mondale to the Board. His experience in government and international
business represent great assets to the organization.

William R. Miller and Kenneth G. Langone will retire this year from the Board.
Bill Miller joined the Board in 1991. Bill's extensive experience in the
international pharmaceutical business has been an important asset. Ken Langone
joined the Board in 1994. Ken's knowledge of the industry and his investment
banking experience were invaluable to the Board. Both helped guide the Company's
diversification. We wish both of them all the best.

The Board of Directors in December approved a 100 share stock option grant to
all eligible St. Jude Medical employees. This grant not only recognizes the
importance of our employees worldwide to the success of St. Jude, but also will
increase employee ownership of the Company. Our employees are crucial assets and
fundamental to our continuing success.

As a supplier of advanced medical technology, St. Jude Medical operates in a
dynamic, global health care marketplace, where medical device innovation is an
important component of delivering better care and outcomes to patients.
Governments and the private sector in all markets face challenges in terms of
health care access, financing, quality and delivery.

We closely monitor regulatory and reimbursement policy developments in the
United States and major international markets. As managed competition continues
to be implemented, we regularly interact with a broad range of U.S. health care
customers, including clinicians, payors, providers and policymakers.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
Congress approved the 1997 FDA Modernization Act, which represents a modest, but
important congressional mandate to the FDA to streamline its regulation of
medical technology. Biomaterials supply reform once again was not approved by
Congress and remains a priority.

In 1998, our U.S. public policy efforts are focused on the Health Care Financing
Administration (HCFA) and its role in determining coverage and reimbursement
policy for medical technology and implementing Medicare reforms enacted by
Congress in 1997.

For continued success in this changing environment, the objective for each St.
Jude Medical business is to be a market or technology leader, to provide health
care professionals with products and services of the highest quality with
demonstrated clinical and economic benefits, and to operate as the lowest cost
producer.

As we supply medical devices to health care professionals, St. Jude Medical
employees are also contributing to their communities. Our employees give of
their time and talents in many ways to improve the lives of others.

One example is the role the St. Jude Medical Foundation and our Minnesota
employees played in the Red River Valley flood relief effort this past year,
donating school supplies to the children of flood-ravaged Grand Forks, North
Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. We also continued our commitment to
partnering with physicians by donating products for humanitarian purposes.

Our objectives for 1998 include aggressive sales and earnings targets; multiple
product launches in all businesses; continuing progress in product development
for AF and CHF; completing the installation of a year 2000-compliant global
enterprise software solution; and improving operational effectiveness.

This past year was clearly a challenging one for St. Jude Medical. Financial
results were a disappointment as the resources required to integrate recent
acquisitions impacted earnings. We appreciate your patience and value your
continued support of the Company. We are committed to reinforce your confidence
with sustained financial performance and an aggressive growth strategy.

An important purpose of your Company is to save and improve lives. In 1997,
almost 2 million people around the world benefited from the products and support
of the St. Jude Medical team. We are reminded every day of the true value of St.
Jude Medical's innovative and life-supporting technology when we see patients
like Edmund, Lindsay, Maria and Ryan--the four children on the cover of this
annual report--leading normal, happy lives.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and our colleagues around the globe, thank
you for your support of St. Jude Medical.

Sincerely,

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
Ronald A. Matricaria                        Fred B. Parks
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer    President and Chief Operating Officer

March 7, 1998

St. Jude Medical's Diversification...
1993
Diversification Process Shareholder Profile, Therapeutic Class Review, Core
Competencies, Specific Opportunity Analysis
Growth Opportunities Identified
InControl Investment
Goal: The Most Innovative Heart Valve Company

1994
500,000th Mechanical Heart Valve Implant
Toronto SPV(R) First U.S. Implant
Pacesetter Acquired
EVT Investment
Cardiac Rhythm Management Platform Established
Automaticity(TM) Announced

1995
AutoCapture(TM) Announced
First European Implant SJM(R) Master Series*
Tendril(R) Lead Approved
Woodridge Approved
CRM Manufacturing Investments: Phoenix & Stockholm
Heartport Agreement
SJM(R) Seguin Annuloplasty Ring Announced
3:2 Stock Split

1996
Sale of Cardiac Assist
LifeNet Agreement
U.S. Launch SJM(R) Master Series
EDS Agreement
CoaguChek(TM) Agreement
Daig Acquired
Biocor Products Acquired
Telectronics Medtel Intermedics Ventritex Transactions Announced

1997
Scottsdale Hybrid Facility Dedicated
Spyglass(TM) Launched
Silzone(TM) Announced
SJM(R) Seguin Annuloplasty Ring Approved

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
Ventritex Transaction Completed
Veddesta Facility Dedicated
Tendril(R) DX Lead Approved
Toronto SPV(R) Approved
First Implants Angstrom(TM) MD and Contour(R) MD ICDs
SJM(R) Valve 20 Year Anniversary
5th Generation Minute Ventilation Pulse Generator Announced

1998
APS(TM) III Programmer Approved
Tempo(TM) Pacemaker Approved
Passive Plus(R) DX Lead Approved
Angstrom(TM) II and Contour(R) II ICDs Approved


Heart Valve Disease Management

1997 was an exciting year, full of significant developments for the heart valve
division. Financial performance was excellent, as we delivered on our commitment
to grow our business at twice the rate of the overall market.

As promised, we introduced several important new replacement and repair
products. In 1998, additional new products will be introduced to further
strengthen our mission to provide "The Best Solutions for Heart Valve Disease
Worldwide(TM)".

In 1997, we recalled our roots as a business as we celebrated another important
milestone for our flagship mechanical valve product line--the 750,000th clinical
implant. The FDA approved the innovative Toronto SPV(R) tissue valve. We
expanded distribution of our SJM Biocor(TM) stented tissue product, and in
Europe and Canada launched an important new technology to mitigate the risk of
infection in a variety of implant applications. Our new mitral annuloplasty
valve repair product was approved. With a partner, we launched a unique patient
self-testing device for anticoagulation therapy management. And we continued to
support surgeons and entrepreneurial companies pursuing minimally invasive
approaches to cardiac surgery.

Our global leadership position results from the commitment and teamwork of our
employees, the support of cardiovascular surgeons, corporate investments, and an
absolute commitment to quality without compromise.

In October, at the University of Minnesota, our Minnesota employees gathered to
commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first implant of the St. Jude Medical(R)
mechanical heart valve--an important milestone for the University, Minnesota's
"Medical Alley," and hundreds of thousands of people around the world whose
lives have been saved or improved by the St. Jude Medical valve.

At this event, University of Minnesota officials joined us in retelling the
circumstances that led to the design and first implant of the valve at the
University 20 years ago. That procedure saved 

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
a life, validated our Company, and helped to found a Minnesota industry. At the
event, we introduced the family of our first patient, Helen Heikkinen, and the
750,000th patient to receive the St. Jude Medical valve, Hallie Finucane, a
Heart Valve Division employee.

More than 800 peer-reviewed articles confirm the clinical history and low
complication rates of the St. Jude Medical(R) mechanical heart valve. Made to
last a lifetime, St. Jude Medical(R) heart valves are designed for uncompromised
durability and performance.

Mechanical heart valve products, while the foundation of our heart valve
business, are now supplemented with a complete line of important products and
services for the treatment of all aspects of heart valve disease. We are
building on the unmatched clinical performance of the St. Jude Medical valve to
create an expanding portfolio of clinical possibilities.

Beyond a significant anniversary of the first implant of our mechanical valve,
1997 marked a solid increase in production of heart valve components at our
state-of-the-art Woodridge Carbon Technology Center. This level is sufficient to
provide for all our manufacturing needs, representing the successful culmination
of a self-sufficiency process that began more than a decade ago. Our Lillehei
and Puerto Rico manufacturing facilities continued their excellent performance.

In September, we announced the first implants in Europe and receipt of the
Conformite Europeene (CE) Mark for the St. Jude Medical(R) mechanical heart
valve SJM(R) Master Series with Silzone(TM) coating, a proprietary, permanent
impregnation of elemental silver into the yarns of the valve sewing cuff.
Silzone is anticipated to reduce the risk of endocarditis, a serious infection
that can occur following surgery. This unique silver coating process is
available on our products via an exclusive arrangement with a strategic partner.
To date, more than 1,500 St. Jude valves with Silzone(TM) coating have been
implanted worldwide. Response from clinicians has been very positive. We
anticipate FDA approval of this valve enhancement this year, and we expect to
add Silzone(TM) coating to other products, as well.

We plan other advances in the St. Jude Medical(R) mechanical heart valve line in
the months and years ahead to ensure that this product line retains its
well-earned reputation as the "gold standard" of prosthetic heart valves.

The most important product milestone for our division in 1997 was FDA approval
in November of the Toronto SPV(R) valve, the platform for St. Jude Medical to
achieve market and technology leadership in bioprosthetic valves. This is St.
Jude Medical's first tissue valve product for the U.S. market, which is
estimated at more than $100 million. Our tissue valve manufacturing facility in
St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, also was approved by the FDA.

The Toronto SPV(R) valve is a stentless porcine aortic valve designed to offer
dramatically superior hemodynamic performance and the promise of increased
durability over conventional stented bioprosthetic valves. The Toronto SPV(R)
valve is the leading stentless porcine valve in Europe and Canada. We fully
expect it to perform equally well in the U.S. market. By January, 400 surgeons
had been trained to implant the valve at more than 300 U.S. centers. Clinical

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
acceptance has been excellent and early implant statistics exceed our
expectations. This product will be an important growth driver.

By the end of 1998, we expect to begin human implants of the next product in the
Toronto SPV(R) product family, incorporating a unique anti-calcification
technology and Silzone(TM) coating.

During the past year, the sales and support of our stented tissue products in
Europe significantly expanded. These porcine and bovine tissue valve products
were acquired in 1996, following 18 years of development and clinical experience
as Biocor Industria, Ltd., of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. A new production facility
opened in Brazil in 1997. We are extremely pleased with the quality and
commercial success of the SJM Biocor(TM) products.

In 1998, we anticipate the first use of an enhanced stented tissue valve,
including a unique anti-calcification technology and Silzone(TM) coating.

Another important 1997 milestone was FDA approval and receipt of the CE Mark for
our new heart valve repair product, the SJM(R) Seguin mitral annuloplasty ring.
An annuloplasty ring is a product that is used in patients whose heart valve
disease can be managed through surgical repair procedures instead of the
replacement of the heart valve. The SJM(R) Seguin ring can be used in
conventional open-chest surgery and with minimally invasive surgical techniques.
Reaction to the product has been very positive. Further additions to our valve
repair product portfolio are planned for 1998.

As part of our commitment to provide clinicians and their patients the best
solutions for the management of heart valve disease, we have developed an
alliance with Boehringer Mannheim Corporation to support the CoaguChek(TM)
system, which offers easy self-testing at home of blood coagulation levels. The
FDA cleared the CoaguChek(TM) system in June, and it is now available to our
customers.

Finally, as clinical interest in less invasive surgical techniques continues,
St. Jude Medical supports surgeons and companies worldwide as they develop new
approaches to improve the surgical management of valve disease.

As we enter the third decade of clinical use of the St. Jude Medical(R)
mechanical heart valve and approach a new millennium, we are energized by the
many exciting opportunities in heart valve disease management around the world.
We believe the Heart Valve Division is exceptionally well positioned for
continued leadership and is making significant contributions to advance the
treatment of heart valve disease.

The "hearts behind the valves"--patients, health care professionals,
employees--continue to sustain this wonderful success story.

Sincerely,

Terry L. Shepherd

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
President, Heart Valve Division

Captions
20th Anniversary advertisement.

St. Jude Medical(R) Mechanical Heart Valve-- "the gold standard."

St. Jude Medical employees celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the "gold
standard" St. Jude Medical(R) mechanical heart valve at the University of
Minnesota.

St. Jude Medical(R) Mechanical Heart Valve SJM(R) Master Series with Silzone(TM)
coating, a proprietary impregnation of elemental silver into the sewing cuff,
designed to reduce post-operative endocarditis.

Tirone E. David, M.D., is Professor and Chief of Surgery at the University of
Toronto Hospital. Dr. David developed the Toronto SPV(R) at the University of
Toronto and believes that a stentless bioprosthetic valve offers improved
hemodynamics and durability.

Toronto SPV(R) stentless porcine aortic valve.

SJM Biocor(TM) porcine heart valve.

Hallie Finucane, Chief Intellectual Property Counsel--Heart Valve Division and
recipient of the 750,000th mechanical heart valve, with Terry Shepherd.

CoaguChek(TM) self-testing system for measuring blood coagulation levels.


Cardiac Rhythm Management

Cardiac rhythm management is one of the largest and most promising worldwide
markets for advanced medical technology. It represented more than $3 billion in
1997 and is forecast to double to more than $6 billion by 2002.

The opportunities for the St. Jude Medical Cardiac Rhythm Management Division
(CRMD) are substantial. Our Pacesetter bradycardia pacing systems, Ventritex
implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and Daig specialty catheters for
electrophysiology are highly regarded by health care professionals. In addition,
medical device approaches to two other cardiac conditions that could be
alleviated through technology innovation--atrial fibrillation and congestive
heart failure--represent major longer term growth prospects for St. Jude
Medical.

With the acquisition of Pacesetter in 1994, the acquisitions of Daig and
Telectronics in 1996, and the completion of the Ventritex merger in 1997, St.
Jude Medical created a powerful force to advance the treatment of all types of
cardiac arrhythmias and related disorders. St. Jude Medical has invested more
than $1 billion to build CRMD, and we are convinced that this investment will
result in substantial returns to our shareholders.

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
In 1958, a company that later became part of Pacesetter was responsible for the
development of the first implantable pacemaker. We will appropriately
commemorate that medical technology milestone this year, highlighting our
40-year history of unequaled innovation by the businesses that now constitute
CRMD.

1998 represents our first full year of business operations for CRMD with ICD
products. We have the heritage, talent and resources to deliver cost-effective
and innovative products that produce better outcomes for clinicians and their
patients. As a result, we expect to increase sales, market share and gross
margins. Our management team is focused and committed to achieving those
objectives.

We are implementing a disease management strategy similar to the one employed by
our colleagues in the Heart Valve Division. The rich technology base of CRMD,
our 22 product development and launch milestones in 1997, and the significant
organizational progress made during the past year position CRMD for future
growth.

For CRMD as a combined business, 1997 was clearly a year of transition. We
opened state-of-the-art research and manufacturing facilities in Scottsdale,
Arizona, and Veddesta, Sweden. We expanded ICD capacitor manufacturing in
Pickens, South Carolina. As part of the integration of Telectronics
manufacturing into CRMD, we closed facilities in Florida, Colorado and France.
We are moving ICD production to our principal U.S. manufacturing facility, just
north of Los Angeles.

We integrated the Pacesetter, Telectronics and Ventritex sales and field
clinical engineering organizations. The majority is now certified to sell and
support ICDs. The experience base of this network of field sales and clinical
engineers, and their depth of account coverage, are important assets. In Europe,
we strengthened our sales to take advantage of ICD sales opportunities where
Ventritex did not previously have a sales presence.

In 1997, we also combined the extensive research and development resources and
intellectual property portfolios of our CRMD businesses into a single U.S.
bradycardia and tachycardia development organization. This team has available
the wealth of technology resources of Pacesetter, Telectronics and Ventritex to
develop our next-generation bradycardia and tachycardia products.

A number of bradycardia products were brought to market in 1997, and others have
been approved and will be launched in 1998. No other manufacturer offers its
customers more reliable and technically advanced pulse generator, lead and
programmer products than CRMD does.

With the release of several additional models of the Pacesetter Trilogy(R)
devices, clinicians have a complete family of highly advanced, highly automatic
pacemakers to answer a wide range of therapeutic needs. Trilogy(R) pacemakers
were the first in the industry to automatically and intelligently adapt their
operation to meet the patient's changing cardiac requirements.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
In January 1998, the Pacesetter Tempo(TM) family of pacemakers was launched,
incorporating fifth-generation Minute Ventilation sensor technology. Tempo(TM)
pacemakers provide the most natural therapy possible to a wide range of
patients. While other suppliers are just coming to market with their first
generation of such sensors, customers of CRMD benefit from ten years and five
generations of Minute Ventilation experience.

As 1998 progresses, we plan to release a number of models of the Pacesetter
Affinity(TM) next-generation single- and dual-chamber pacemakers. This product
family features our unique AutoCapture(TM) pacing system, which is designed to
offer consistent pacing support while maximizing safety and device longevity.
This revolutionary technology will enable Affinity(TM) devices to monitor every
paced beat for heart capture, deliver a back-up pulse in the event of
noncapture, continuously measure threshold, and automatically make adjustments
in energy output to match changing patient needs.

Our Affinity(TM) pacemakers will be smaller than our Tempo(TM) products, which
include the smallest dual-chamber rate-responsive pacemaker in the world. Some
Affinity(TM) models will contain both the Omnisense(TM) accelerometer-based
sensor and a sixth-generation Minute Ventilation sensor, incorporating our
extensive experience with the two sensor technologies. Certain models will
automatically select the optimal sensor rate performance option based on unique
patient requirements.

The Pacesetter Tendril(R) DX steroid-eluting active-fixation pacing lead was
released in the U.S. market in June 1997. The letters "DX" indicate the use of a
small amount of steroid compound in a controlled-release device housed in the
tip of the lead, which helps to suppress the body's inflammatory response and
contributes to lower capture thresholds.

Recently, the FDA approved the Pacesetter Passive Plus(R) DX passive-fixation
pacing lead for market release. Physicians now have the option of choosing a
reliable passive-fixation, silicone-insulated, steroid-eluting lead from the
Passive Plus(R) DX family or an active-fixation lead from the Tendril(R) DX
family. Clinician reaction to both of these lead products has been very
positive.

The APS(TM) III, our universal programming platform, received the CE Mark in
1997 and was approved by the FDA in January 1998. The APS(TM) III represents a
new era in rapid programming and diagnostic follow-up for physicians. This
ergonomic desktop programmer significantly enhances the physician's ability to
efficiently utilize the extensive diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of our
pacemaker systems to optimize patient care.

In addition, the Pacesetter APS(TM)u, a unique pocket-sized pacemaker programmer
previously available in Europe, was released in the United States. Although it
can easily fit inside a lab coat pocket, the battery-powered, highly portable
APS(TM)u can perform many of the functions of its desktop counterpart.

In 1997 and early 1998, several Ventritex products to treat ventricular
tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) were launched or began clinical
evaluation.

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
The next generation Ventritex defibrillator systems, the Angstrom(TM) II and
Contour(R) II, are now in the process of worldwide market release. The
Angstrom(TM) II and Contour(R) II devices are the world's thinnest ICDs and
provide full functionality. The Angstrom(TM) II is also the smallest
defibrillator on the market; the Contour(R) II delivers the highest energy
defibrillation therapy. These devices are small and powerful because they
incorporate Ventritex-proprietary Flatcap(TM) capacitors, for high energy
storage. Flatcap(TM) technology is responsible for the thin profile and
physiologic shape of Ventritex ICDs.

The Angstrom(TM) MD and Contour(R) MD ICDs are currently under clinical
evaluation in the U.S. and recently became available in Europe. These
full-featured, high-output devices are as thin and small as the Angstrom(TM) II
and Contour(R) II ICDs. The MD devices contain a unique Morphology
Discrimination algorithm for differentiating between life-threatening
ventricular tachyarrhythmias and less serious atrial tachyarrhythmias. As
cost-effective solutions for ICD patients who experience atrial
tachyarrhythmias, these single-lead systems use "dynamic template matching" to
distinguish between the two types of fast heart rates and thus provide greater
protection against inappropriate shocking than previous devices. The
Angstrom(TM) MD and Contour(R) MD ICDs are anticipated to provide the clinical
benefits of dual-chamber discrimination without the cost or complexity of an
additional atrial lead.

The ICD market is in the early stages of segmenting between single- and
dual-chamber devices, the latter incorporating dual-chamber bradycardia sensing
and pacing. Many clinicians believe single-chamber devices will continue to
dominate the ICD market for the foreseeable future, given the size and price of
current dual-chamber devices, the requirement for two leads and the impact on
device longevity associated with dual-chamber pacing. CRMD is developing a
competitively packaged, dual-chamber device that will incorporate a variety of
integrated, advanced features.

The Ventritex dual-electrode SPL(R) transvenous lead was released in 1997. This
new lead was designed specifically for physicians who prefer a lead with two
shocking coils and offers the flexibility and maneuverability of a pacemaker
lead.

For 1998, our objectives for CRMD include launching a number of important new
products, completing the consolidation of ICD production at our Los Angeles
facility, improving gross margins, building the identity of the combined
organization, and commemorating the 40th anniversary of the implantable
pacemaker.

The future for the St. Jude Medical Cardiac Rhythm Management Division is
bright. We are well prepared to compete in this dynamic and growing global
market. Our greatest resource is the people of CRMD. We thank them for their
contributions during 1997 and look forward to working together during 1998 and
in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Starks
Chief Executive Officer, Cardiac Rhythm Management Division

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
James W. Dennis
President, Cardiac Rhythm Management Division

Four Decades of Innovation...
1958
First implantable pacemaker 
1962 
First endocardial pacing lead 
1971 
First pacemaker to be hermetically sealed in a titanium case 
1972 
First non-invasive threshold measurement system 
1973 
First rechargeable long-life pacemaker 
1978
First single-chip pacemaker 
1979 
First activated carbon tip lead 
First bi-directional telemetry pacemaker 
1981 
First micro-processor-based pulse generator 
1987 
First pacemaker with Minute Ventilation sensor 
First ICD with back-up bradycardia pacing 
1988 
First dual-chamber, rate-modulated pacemaker
1989 
First ICD with stored e-grams and biphasic waveform therapy 
First pacemaker with automatic mode switching 
1992
First 3-D transseptal guiding introducer used in EP procedure 
1994 
First catheter ablation product in U.S. clinical trials to treat atrial 
  fibrillation (AF) 
First U.S. implants of pacemakers incorporating Automaticity(TM) 
1995 
First AutoCapture(TM) pacing system in Microny(TM), the
world's smallest pacemaker 
1996 
First guiding introducer system for atrial flutter ablation 
First Flatcap(TM) (ICD capacitor) permitting thinner, more contoured devices 
1997 
First fifth-generation Minute Ventilation pacemaker

Captions
Arne Larsson, recipient of the world's first implantable pacemaker in 1958,
playing croquet with his wife, Elsa Marie.

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
Hans Strandberg, engineer in Veddesta, Sweden, a winner of the William G.
Hendrickson Technical Achievement Award for Combipolar(TM) sensing.

(top) Ventritex Angstrom(TM) MD*, world's smallest and thinnest defibrillator;
(lower left) Pacesetter Microny(TM)*, world's smallest pacemaker; (lower right)
Pacesetter Tempo(TM), world's smallest dual-chamber, rate-responsive pacemaker.
*In clinical evaluation

(top) Benjamin D. Pless, Executive Vice President, Product Development, and
Stephen T. Archer, Director, Electrical Development, working with a
defibrillator development board.

Steven J. Bailin, M.D., at the Iowa Heart Center in Des Moines, Iowa, is doing a
routine check on Linda Klein, 53, who had a Ventritex Angstrom(TM) MD
defibrillator* implanted in October 1997.

Pacesetter Trilogy(R) pacemaker--highly automatic, individualized therapy.

Pacesetter Tempo(TM) pacemaker with fifth-generation Minute Ventilation sensor
technology.

(left to right) Eric S. Fain, M.D., Vice President, Tachycardia Product Planning
and Research; Holger Friedrich, M.D., Managing Director, Ventritex Germany; and
Michael B. Sweeney, Executive Vice President, Clinical Engineering and
Regulatory Affairs, at the European Congress of Cardiology in Sweden.

Pacesetter APS(TM) III patient management system.

Ventritex Angstrom(TM) II, the smallest, thinnest defibrillator on the market.

Pacesetter AB employees at the Veddesta facility assembling Microny(TM) and
Regency(TM) pacemakers.

(left to right) Patrick P. Fourteau, President, St. Jude Medical International;
Goran Persson, Prime Minister of Sweden; Fred A. Colen, Executive Vice
President, CRMD, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new CRMD manufacturing
facility in Veddesta, Sweden.

Hartmut Jechewsky, working with a Pacesetter laser welder.

Ventritex SPL(R) dual-electrode transvenous defibrillation lead.

Daniel J. Starks (left) and James W. Dennis.


Specialty Catheters

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
Daig, our specialty catheter business, had a very exciting and successful 1997
as sales increased 17%. Several important new products were introduced,
pioneering work in atrial fibrillation (AF) continued and our expertise in
catheter technology continued to leverage product development throughout St.
Jude Medical.

Daig provides a broad range of specialty catheter products to cardiologists and
electrophysiologists. In the treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders, Daig
products are used in both diagnostic and therapeutic electrophysiology (EP)
procedures that often lead to a subsequent pacemaker or ICD implant.

Daig continues to develop a proprietary ablation system to provide a cure for
AF. Current treatment modalities do not provide a cure and can lead to serious
and costly complications. During 1998, major research and development efforts
will continue on this promising and potentially life-saving new technology.

In 1997, Daig continued its impressive record of launching several new EP
products, including the Swartz(TM) Reduced Radius and SEPT(TM) guiding
introducers and the Livewire(TM) Duo-Decapolar catheter. Our new product
additions have expanded the world's largest product line of standard and
specialty EP catheters.

Several of Daig's cardiology products are market leaders. In 1997, we utilized
our strategy of continuous improvement in manufacturing technology to develop
and launch the Maximum(TM) hemostasis introducer. This product strengthens
Daig's leading market position by expanding the choice of introducer technology
for our customers. We also expanded our cardiology market opportunity with the
launch of the Spyglass(TM) line of angiography catheters, entering a $160
million market segment. Several new cardiology product launches are planned for
1998.

We are committed in 1998 to continued contributions to the success of
St. Jude Medical, given our extensive catheter design and manufacturing
resources for both electrophysiology and interventional cardiology.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Coyle
President, Daig

Captions
Dr. Stuart Adler uses a Daig SEPT(TM) introducer to help Harvey Schaefer
understand his upcoming electrophysiology study.

Michael J. Coyle (left), with Mark Krueger and Alicia Heck, Hendrickson Award
winners from Daig.


Global Business

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
St. Jude Medical made considerable progress in expanding its global operations
in 1997. Sales increased in all regions. International opportunities for medical
technology are substantial. We sell and support St. Jude products and services
in more than 100 countries. The Company also develops and manufactures medical
devices in Brazil, Canada and Sweden.

Reflecting the importance of international markets to the future growth of St.
Jude Medical, in 1997, we established a combined international operations
structure incorporating all geographies outside of the United States.

In Western Europe, we integrated the Ventritex and Telectronics teams into our
regional organization, strengthened sales and support resources to pursue the
specialty catheter business, and increased tissue valve sales 30% with SJM
Biocor(TM) products. In Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where sales
increased by over 40%, we established direct sales organizations in several
countries and strengthened our distributor network. In Canada, our organization
continued to make excellent progress.

In Latin America, heart valve unit sales have increased five-fold and pacemaker
implants have tripled since 1994. St. Jude Medical has one of the largest
medical device distribution systems in Latin America. We are a market leader in
Brazil, the largest regional market. We entered into an agreement with Avecor
Cardiovascular Inc. to distribute its blood pump and oxygenator products.

In Japan, our distribution partners, Getz Brothers and Fukuda, made progress in
a challenging economic environment in the second largest medical device market,
where we are a market leader in heart valves and pacemakers. In Asia-Pacific,
sales increased 50%. We opened offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, India, and in
Sydney, Australia. We expanded our team in China and support resources in Hong
Kong. Despite current economic pressures, this region represents a major
long-term growth opportunity for St. Jude Medical.

As we begin 1998, all of our geographic areas are well positioned for continued
growth and success.

Sincerely,

Patrick P. Fourteau
President, St. Jude Medical International

Captions
George Fazio, General Manager, St. Jude Medical Canada, and Claudia Achermann,
Tissue Valve Engineering, evaluating the newly FDA-approved Toronto SPV(R).

Ruud Helwig, Vice President, BENSAS, Middle East and Africa, and Angelo Rivetti,
Managing Director, Italy, at an international fair.

Patrick P. Fourteau.

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial
Condition (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


Results of Operations

Introduction: The Company designs, manufactures and markets medical devices and
provides services primarily for the cardiovascular segment of the medical device
market. Principal products include mechanical heart valves, tissue heart valves,
bradycardia pacemakers, pacemaker leads, implantable cardioverter defibrillators
(ICDs) and specialty catheters.

A principal objective for management is to increase shareholder value. This is
accomplished by maximizing and expanding the core competencies and technology
platforms associated with its heart valve disease management and cardiac rhythm
management businesses.

Effective May 15, 1997, the Company acquired Ventritex, Inc. ("Ventritex"), a
manufacturer of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and related products.
Each share of Ventritex common stock was converted into .5 shares of Company
common stock. The Company issued 10,437,800 shares to Ventritex shareholders.
The transaction qualified as a tax-free reorganization and was accounted for as
a pooling of interests. The accompanying financial statements, for all periods
presented, have been restated to include the results of Ventritex.

Effective November 29, 1996, St. Jude Medical acquired substantially all of the
assets of Telectronics Pacing Systems, Inc. ("Telectronics"), a pacemaker
manufacturer, and Medtel, a distribution company in the Asia-Pacific region,
both of which were wholly owned subsidiaries of Pacific Dunlop, Ltd. The
acquisition, which was accounted for as a purchase, included cash payments
totalling approximately $139,000 and an earnout provision tied to future pacing
sales which could result in additional payments of up to $40,000 over six years
if certain revenue milestones are achieved. The Company's reported results for
1996 include Telectronics and Medtel subsequent to November 29, 1996. On August
29, 1997, the Company sold Medtel. The gain on the sale of this business was
recorded as an adjustment of previously recorded goodwill.

Effective September 23, 1996, the Company acquired Biocor Industria E Pesquisas
Ltd. ("BIP"), a Brazilian manufacturer of tissue heart valves, for $4,000 in
cash and an earn-out which could result in additional cash payments of up to
$4,000 over three years.

Effective May 31, 1996, the Company acquired Daig Corporation ("Daig"), a
Minnesota-based manufacturer of specialized cardiovascular devices for the
electrophysiology and interventional cardiology markets. Each share of Daig
common stock was converted into .651733 shares of Company common stock and the
Company issued 10,013,319 shares to Daig shareholders. The transaction qualified
as a tax-free reorganization and was accounted for as a pooling of interests.
The accompanying financial statements, for all periods presented, have been
restated to include the results of Daig.

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
Effective January 19, 1996, the Company sold its cardiac assist operations to
C.R. Bard for approximately $24,000. Cardiac assist net sales were approximately
$12,000 in 1995. Also in 1996, the Company acquired the remaining 50% of The
Heart Valve Company it did not previously own for $1,000 in cash and 149,153
shares of its common stock.

The commentary that follows should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated
Financial Statements and the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The
Company's fiscal year is the 52 or 53 week period ending the Saturday nearest
December 31. Fiscal years 1996 and 1995 consisted of 52 weeks and fiscal year
1997 consisted of 53 weeks.

Shown in the following table for the periods indicated are the relative
percentages of net sales by technology platform and the percentage relationships
of certain items in the consolidated statements of income to consolidated net
sales and the percentage change of the dollar amounts of such items as compared
with the prior period. Due to the impact of the Telectronics, Medtel and BIP
acquisitions, and the cardiac assist business divestiture, amounts are not
directly comparable between years.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Year-to-Year
                                    Percent of Net Sales                  Change
                                                                      1997      1996
Year Ended December 31                                              Compared  Compared
                                          1997     1996     1995     to 1996   to 1995
                                         ------   ------   ------  ---------  --------
<S>                                       <C>      <C>      <C>    <C>        <C>
Net sales                                                                 
     Heart valve ...................      28.0%    30.7%    30.3%      3%        5%
     Cardiac rhythm                                                       
         management ................      72.0%    69.3%    69.7%     18%        3%
Net sales ..........................     100.0%   100.0%   100.0%     13%        3%
Cost of sales ......................      36.8%    33.6%    34.5%     24%        1%
Gross profit .......................      63.2%    66.4%    65.5%      8%        5%
Selling, general and                                                      
     administrative ................      38.1%    35.5%    33.6%     22%        9%
Research and                                                              
     development ...................      10.5%    12.3%    12.0%     (3%)       6%
Purchased research                                                        
     and development ...............        --      4.6%      --      --         --
Special charges ....................       5.9%     6.0%      --      11%        --
Operating profit ...................       8.7%     8.0%    19.9%     25%      (59%)
Other income                                                              
     (expense), net ................        .2%     2.3%     (.2%)   (93%)      NM
Income before tax ..................       8.9%    10.3%    19.7%     (3%)     (46%)
Income tax provision ...............       3.4%     3.4%     5.9%     12%      (40%)
Net income before the                                                     
     cumulative effect of an                                              
     accounting change .............       5.5%     6.9%    13.8%    (10%)     (48%)
Cumulative effect of an                                                   
     accounting change .............        .2%      --       --      --         --
</TABLE>

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                        <C>      <C>     <C>    <C>         <C>
Net income .........................       5.3%     6.9%    13.8%  (12%)       (48%)
</TABLE>

Net Sales: Net sales totalled $994,396 in 1997, a $117,649 or 13%, increase over
1996 net sales of $876,747.

Sales outside the U.S. in 1997 remained consistent with 1996 at 41% of net
sales. This reflects increasing unit sales in higher growth, developing foreign
markets which were partially offset by lower average selling prices, and the
foreign currency effect of the stronger U.S. dollar. Unfavorable foreign
currency effects due to the stronger U.S. dollar reduced 1997 net sales compared
to 1996 by approximately $26,200. This negative impact on sales was partially
offset by a favorable foreign currency impact on operating expenses and gains
relating to the Company's hedging activities, which were recorded in other
income.

Heart valve net sales of approximately $278,000 increased 3% in 1997 despite
worldwide health care reform and increased competition which continued to put
pressure on the number of procedures performed as well as pricing flexibility.
Domestic mechanical heart valve net sales increased in 1997 due to market growth
and general price increases. International mechanical heart valve net sales in
1997 were slightly higher than 1996. This resulted mainly from increased unit
sales in the developing markets of Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and
Asia-Pacific regions that were partially offset by the foreign currency impact
of the stronger U.S. dollar. Tissue heart valve net sales in 1997 increased
significantly from 1996 levels due to the continuing physician acceptance of the
Toronto SPV(R) valve and the full year effect of the SJM Biocor(TM) tissue heart
valve.

Cardiac rhythm management net sales increased 18% from 1996 levels. The increase
over 1996 was attributable to higher ICD sales due to the domestic commercial
release of the Contour(R) ICD and the Ventritex SPL(R) transvenous lead. In
addition, bradycardia sales increased over 1996 due to reporting a full year of
Telectronics net sales and higher unit sales in all major geographical markets,
particularly the emerging markets of Latin America, Asia Pacific and Eastern
Europe. These increases were partially offset by the impact of the stronger U.S.
dollar.

Net sales in 1996 of $876,747 were $28,669 or 3% higher than 1995 net sales of
$848,078. The increase resulted from higher mechanical heart valve sales in
emerging international markets and increased Daig sales due to new product
introductions and expanded marketing programs. Domestic mechanical heart valve
sales increased due to the full year availability of the St. Jude Medical(R)
mechanical heart valve SJM(R) Masters Series and general price increases that
were partially offset by a reduction in unit sales due to a reduction in
procedures and hospital inventory management. In addition, bradycardia net sales
increased due to higher sales in lower margin emerging international markets
that were partially offset by lower selling prices in mature markets associated
with competitive pricing pressures.

Sales in 1996 of implantable cardioverter defibrillators decreased more than 20%
compared to 1995 due to the introduction by competitors of pectorally implanted
products. Telectronics sales totalled almost $8,000 in December 1996. Daig's
sales of electrophysiology catheters and related products increased by over 50%
in 1996 compared with 1995.

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
Cost of Sales: As a percentage of net sales, cost of sales in 1997 increased to
36.8% from 33.6% in 1996 primarily as a result of higher manufacturing costs
associated with the Telectronics facilities and the impact of the stronger U.S.
dollar that were partially offset by an increase in the percentage of internally
produced mechanical heart valve components.

In 1996, cost of sales as a percentage of sales decreased to 33.6% from 34.5% in
1995 primarily as a result of manufacturing efficiencies, an increase in the
percentage of internally produced mechanical heart valve components, and the
elimination of a 2% mechanical heart valve royalty payment during the first
quarter 1995.

Selling, General and Administrative: Selling, general and administrative (SG&A)
expense increased in 1997 to $378,500 from $311,470 in 1996. As a percentage of
net sales, SG&A increased to 38.1% in 1997 from 35.5% in 1996. The higher dollar
amount and percentage of net sales increases were mainly due to the continued
shift to direct sales particularly in Canada, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific
region, as well as increased expenditures for European and information systems
infrastructure. SG&A in 1997 also included a full year of Telectronics-related
expenses.

During 1996, selling, general and administrative expense increased $26,530 over
1995 levels. SG&A expenses increased principally due to additional marketing
costs attributable to expanded sales coverage in the Pacific Rim and Latin
American markets and increased information systems infrastructure costs.

Research and Development: Research and development (R&D) expense in 1997
decreased to $104,693 from $107,644 recorded in 1996, and as a percentage of net
sales decreased to 10.5% from 12.3%. The decrease was attributable primarily to
the conclusion of several Telectronics projects subsequent to the technology
transfer to Pacesetter and the conclusion of other Pacesetter projects.
Ventritex, however, increased R&D spending associated with ongoing ICD programs.
R&D spending for the heart valve business increased due to tissue valve research
and Daig increased R&D spending associated with its catheter programs.

In 1996, research and development expense increased to $107,644 from $101,264
recorded in 1995. The increase mainly resulted from Pacesetter's bradycardia and
programmer projects and Ventritex's ICD development programs. Heart valve
related R&D increased slightly in 1996 due mainly to tissue valve projects. Daig
R&D expense decreased slightly in 1996.

Purchased Research and Development: In 1996, the Company incurred $40,350 of
non-cash purchased research and development charges, representing the appraised
value of in-process R&D which must be expensed under generally accepted
accounting principles for purchase accounting. The purchased R&D related to the
acquisitions of The Heart Valve Company ($5,000), Telectronics ($32,200) and BIP
($3,150).

Special Charges: In 1997, the Company recorded $58,669 of special charges which
consisted of $8,227 in Ventritex transaction costs, $18,139 and $19,378
associated with repositioning Pacesetter and Ventritex manufacturing operations,
respectively, and $12,925 related to distributor termination charges. In 1996,
the Company recorded $52,926 of special charges 

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
which consisted of a $25,000 payment to Intermedics, Inc. to resolve various
patent and legal disputes, Daig transaction charges of $5,118, repositioning
charges of $11,100 related to the Company's tissue heart valve business,
distributor termination charges of $7,700, integration charges of $2,200
incurred by Pacesetter as a result of the Telectronics acquisition, and non-
recurring special charges of $1,808.

Other Income (Expense): Other income in 1997 totalled $1,419 compared to $21,140
in 1996. Interest expense during 1997 increased to $14,374 from $4,725 in 1996
due to the full year effect of the debt associated with the Telectronics
acquisition. Also, Ventritex issued convertible subordinated notes in the third
quarter of 1996. In addition, several non-recurring 1996 transactions increased
other income over 1997, including a gain on sale of the Company's cardiac assist
business and the successful completion of litigation related to the terminated
Electromedics' acquisition.

Other income totalled $21,140 in 1996 compared to other expense of $1,992 in
1995. Interest expense during 1996 decreased to $4,725 from $12,967 in 1995 due
to the retirement of Pacesetter acquisition debt which was repaid by the end of
the third quarter 1996. This was partially offset by interest expense in the
fourth quarter 1996 for borrowings in support of the Telectronics and Medtel
acquisitions. In addition, several non-recurring 1996 transactions increased
other income over 1995.

Income Tax Provision: The Company's 1997 effective income tax rate was 38.0%
compared to 33.1% in 1996. The increase was primarily attributable to
non-deductible expenses associated with the Ventritex acquisition and to
separate, previously legislated changes relating to taxation of Puerto Rican
operations. The Treasury regulation changes, discussed below, have significantly
reduced tax benefits derived from the Company's Puerto Rican operations.

The Company's 1996 effective income tax rate increased to 33.1% from 29.9% in
1995. The increase was primarily attributable to changes to Treasury regulations
pertaining to taxation of Puerto Rican operations, which were finalized in the
second quarter 1996 retroactive to the beginning of 1996, as well as to
non-deductible expenses associated with the Daig acquisition and to separate
previously legislated changes relating to taxation of Puerto Rican operations.
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 significantly reduced the tax
benefits which were previously available from income generated by the Company's
Puerto Rican operations under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 936. As a
result of this legislation, Puerto Rican tax benefits were reduced by 55% in
1997, 50% in 1996 and 45% in 1995 compared to the 1993 benefit levels.

Net Income: Reported net income for 1997, including the effect of pre-tax
special charges of $58,669 and the after-tax cumulative effect of an accounting
change of $1,566, was $53,140, or $.58 per diluted share. Reported net income
for 1996, including the effect of pre-tax special charges and purchased research
and development charges of $52,926 and $40,350, respectively, was $60,637, or
$.66 per diluted share.

Outlook: The Company expects that market demands, government regulation and
societal pressures will continue to change the health care industry worldwide
resulting in further business 

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
consolidations and alliances. To meet customer needs, the Company intends to
continue to pursue diversification opportunities in the form of joint ventures,
partnerships and strategic business alliances. In addition, the Company will
participate with industry groups to promote the introduction and use of advanced
medical device technology within a cost conscious environment. Finally, customer
service in the form of cost-effective clinical outcomes will continue to be a
primary focus for the Company.

In 1997, competition continued to increase in the Company's heart valve
business; however, the Company estimates it held its share of the worldwide
heart valve market. During 1997, increased domestic competition resulted in only
a slight increase in domestic unit demand for the Company's products.
International unit sales growth exceeded 20% reflecting continued penetration of
emerging markets. Competition is anticipated to place pressure on pricing and
terms and health care reform is expected to result in further hospital
consolidations over time.

The Company's cardiac rhythm management business is also in a highly competitive
market. During 1997, the Company introduced to the market new pulse generators,
pacemaker and ICD lead products and programmers. Rapid technological change is
expected to continue, requiring the Company to invest in R&D and to effectively
market its products.

The medical device market is highly competitive. Competitors have in the past
and may in the future employ litigation to gain a competitive advantage. In
addition, the Company's products must continually improve technologically due to
the competitive nature of the industry.

As provided for in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the
Company cautions investors that a number of factors could cause actual future
results of operations to vary from those anticipated in previously made
forward-looking statements and any other forward-looking statements made in this
document and elsewhere by or on behalf of the Company. Net sales could be
materially affected by legislative or administrative reforms to the U.S.
Medicare and Medicaid systems or other non-U.S. reimbursement systems in a
manner that would significantly reduce reimbursement for procedures using the
Company's medical devices, the acquisition of key patents by competitors that
would have the effect of excluding the Company from new market segments, health
care industry consolidation resulting in customer demands for price concessions
or customer preferences to deal with a limited number of suppliers, products
introduced by competitors with advanced technology and better features and
benefits or lower prices, fewer procedures performed in a cost-conscious
environment, and the lengthy approval time by the FDA or other government
authorities to clear implantable medical devices for commercial release. Cost of
sales could be materially affected by unfavorable developments in the area of
products liability and price increases from the Company's suppliers of critical
components, a number of which are sole sourced. Operations could be affected by
the Company's ability to execute its diversification strategy or to integrate
acquired companies, the failure to efficiently transfer ICD manufacturing from
Sunnyvale to Sylmar, California, the loss of key R&D or sales personnel, an
adverse decision in the Company's lawsuit with the IRS over the Puerto Rican tax
benefit, a serious earthquake affecting the Company's facilities in California,
adverse developments in the litigation arising from the acquisitions of
Telectronics and Ventritex, unanticipated product failures, and attempts by
competitors to gain market share through aggressive marketing programs.

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
The Company anticipates that its 1998 effective income tax rate may decrease due
to elimination of non-deductible Ventritex-related transaction costs that will
be partially offset by lower Puerto Rican tax benefits as IRC Section 936 tax
benefits are reduced by an additional 5% per year through 1998. Legislation was
also passed in 1996 to phase out the Section 936 tax benefit over a ten year
period which will further negatively impact the Company's effective tax rate. In
addition, the IRS has proposed adjustments of approximately $58,200 in
additional taxes relating primarily to the Company's Puerto Rican operations in
1990 through 1994 (See Note 4). It is likely that a similar adjustment will be
proposed for 1995. The Company is vigorously contesting the proposed
adjustments.

Some of the Company's older computer programs were written using two digits
rather than four to define the applicable year. As a result, those computer
programs have time-sensitive software that recognize a date using "00" as the
year 1900 rather than the year 2000. This could cause a system failure or
miscalculations causing disruptions of operations, including, among other
things, a temporary inability to process transactions, send invoices, or engage
in similar normal business activities.

The Company completed an assessment of its software needs in 1996. By the end of
1998, most of the Company's manufacturing resources planning, distribution and
financial reporting software systems are expected to be year 2000 compliant. The
Company is currently completing its assessment of its year 2000 exposure with
respect to the remaining systems, which are expected to be converted by
mid-1999.

The Company believes that with modifications to existing software and
conversions to new software, the year 2000 issue will not pose significant
operational problems for its computer systems. However, if such modifications
and conversions are not made, or are not completed in a timely fashion, the year
2000 issue could have a material impact on the operations of the Company.

The Company cannot predict the consequences of failure of its customers or
government health payers and providers, such as the Health Care Financing
Administration, to adopt year 2000 compliant software in a timely manner.

Market Risk Sensitive Instruments and Positions: The analysis below presents the
sensitivity of the fair value of the Company's financial instruments and
positions to selected changes in market rates and prices. The range of changes
selected reflects the Company's estimate of changes that are reasonably possible
over a one-year period. The equity investments, debt instruments and foreign
exchange contracts were not entered into for trading purposes.

Equity securities at December 31, 1997, which are recorded at a fair market
value of approximately $49,600 and include net unrealized gains of $18,714, have
exposure to price changes. This risk is estimated as the potential loss in fair
market value resulting from a hypothetical 10% decline in prices quoted by stock
exchanges and amounts to $4,960.

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
At December 31, 1997, the estimated fair value of the Company's fixed rate
long-term debt was $59,000. Market risk is estimated as the potential increase
in fair value resulting from a hypothetical decrease in interest rates. A
decrease of one-half percentage point to interest rates results in an immaterial
change to the fair value of this debt.

In order to reduce the risk of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, the
Company follows a policy of hedging a substantial portion of its expected
foreign currency denominated cash flow from operations. The instruments used for
hedging are readily marketable traded range forward options with banks. The
changes in fair value of such contracts have a high correlation to the price
changes in the related hedged cash flow. The risk of transaction gains and
losses from changes in the fair value of the Company's foreign exchange position
is not material because most transactions occur in either the functional
currency or in a currency that has a high correlation to the functional
currency. At December 31, 1997, the fair value of the foreign currency
denominated net asset position translated into dollars was approximately
$150,000. A 10% adverse change, assuming all currencies move in the same
direction, to the foreign exchange rates amounts to a potential fair value loss
of $15,000. The Company's sensitivity analysis of the effects of changes in
foreign currency exchange rates does not factor in a potential change in sales
levels or local currency prices.

The Company will adopt Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 131
"Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" in 1998.
Under the new standard the operating segments that the Company currently expects
to report on are heart valve disease management and cardiac rhythm management.

The Company will adopt Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No.
130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" in 1998. FAS 130 establishes new rules for
the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components; however,
adoption in 1998 will have no impact on the Company's net income or
shareholders' equity. Statement 130 requires unrealized gains or losses on the
Company's available-for-sale securities and the foreign currency translation
adjustments, which currently are reported in shareholders' equity, to be
included in other comprehensive income and the disclosure of total comprehensive
income.


Financial Condition

Summary: The financial condition of the Company remained strong during 1997.
Long-term debt decreased to $220,000 at the end of 1997 from $229,500 at the end
of 1996. Cash and marketable securities decreased to $184,536 at December 31,
1997, from $235,395 at December 31, 1996. Working capital, the difference
between current assets and current liabilities, was $491,688 at December 31,
1997, a $64,737 increase from the prior year end level.

Liquidity: Cash used by operations in 1997 was $21,856 compared to cash provided
by operations of $89,785 in 1996. During 1997, the Company reduced accrued
expenses associated with the Telectronics acquisition. This resulted in cash
used by operations rather than the historical cash provided by operations. The
current ratio was 3.0 to 1 at December 31, 1997.

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
The Company has a $130,000 long-term revolving line of credit through July 2001
with a seven member banking syndicate comprised of banks in the United States
and other countries where it conducts its business. At December 31, 1997, the
Company had $14,000 available under the line. The Company also maintains other
non-committed credit facilities which it utilizes to supplement the revolving
line of credit.

Accounts receivable increased approximately $26,500 in 1997 principally due to
increased sales and a shift in sales to emerging markets with longer payment
cycles. Inventories increased approximately $23,400 primarily as a result of
expanded product offerings in both the heart valve and cardiac rhythm management
businesses. Net property, plant and equipment increased almost $18,400 due to
the construction of two new Pacesetter facilities in Arizona and Sweden,
pacemaker and ICD programmer investments, and system infrastructure costs.

Cash flow from operations and access to additional capital will enable the
Company to pursue further joint venture and strategic alliances and to fund
expected capital expenditures. In addition, the Company will continue to invest
in its information systems and telecommunications infrastructure.

Capital: The Company's capital structure consists of equity and interest-bearing
debt. Interest-bearing debt as a percent of total capital was approximately 18%
at December 31, 1997, a decrease from 20% at December 31, 1996.

The Company does not pay cash dividends.

Outlook: Management is unaware of any adverse business trends that would
materially affect the Company's strong financial position. Should suitable
investment opportunities arise that would require additional financing,
management believes that the Company's excellent earnings, strong cash flow and
solid balance sheet provide a substantial basis to obtain additional financing
at highly competitive rates and terms.

On February 12, 1998, the Company offered to repurchase up to 8,000,000 shares
of its common stock at a price not to exceed $39 and not less than $32 per
share. If the Company repurchased 8,000,000 shares at a price of $39 per share,
its bank debt would increase by $312,000. Had this recapitalization of the
Company occurred at December 31, 1997, the interest-bearing debt as a percent of
total capital would have been 44%. The Company established a $500,000 revolving
line of credit due in 2003 with a six member banking syndicate to support this
transaction and to replace its existing revolving lines of credit.


Report of Management

The management of St. Jude Medical, Inc. is responsible for the preparation,
integrity and objectivity of the accompanying financial statements. The
financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and include amounts which reflect management's best
estimates based on its informed judgement and consideration given to

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
materiality. Management is also responsible for the accuracy of the related data
in the annual report and its consistency with the financial statements.

In the opinion of management, the Company's accounting systems and procedures,
and related internal controls, provide reasonable assurance that transactions
are executed in accordance with management's intention and authorization, that
financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that assets are properly accounted for and
safeguarded. The concept of reasonable assurance is based on the recognition
that there are inherent limitations in all systems of internal control, and that
the cost of such systems should not exceed the benefits to be derived therefrom.
Management reviews and modifies the system of internal controls to improve its
effectiveness. The effectiveness of the controls system is supported by the
selection, retention and training of qualified personnel, an organizational
structure that provides an appropriate division of responsibility, and a strong
budgeting system of control.

St. Jude Medical, Inc. also recognizes its responsibility for fostering a strong
ethical climate so that the Company's affairs are conducted according to the
highest standards of personal and business conduct. This responsibility is
reflected in the Company's business ethics policy.

The adequacy of the Company's internal accounting controls, the accounting
principles employed in its financial reporting, and the scope of independent and
internal audits are reviewed by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors,
consisting solely of outside directors. The independent auditors and internal
auditor meet with, and have con?dential access to, the Audit Committee to
discuss the results of their audit work.

Ronald A. Matricaria
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Robert E. Munzenrider
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer


Report of Independent Auditors

Board of Directors
St. Jude Medical, Inc.
St. Paul, Minnesota

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of St. Jude
Medical, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and the related
consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of St. Jude Medical,
Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 1997 and 1996 and the consolidated results
of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.

Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 12, 1998


Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Year Ended December 31                    1997         1996         1995
- ------------------------                ----------  ---------   ---------
Net sales                               $ 994,396   $ 876,747   $ 848,078
Cost of sales                             365,717     294,888     292,788
Gross profit                              628,679     581,859     555,290

Selling, general and 
  administrative expense                  378,500     311,470     284,940
Research and development expense          104,693     107,644     101,264
Purchased research and
     development charges                     --        40,350        --
Special charges                            58,669      52,926        --
Operating profit                           86,817      69,469     169,086

Other income (expense), net                 1,419      21,140      (1,992)
Income before taxes                        88,236      90,609     167,094

Income tax provision                       33,530      29,972      49,978
Net income before the cumulative
  effect of an accounting change
  for business process reengineering       54,706      60,637     117,116

Cumulative effect of an accounting
     change, net of taxes                   1,566          --          --

Net income                              $  53,140   $  60,637   $ 117,116

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
Basic earnings per common share:
  Income before accounting change       $    0.60   $    0.67   $    1.30
  Cumulative effect of 
  accounting change                         (0.02)         --          --
  Net income per common share           $    0.58   $    0.67   $    1.30

Diluted earnings per common share:
  Income before accounting change       $    0.59   $    0.66   $    1.28
  Cumulative effect of 
  accounting change                         (0.01)         --          --
  Net income per common share           $    0.58   $    0.66   $    1.28

Average shares outstanding:
  Basic                                91,426,000  90,989,000  90,118,000
  Diluted                              92,052,000  92,372,000  91,335,000

See notes to consolidated financial statements


Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

December 31                                  1997              1996
                                          ------------    -------------
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents                  $   28,530       $   49,388
Marketable securities                         156,006          186,007
Accounts receivable, less allowance
     (1997--$12,712, 1996--$8,160)            243,311          216,813
Inventories:
     Finished goods                           137,651          119,736
     Work in process                           39,079           30,227
     Raw materials                             64,309           67,698
Total inventories                             241,039          217,661
Prepaid income taxes                           36,279           44,234
Other current assets                           38,117           33,781
Total current assets                          743,282          747,884
Property, Plant and Equipment
Land                                           17,040           14,232
Buildings and improvements                     74,392           64,717
Machinery and equipment                       261,428          249,550
Construction in progress                      103,828           69,175
Gross property, plant and equipment           456,688          397,674
     Less accumulated depreciation           (149,043)        (108,400)
Net property, plant and equipment             307,645          289,274
Other Assets                                  407,689          435,336
Total Assets                               $1,458,616       $1,472,494
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
Accounts payable                           $  163,394       $  201,107
Accrued income taxes                           19,182           24,267
Accrued employee compensation
     and related taxes                         50,711           47,645
Other accrued expenses                         18,307           47,914
Total current liabilities                     251,594          320,933
Long-Term Liabilities
Long-term debt                                220,000          229,500
Contingencies
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock, par value 
  $1.00 per share--
  25,000,000 shares authorized; 
  no shares issued
Common stock, par value $.10 per share--
     250,000,000 shares authorized;
     issued and outstanding
     1997--91,911,496;
     1996--91,446,656 shares                    9,191            9,145
Additional paid-in capital                    244,347          228,106
Retained earnings                             746,032          692,892
Cumulative translation adjustment             (24,150)             386
Unrealized gain (loss) on
     available-for-sale securities             11,602           (8,028)
Receivable for stock issued                        --             (440)
Total shareholders' equity                    987,022          922,061
Total Liabilities and 
  Shareholders' Equity                     $1,458,616       $1,472,494


See notes to consolidated financial statements.


Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                  Unrealized     Total
                           Common Stock              Additional                  Cumulative          Gain      Receivable   Share-
                            Number of                  Paid-In     Retained      Translation      (Loss) on    for Stock    holders'
                             Shares       Amount      Capital      Earnings      Adjustment       Investments    Issued      Equity
                          -------------  ----------  -----------   ----------    -----------    -------------- -----------  --------

<S>                        <C>            <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>             <C>               <C>      <C>     
Balance December 31, 1994  89,769,560     $ 8,977    $ 191,149    $ 515,139     $   (2,484)     $      686        $  --    $713,467
Net income
                                                                    117,116                                                 117,116
Issuance of common stock 
  upon exercise of stock 
  options, net of taxes 
  withheld                    511,752          51        6,581                                                                6,632
Tax benefit realized 
  upon exercise of stock 
  options                                                2,805                                                                2,805
Translation adjustment
                                                                                     6,803                                    6,803
Unrealized gain on       
  investments, net of taxes
                                                                                                     9,005                    9,005
Receivable for stock issued                                                                                        (440)       (440)

Balance December 31, 1995
                           90,281,312       9,028      200,535      632,255          4,319           9,691         (440)    855,388

</TABLE> 

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                        <C>            <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>             <C>               <C>      <C>     
Net income                                                           60,637                                                  60,637
Issuance of common stock 
  upon exercise of stock 
  options, net of taxes 
  withheld
                            1,161,191         116       20,701                                                               20,817
Tax benefit realized 
  upon exercise of stock 
  options
                                                         7,597                                                                7,597
Purchase and retirement 
  of common shares           (145,000)        (14)      (6,712)                                                              (6,726)

Issuance of common stock 
  for business acquired       149,153          15        5,985                                                                6,000
Translation adjustment                                                             (3,933)                                   (3,933)

Unrealized gain (loss) on 
  investments, net of 
  taxes                                                                                            (17,719)                 (17,719)

Balance December 31, 1996  91,446,656       9,145      228,106      692,892            386          (8,028)        (440)    922,061
          
Net income                                                           53,140                                                  53,140
Issuance of common stock 
  upon exercise of stock 
  options, net of taxes 
  withheld
                              400,651          40       12,112                                                               12,152
Tax benefit realized upon 
  exercise of stock options
                                                         2,006                                                                2,006
Issuance of common stock 
  for distributor settlements
                               64,189           6        2,123                                                                2,129
Translation adjustment                                                             (24,536)                                 (24,536)

Unrealized gain (loss) 
  on investments, net of taxes                                                                      19,630                   19,630
Receivable for stock issued                                                                                         440         440
Balance December 31, 1997  91,911,496      $9,191     $244,347     $746,032       $(24,150)        $11,602        $  --    $987,022
</TABLE>


See notes to consolidated financial statements.


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
Year Ended December 31                          1997         1996        1995
- ----------------------                       ---------    ----------  ----------
Operating Activities
Net income                                  $  53,140      $ 60,637   $ 117,116
Adjustments to reconcile net income 
to net cash provided by operating
activities:
  Depreciation                                 45,277        38,533      30,667
  Amortization                                 20,784        19,649      20,102
  Purchased research and 
  development charges                              --        40,350          --
  Special charges                              44,687        20,586          --
  Gain on sale of business                         --       (10,486)         --
  Changes in operating assets and
  liabilities net of acquisitions:
    Increase in accounts receivable           (41,731)      (27,267)     (3,997)
    Increase in inventories                   (36,929)       (9,331)    (11,492)
    Decrease (increase) in 
    other current assets                       (1,892)      (14,411)      1,354
    Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
    and accrued expenses                     (107,757)       16,113      41,527
    Increase (decrease) in accrued 
    income taxes                               (3,079)      (11,733)     15,101
    Decrease (increase) in prepaid and
    deferred income taxes                       5,644       (32,855)    (20,565)

                                       32
<PAGE>
 
Net cash provided by (used in) 
operating activities                          (21,856)       89,785     189,813

Investing Activities
Purchase of property, plant 
and equipment                                 (93,962)     (103,001)    (57,203)
Proceeds from the sale of property, 
plant and equipment                             6,324            --          --
Purchase of marketable securities              (7,000)      (90,018)    (85,097)
Proceeds from sale or maturity of 
marketable securities                          73,595        65,869      68,323
Investments in companies, joint 
ventures and partnerships                        (260)         (155)     (3,701)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired                 --      (117,800)     13,000
Proceeds from sale of businesses               24,626        24,204          --
Other investing activities                     (3,607)       (5,393)      2,394
Net cash used in investing activities            (284)     (226,294)    (62,284)

Financing Activities
Proceeds from exercise of stock 
options and stock issued                       12,592        20,818       6,187
Common stock repurchased                           --        (6,727)         --
Net borrowings (payments) under 
lines of credit                                (9,500)       52,000    (135,029)
Proceeds from issuance of 
convertible subordinated notes                     --        57,500          --
Net cash provided by (used in) 
financing activities                            3,092       123,591    (128,842)
Effect of currency exchange 
rate changes on cash                           (1,810)         (332)        647
Decrease in cash and 
cash equivalents                              (20,858)      (13,250)       (666)
Cash and cash equivalents at 
beginning of year                              49,388        62,638      63,304
Cash and cash equivalents at 
end of year                                $   28,530    $   49,388  $   62,638

See notes to consolidated financial statements.


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note 1  Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations: St. Jude Medical, Inc. develops, manufactures and
distributes medical devices with an emphasis on cardiac care products and
services. The Company's products are sold in more than 100 countries. Principal
products include prosthetic heart valves, pacemakers, implantable cardioverter
defibrillators (ICDs) and electrophysiology and interventional cardiology
catheters. The main markets for these products are the United States, Western
Europe and Japan. In the United States, the Company uses a direct employee-based
sales organization for its heart valve and catheter products and a combination
of independent contractors and an employee-based sales organization for its
pacemaker and ICD products. In Western Europe, the Company has a direct sales
presence in 14 countries. Throughout the rest of the world, the Company
principally uses distributor-based sales organizations.

Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Significant
intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Certain reclassifications of previously reported amounts have been made to
conform with the current year presentation.

                                       33
<PAGE>
 
Use of Estimates: The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Accounting Period: The Company's fiscal year is the 52 or 53 week period ending
the Saturday nearest December 31. Fiscal years 1996 and 1995 consisted of 52
weeks and fiscal year 1997 consisted of 53 weeks.

Translation of Foreign Currencies: Assets and liabilities of the Company's
foreign subsidiaries are translated at exchange rates in effect on reporting
dates and differences due to changing exchange rates are recorded as a
"cumulative translation adjustment" in shareholders' equity. Income and expenses
are translated at average monthly rates of exchange. Gains and losses from
foreign currency transactions are included in other income (expense), net.

Cash Equivalents: Cash equivalents, consisting of liquid investments with a
maturity of three months or less when purchased, are stated at cost which
approximates market.

Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is
determined under the first-in, first-out method. Allowances are made for
slow-moving, obsolete, unsalable or unusable inventories.

Stock-Based Compensation: Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123,
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," encourages but does not require
companies to record compensation cost for stock-based compensation plans at fair
value. The Company elected to continue to account for stock-based compensation
using the intrinsic value method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board
Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and related
Interpretations. See Note 5.

Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation: Property, plant and equipment
are stated at cost and are depreciated using the straight line method based on
useful lives of 31.5 to 39 years for buildings and improvements and three to
seven years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized
over the shorter of the life of the related asset or the term of the lease.
Accelerated depreciation is used by the Company for tax accounting purposes
only.

Goodwill: The excess of the purchase price over the value of the net assets
acquired is included in other assets and is amortized generally on a straight
line basis over 20 years. The Company periodically reviews its goodwill for
indicators of impairment.

Long-Lived Assets: Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 121,
"Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to
Be Disposed Of," requires impairment losses to be recorded on long-lived assets
used in operations when indicators of impairment are present and the
undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than
the assets' carrying amount. There has been no financial impact to the Company
since adopting FAS No. 121 in 1996.

                                       34
<PAGE>
 
Revenue Recognition: The Company's general practice is to recognize revenues
from product sales as shipped and for services as performed. For certain
products, the Company maintains consigned inventory at customer locations. For
these products, revenue is recognized at the time the Company is notified that
the inventory has been used by the customer.

Research and Development: Research and development expense includes all
expenditures for general research into scientific phenomena, development of
useful ideas into merchantable products, and continuing support and upgrading of
various products. All such expense is charged to operations as incurred.

Earnings Per Share: The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (FAS) No. 128, "Earnings Per Share," in 1997. FAS 128 requires the
disclosure of basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share. Basic
earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common
shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during
the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income
available to common shareholders by the common shares outstanding during the
period adjusted by the number of additional shares that would have been
outstanding had the dilutive potential common shares been issued.

The table below sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per
common share before the cumulative effect of an accounting change. There were no
adjustments to the numerator.
                                    1997         1996         1995    
                               ------------ ------------ ------------  
Numerator:
Net income before
     accounting change         $    54,706  $    60,637  $   117,116
Denominator:
Basic-weighted average
     shares outstanding         91,426,000   90,989,000   90,118,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
     Employee stock options        574,000    1,316,000    1,197,000
     Restricted shares              52,000       67,000       20,000
Diluted-weighted shares
     outstanding                92,052,000   92,372,000   91,335,000
Basic earnings per share       $       .60  $       .67  $      1.30
Diluted earnings per share     $       .59  $       .66  $      1.28

Net income and shares outstanding have not been adjusted for the Company's
convertible debentures for diluted earnings per share purposes because the
result would have been antidilutive.

Note 2  Acquisitions
On May 15, 1997, the Company acquired Ventritex, Inc. ("Ventritex"), a
manufacturer of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and related products.
Each share of Ventritex common stock was converted into .5 shares of Company
common stock. The Company issued 10,437,800 shares to Ventritex shareholders.
The transaction qualified as a tax-free reorganization and was 

                                       35
<PAGE>
 
accounted for as a pooling of interests. The accompanying financial statements,
for all periods presented, have been restated to include the results of
Ventritex. Net sales, net income and other changes in shareholder equity for the
separate companies preceding the acquisition were as follows:

                                    1997*        1996         1995
                                  ---------    ---------    ---------
Net Sales
St. Jude Medical                  $229,678     $808,780     $761,835
Ventritex                           20,712       67,967       86,243
Combined                          $250,390     $876,747     $848,078
Net Income
St. Jude Medical                  $ 27,791     $ 92,181     $138,848
Ventritex                           (7,977)     (51,208)     (34,535)
Adjustments**                        3,063       19,664       12,803
Combined                          $ 22,877     $ 60,637     $117,116
Other Changes in
     Shareholders' Equity
St. Jude Medical                  $(14,550)    $  7,471     $ 21,676
Ventritex                              997       (3,331)       1,673
Adjustments**                           --        1,896        1,456
Combined                          $(13,553)    $  6,036     $ 24,805
*  As of March 31, 1997
** To reflect the combined tax position as if the acquisition had occurred at 
   the beginning of 1995.

On November 29, 1996, the Company acquired substantially all of the worldwide
cardiac rhythm management assets of Telectronics Pacing Systems, Inc.
("Telectronics") and Medtel, an Asia-Pacific distribution company for
approximately $139,000 and an earnout provision tied to future pacing sales
which could result in additional payments of up to $40,000 over six years if
certain revenue milestones are achieved. The acquisition was accounted for under
the purchase accounting method. The results of Telectronics operations have been
included in the consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisition.
In conjunction with the Telectronics acquisition, the Company in 1996 recorded a
pre-tax charge of $32,200 relating to that portion of the purchase price
attributable to purchased research and development. In August 1997, the Company
sold Medtel. The gain on the sale was recorded as an adjustment to previously
recorded goodwill.

The following unaudited pro forma information has been prepared assuming that
the acquisition of Telectronics had occurred at the beginning of 1995 and
including the results of Ventritex on the above restated basis. Pro forma
adjustments include amortization of goodwill, increased interest expense,
decreased interest income and the related income tax effects. Pro forma results
are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred had the
acquisitions actually taken place at the beginning of the specified periods, or
the expected results of future operations.

                                    1996         1995
Net sales                      $   973,262     $1,008,163
Net income                     $    (8,400)    $   71,630

                                       36
<PAGE>
 
Diluted earnings per share     $     (0.09)    $     0.78

On September 23, 1996, the Company acquired Biocor Industria E Pesquisas Ltd.
("BIP"), a Brazilian tissue heart valve manufacturer, for $4,000 in cash and an
earn-out which could result in additional cash payments of up to $4,000 over the
next three years. On January 5, 1996, the Company acquired the remaining shares
of The Heart Valve Company it did not previously own for $1,000 in cash and
149,153 shares of its common stock. In connection with the acquisitions of BIP,
and The Heart Valve Company, the Company recorded pre-tax charges of $3,150 and
$5,000, respectively, relating to purchased research and development. The
results of BIP and The Heart Valve Company have been included in the Company's
results of operations since the dates of acquisition and were not material to
1996 and 1995 results of operations.

On May 31, 1996, the Company acquired Daig Corporation ("Daig"), a manufacturer
of specialized cardiovascular devices for the electrophysiology and
interventional cardiology markets. Each share of Daig common stock was converted
into .651733 shares of Company common stock. The Company issued 9,929,897 shares
to Daig shareholders. Additionally, one outstanding option to acquire 128,000
shares of Daig common stock was converted to an option to acquire 83,422 shares
of Company common stock. The transaction qualified as a tax-free reorganization
and was accounted for as a pooling of interests. The accompanying financial
statements, for all periods presented, have been restated to include the results
of Daig, which were not material.

Note 3  Special Charges
Results of operations for 1997 include pre-tax charges of $58,669 recorded in
the second and fourth quarters of $30,645 and $28,024, respectively. These
special charges related to Ventritex merger transaction charges ($8,227), the
termination of various distributor agreements ($12,925), repositioning of
Pacesetter manufacturing operations in connection with the Ventritex integration
($18,139), and repositioning of Ventritex operations ($19,378). The 1997 special
charge accruals decreased in 1997 by $19,306 as a result of cash payments.

Results of operations for 1996 include pre-tax charges of $52,926 for costs
relating to patent and litigation settlements, Daig transaction costs and
repositioning several of the Company's operations. Patent and other legal
disputes between Pacesetter and a third party were settled for $25,000. Daig
transaction costs totalled $5,118. The repositioning charges of $22,808 related
to the planned consolidation of tissue heart valve manufacturing operations
($11,100), the termination of various distributor agreements in conjunction with
the conversion to direct sales ($7,700), the realignment of Pacesetter
manufacturing operations in connection with the Telectronics integration
($2,200), and other non-recurring expenses ($1,808). The 1996 special charge
accrual decreased by $44,121 as a result of cash payments.

Note 4  Income Taxes
The components of income before taxes were as follows:

                        1997     1996    1995
                      -------  -------  --------
Domestic              $81,311  $89,305  $149,526
Foreign                 6,925    1,304    17,568
Income before taxes   $88,236  $90,609  $167,094

                                       37
<PAGE>
 
The components of the income tax provision were as follows:

                             1997      1996      1995
                           -------  --------  --------
Current:                      
     Federal               $20,957  $ 52,129  $ 52,799
     State and Puerto Rico   3,754     9,676    11,518
     Foreign                 2,195     1,022     6,226
Total current               26,906    62,827    70,543
Deferred:
     Federal                 6,624   (32,855)  (20,565)
Total deferred               6,624   (32,855)  (20,565)
Income tax provision       $33,530  $ 29,972  $ 49,978

Deferred income tax assets (liabilities) were comprised of the following at
December 31:

                                                     1997         1996
                                                  ----------  ----------   
Deferred income tax assets:
  Net operating loss carryforwards                $  45,236   $  41,978
  Tax credit carryforwards                            3,837       3,837
  Inventory (intercompany profit in inventory
      and excess of tax over book valuation)         19,377      21,598
  Intangibles                                         9,976      33,190
  Accruals not currently deductible                  29,453      11,676
  Unrealized loss on investments                         --       5,029
Deferred income tax assets                          107,879     117,308
Deferred income tax liabilities:
  Unrealized gain on investments                     (7,112)         --
  Accumulated depreciation                           (9,000)     (7,757)
Deferred income tax liabilities                     (16,112)     (7,757)
Net deferred income tax assets                    $  91,767    $109,551

The reconciliation of the Company's effective income tax rate to the statutory
U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% is as follows:

                                            1997     1996    1995
                                          -------- -------- --------
Income tax provision at
     U.S. statutory rate                  $30,883  $31,713  $58,483
Increase (decrease) in taxes
     resulting from:
     State income taxes,
         net of federal tax benefit         2,613    4,309    4,434
     Tax benefits from foreign
         sales corporation                 (4,600)  (3,878)  (1,886)
     Tax benefits from
         Puerto Rican operations           (1,152)  (3,128)  (8,442)
     Non-deductible acquisition costs       6,280    1,960       --
     Foreign taxes at higher
         (lower) rates                      1,023    1,849   (1,640)

                                       38
<PAGE>
 
     Other                                 (1,517)  (2,853)    (971)
Income tax provision                      $33,530  $29,972  $49,978
Effective income tax rate                    38.0%    33.1%    29.9%

At December 31, 1997, the Company has net operating loss and research and
development tax credit carryforwards for federal tax purposes of approximately
$139,862 and $3,682, respectively, that will expire from 2002 through 2011 if
not utilized, and are subject to annual limitations.

The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") completed an audit examination of the
Company's 1990-1991 corporate income tax returns and issued deficiency notices
in early 1997 for taxes of $16,400. In addition, the IRS completed an audit
examination of the Company's 1992-1994 income tax returns in early 1998 and has
proposed an adjustment of $41,800 in taxes. Both adjustments relate primarily to
the Company's Puerto Rican operations. The deficiency amounts do not include
interest, state taxes, or offsetting Puerto Rico tax refunds, the net effect of
which is not material. It is likely that a similar additional adjustment will be
proposed for 1995. The Company is vigorously contesting this adjustment. The
Company is refuting the IRS deficiency for 1990-1991 and asserting the Company
is in fact owed a refund in a petition filed in Tax Court on June 24, 1997. The
Company expects that the ultimate resolution will not have material adverse
effect on its financial position or liquidity, but could potentially be material
to the net income of a particular future period if resolved unfavorably.

The Company has not recorded deferred income taxes applicable to undistributed
earnings of foreign subsidiaries ($8,804 at December 31, 1997) because such
earnings are intended to be indefinitely reinvested and any distribution of
these earnings generally would not require additional taxes due to available
foreign tax credits.

The Company made income tax payments of $33,755, $68,525 and $53,313 in 1997,
1996 and 1995, respectively.

Note 5  Stock Purchase and Option Plans
Stock Purchase: The Company's employee stock purchase savings plan allows
participating employees to purchase, through payroll deductions, shares of
common stock at 85% of the fair market value at specified dates. Under the terms
of the plan, 750,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for purchase by
plan participants. Employees purchased 112,469, 108,795 and 97,525 shares in
1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. At December 31, 1997, 381,973 shares were
available for purchase under the plan.

The Ventritex 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan that had 162,500 shares of
common stock reserved for purchase by plan participants was dissolved at the
time Ventritex was merged into Pacesetter. Eligible Ventritex employees were
allowed to invest up to 10% of compensation through payroll deductions to
purchase shares of Ventritex stock at 85% of the fair market value at specified
dates. Ventritex issued 40,404 and 31,897 shares under this plan during its 1996
and 1995 fiscal years, respectively.

                                       39
<PAGE>
 
Stock Based-Compensation: Under the terms of the Company's various stock plans,
13,712,639 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance to directors,
officers and employees upon the grant of restricted stock or the exercise of
stock options. Stock options are exercisable over periods up to 10 years from
date of grant and may be "incentive stock options" or "non-qualified stock
options" and may have stock appreciation rights attached. At December 31, 1997,
there were a maximum of 4,155,781 shares available for grant and 9,556,858
options outstanding. In conjunction with the merger of Ventritex into the
Company, Ventritex outstanding options were converted to St. Jude Medical, Inc.
options. Each option to purchase one share of Ventritex common stock was
converted to the right to purchase .5 St. Jude Medical shares at twice the
Ventritex strike price. At December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, there were options
exercisable of 3,362,361, 2,578,387 and 3,029,516, respectively.
Stock option and long-term performance award transactions were:

                         Options/     Weighted         Range of
                         Awards       Average Price     Option
                         Outstanding  Per Share      Exercise Prices
Balance at
     December 31, 1994   3,982,094     $24.33        $  3.06-87.74
     Granted               967,477      28.62          21.10-57.50
     Cancelled            (220,872)     28.23          17.83-57.50
     Exercised            (378,692)     32.87           3.56-32.25
Balance at
     December 31, 1995   4,350,007      26.27           3.06-87.74
     Granted             2,288,998      36.36          25.00-46.76
     Cancelled            (302,785)     39.78          18.58-57.50
     Exercised            (917,204)     20.84           3.06-43.00
Balance at
     December 31, 1996   5,419,016      31.27           3.56-87.74
     Granted             5,049,875      34.03          29.75-42.19
     Cancelled            (615,140)     38.39          18.58-87.74
     Exercised            (296,893)     23.56           3.56-43.00
Balance at
     December 31, 1997   9,556,858      32.60           5.44-87.74

The weighted-average fair value of options granted during 1997 was $13.22 per
share. The following table summarizes the information about fixed-price options
outstanding at December 31, 1997.

Options Outstanding                                 Options Exercisable
                               Weighted-
                               Average
                               Remaining    Weighted-                 Weighted-
                               Years        Average                   Average
Range of                       Contractual  Exercise                  Exercise
Exercise Prices  Outstanding   Life         Price       Exercisable   Price
- ---------------  -----------   -----------  ----------  ------------  ---------
$0.00- $17.55      163,678      1.4         $10.53         162,178     $10.47
17.55-  26.32    1,545,066      5.7          21.80       1,370,385      21.48

                                       40
<PAGE>
 
26.32-  35.10    4,210,071      8.5          30.77     1,310,450        29.78
35.10-  43.87    3,245,804      9.3          38.72       174,636        40.74
43.87-  52.64      301,506      5.8          49.49       254,886        49.31
52.64-  87.74       90,733      5.2          66.77        89,826        66.86
                 9,556,858      8.1          32.60     3,362,361        28.50

Pursuant to the terms of the Company's various stock plans, optionees can use
cash, previously owned shares or a combination of cash and previously owned
shares to reimburse the Company for the cost of the option and the related tax
liabilities. Shares are acquired from the optionee at the fair market value of
the stock on the transaction date.

All options have been granted at not less than fair market value at dates of
grant. When stock options are exercised, the par value of the shares issued is
credited to common stock and the excess of the proceeds over the par value is
credited to additional paid-in capital. When non-qualified options are
exercised, the Company realizes income tax benefits based on the difference
between the fair value of the stock on the date of exercise and the stock option
exercise price. These tax benefits do not affect the income tax provision, but
rather are credited directly to additional paid-in capital.

The Company applies Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for
Stock Issued to Employees", and related interpretations, in accounting for its
stock-based compensation plans. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been
recognized for its stock option awards. Had compensation expense for the
Company's stock option awards been determined based upon their grant date fair
value consistent with the methodology prescribed under Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," the
Company's net income and earnings per share would have been reduced by $12,911,
or $.14 per share, $4,985, or $.05 per share and $3,115, or $.03 per share for
1997, 1996, and 1995, respectively. These amounts are not necessarily indicative
of the amounts that will be reported in the future. The fair value of the
options at the grant date was estimated using the Black-Scholes model with the
following weighted average assumptions:

                        1997     1996    1995
Expected life (years)     6        6       6
Interest rate           6.0%     6.3%    7.2%
Volatility             34.2%    40.5%   31.1%
Dividend yield            0%       0%      0%

Under the terms of the Company's shareholder rights agreement, upon the
occurrence of certain events which result in a change in control as defined by
the agreement, registered holders of common shares are entitled to purchase
one-tenth of a share of Series B Junior Preferred Stock at a stated price, or to
purchase either the Company's shares or shares of the acquiring entity at half
their market value.

Note 6  Financial Instruments and Off-Balance Sheet Risk
Foreign Currency Instruments and Hedging Activities: The Company enters into
foreign exchange contracts to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in foreign
currency exchange rates. The instruments used for hedging are readily marketable
range forward options and forward contracts 

                                       41
<PAGE>
 
with banks. The changes in market value of such contracts have a high
correlation to price changes in the currency of the hedged activity. Maturities
of these instruments are typically one year or less from the transaction date.

The Company had foreign currency contracts totaling $85,213 and $25,217 at
December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1996, respectively. These contracts are
related to the exchange of French Francs, German Marks, Italian Lira, Spanish
Pesetas, British Pounds, Swedish Kroner and U.S. Dollars. These instruments were
recorded at their fair market value at each balance sheet date and any resulting
gains or losses are included in other income (expense).

Long-Term Debt: The Company has an unsecured $130,000 committed revolving line
of credit with a group of seven banks that terminates in July 2001. The Company
also maintains $150,000 of non-committed lines of credit with three banks to
supplement the revolving line of credit that also expires in July 2001. The rate
of interest payable under these borrowing facilities is a floating rate and is a
function of the London Interbank Offered Rate. The weighted average interest
rates at December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 were 6.0%, 5.6% and 6.1%,
respectively. A facility fee of .08% of the revolving line commitment is paid
quarterly. At December 31, 1997, the Company had borrowings under the committed
line of $116,000 and $46,500 under the non-committed lines.

The credit agreement contains various covenants that require the Company to
maintain a specified financial ratio, limits liens, regulates asset disposition
and subsidiary indebtedness and limits certain acquisitions and investments. At
December 31, 1997, the Company was in compliance with these covenants.

In August 1996, the Company issued $57,500 aggregate principal amount of 5.75%
convertible subordinated debentures due August 15, 2001. At the option of the
holder, the notes are convertible at any time prior to maturity, unless
previously redeemed or repurchased, into shares of common stock at a conversion
rate of 29.0909 shares per thousand dollars principal amount of notes
(equivalent to a conversion price of $34.375 per share). Subsequent to August
15, 1999, the Company may notify holders of the debentures that they must either
convert to common stock or redeem the debentures for cash. The fair value of the
debentures at December 31, 1997, was estimated to be approximately $59,000.

Other Financial Instruments: Marketable securities consist of equity
instruments, bank certificates of deposit, U.S. government obligations,
commercial paper, and Puerto Rico industrial development bonds. Under Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 115, "Accounting for Certain
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," debt securities that the Company
does not have the positive intent to hold to maturity and all marketable equity
securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value.
Unrealized holding gains and losses on securities classified as
available-for-sale are carried as a separate component of shareholders' equity.
A net realized gain of $6,768 and $1,195 was recorded in other income on sales
of available-for-sale securities in 1997 and 1996, respectively. No net realized
gains or losses were recorded in 1995. The net unrealized holding gain on
available-for-sale securities included as a separate component of shareholders'
equity was $11,602 (net of $7,112 of current deferred income taxes) at December
31, 1997.

                                       42
<PAGE>
 
                                   1997                     1996
                                        Estimated              Estimated
                                          Fair                   Fair
                             Cost        Value        Cost      Value
                           ---------   -----------  ---------  ----------
Assets:
  Cash and Cash
      Equivalents          $ 28,530    $  28,530    $ 49,388    $ 49,388
  Marketable
      Securities           $137,292     $156,006    $199,064    $186,007

The Company also guarantees certain obligations of its subsidiaries. As of
December 31, 1997 and 1996, the maximum amount of such guarantees was $7,500.

Concentration of Credit Risk: Trade accounts receivables, certain marketable
securities and foreign exchange contracts are the financial instruments which
may subject the Company to concentration of credit risk.

Within the European Economic Union, payment of certain accounts receivable is
made by the national health care system within several countries. Although the
Company does not anticipate collection problems with these receivables, payment
is contingent to a certain extent upon the economic situation within these
countries. The credit risk associated with the balance of the trade receivables
is limited due to dispersion of the receivables over a large number of customers
in many geographic areas. The Company monitors the credit worthiness of its
customers to which it grants credit terms in the normal course of business.

Marketable securities are placed with high credit qualified financial
institutions and Company policy limits the credit exposure to any one financial
institution. Counterparties to foreign exchange contracts are major financial
institutions; therefore, credit loss from counterparty non-performance is
unlikely.

Note 7  Retirement Plans
Defined Contribution Plan: The Company has a defined contribution profit sharing
plan, including features under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code,
which provides retirement benefits to substantially all full-time U.S.
employees. Under the 401(k) portion of the plan, eligible employees may
contribute a percentage of their annual compensation, subject to IRS
limitations, with the Company matching certain eligible contributions. The
Company's level of contribution to the profit sharing portion of the plan is
subject to Board of Directors approval and is based on Company performance. In
addition, the Company has defined contribution programs for employees outside
the United States. The benefits under these plans are based primarily on
compensation levels. Total retirement plan expense was $8,859, $5,783 and $6,977
in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

Defined Benefit Plans: In certain countries outside the United States, the
Company maintains defined benefit plans. An accrual of $5,556 was recorded as of
December 31, 1997, which is approximately equal to the actuarially calculated
unfunded liability.

                                       43
<PAGE>
 
Note 8  Geographic Area
The Company operates in the medical products industry and is segmented into
three geographic areas -- the United States (including export sales to
unaffiliated customers), Europe and other international.

Sales between geographic areas are made at transfer prices which approximate
prices to unaffiliated third parties. Export sales to unaffiliated customers
included in United States sales were $83,987, $67,639 and $62,419 for 1997, 1996
and 1995, respectively.

Net sales by geographic area were as follows:
                                           Other
                  United                   Inter-         Elimina-
                  States        Europe     national        tions       Total
1997
Customer
     sales        $666,201     $297,450     $30,745     $      --     $994,396
Inter-
     company
     sales         166,247           --       8,764      (175,011)          --
                  $832,448     $297,450     $39,509     $(175,011)    $994,396
1996
Customer
     sales        $586,879     $274,368    $ 15,500     $      --     $876,747
Inter-
     company
     sales         105,822           --       8,198      (114,020)          --
                  $692,701     $274,368    $ 23,698     $(114,020)    $876,747
1995
Customer
     sales        $595,056     $249,052    $  3,970     $      --     $848,078
Inter-
     company
     sales          91,523           --       8,869      (100,392)          --
                  $686,579     $249,052     $12,839     $(100,392)    $848,078

Operating profit (loss) by geographic area was as follows:
                                            Other
                  United                    Inter-
                  States        Europe      national     Corporate      Total
1997              $ 67,446     $ 48,567     $    41     $ (29,237)    $ 86,817
1996              $ 57,847     $ 59,264     $(2,582)    $ (45,060)    $ 69,469
1995              $131,955     $ 50,924     $   (90)    $ (13,703)    $169,086

Identifiable assets by geographic area were as follows:

                                       44
<PAGE>
 
                                             Other
                   United                    Inter-
                   States       Europe      national    Corporate     Total
1997              $793,968     $296,915     $44,493      $323,240   $1,458,616
1996              $811,588     $ 282,610    $52,209      $326,087   $1,472,494
1995              $691,603     $ 204,054    $ 9,772      $286,806   $1,192,235

Operating profit in 1997 reflects special charges of $58,669 and 1996 operating
profit reflects purchased research and development charges of $40,350 and
special charges of $52,926. Corporate expenses consist principally of
non-allocable general and administrative expenses.

Corporate identifiable assets consist principally of cash and cash equivalents,
marketable securities and property and equipment.

Note 9 Other Income (Expense), Net Other income (expense), net consisted of the
following:
                                        1997         1996         1995
Interest income                     $   6,365     $  9,463     $ 11,926
Interest expense                      (14,374)      (4,725)     (12,967)
Foreign exchange gains                  2,078        2,165          474
Gain on the sale of a business             --       10,486           --
Other                                   7,350        3,751       (1,425)
Other income (expense), net         $   1,419     $ 21,140     $ (1,992)

In 1996, the Company sold its cardiac assist operations for approximately
$24,000.

Note 10  Other Assets
Other assets as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, net of accumulated amortization
of $65,009 and $42,792, respectively, consisted of the following:

                                              1997         1996
Investments in companies,
     joint ventures and partnerships       $  4,717      $  7,984
Intangibles and other                       345,303       359,152
Deferred tax assets                          55,488        65,317
Other assets                                  2,181         2,883
                                           $407,689      $435,336

Investments in companies, joint ventures, and partnerships are stated at cost
which approximates market. Intangibles and other assets consist principally of
the excess of cost over net assets of certain acquired businesses and
technology. Intangibles and other assets are being amortized over periods
ranging from 10 to 20 years.

Note 11  Lease Commitments
The Company leases various facilities under noncancelable operating lease
arrangements. The major facility leases are for terms of 3 to 10 years and
generally provide renewal options. In most cases, management expects that in the
normal course of business, leases that expire will be renewed or replaced by
other leases. Rent expense under all operating leases was approximately $7,081,
$6,596 and $5,671 in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

                                       45
<PAGE>
 
Future minimum lease payments under operating leases that have initial or
remaining noncancelable terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 1997, are
as follows:

Year ending December 31
     1998                                $ 6,343
     1999                                  5,225
     2000                                  4,528
     2001                                  2,726
     2002                                  2,525
     After 2002                            4,616
     Total minimum lease payments        $25,237

Note 12  Business Process Reengineering
Pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) No. 97-13, the Company changed its
accounting policy in the fourth quarter of 1997, regarding a project it began in
1995, to install a new software system and to reengineer certain related
processes. Previously, substantially all the system costs relating to the
project were capitalized, including the portion related to business process
reengineering. Under the EITF consensus, all future costs for business process
reengineering must be expensed as incurred and the unamortized balance of these
costs as of September 30, 1997, of $1,566 (net of income taxes of $980) must be
written off as a cumulative catch-up adjustment in the fourth quarter of 1997.

Note 13  Contingencies
The Company is involved in various products liability lawsuits, claims and
proceedings of a nature considered normal to its business with the exception
noted below. Subject to self-insured retentions, the Company has products
liability insurance sufficient to cover such claims and suits. In connection
with two pacemaker lead models, the Company may be subject to future uninsured
claims. The Company's products liability insurance carrier has denied coverage
for these models and has filed suit against the Company seeking rescission of
the policy covering Pacesetter business retroactive to the date the Company
acquired Pacesetter in 1994. The Company is defending this suit and has brought
a claim against its insurance broker with respect to this matter. The Company
was a codefendant in a 1995 class action suit with respect to these leads. This
case was settled in November 1995. The Company's share of the settlement was
approximately $6,800. Additional claims could be filed by patients with these
leads who were not class members. Further, claims may be filed in the future
relative to events currently unknown to management. Management believes losses
that might be sustained from such actions would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company's liquidity or financial condition, but could potentially
be material to the net income of a particular future period if resolved
unfavorably.

Note 14  Subsequent Event
On February 12, 1998, the Company offered to repurchase up to 8,000,000 shares
of its common stock at a price not to exceed $39 and not less than $32 per
share. If the Company repurchased 8,000,000 shares at a price of $39 per share,
its bank debt would increase by $312,000. Had this recapitalization of the
Company occurred at December 31, 1997, the interest-bearing debt as a percent of
total capital would have been 44%. The Company established a $500,000 revolving

                                       46
<PAGE>
 
credit line due in 2003 with a six member banking syndicate to support this
transaction and to replace its existing revolving lines of credit.

Note 15 Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) 
Quarterly data for 1997 and 1996 was as follows:

                           Quarter
                           First       Second        Third        Fourth
Year Ended
December 31, 1997:
  Net sales               $ 250,390   $ 261,456    $ 233,189    $ 249,361
  Gross profit              158,674     169,824      144,423      155,758
  Net income                 22,877       8,765*      18,552        2,946*
  Diluted earnings
  per share                     .25         .09          .20          .03

Year Ended
 December 31, 1996:
   Net sales              $ 211,829   $ 220,498    $ 212,456    $ 231,964
   Gross profit             141,290     147,438      142,992      150,139
   Net income (loss)         30,058      29,920       30,179      (29,520)**
   Diluted earnings
   (loss) per share             .33         .32          .33         (.32)


The full year 1997 diluted earnings per share were $.01 higher than the sum of
the quarters due to rounding.

* Includes the effect of pre-tax special charges associated with the Ventritex
  merger and the consolidation of cardiac rhythm management operations of 
  $30,645 and $28,024 in the second and fourth quarter, respectively.

**Includes the effect of pre-tax charges of $35,350 for purchased research and
  development associated with the Telectronics and BIP acquisitions and special
  charges of $47,808 for patent and litigation settlements and repositioning of
  several of the Company's operations.


Five-Year Summary of Selected Financial Data
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      1997*        1996**            1995          1994***        1993
<S>                               <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        
Summary of Operations 
for the Year Ended:
Net sales                         $   994,396    $   876,747    $   848,078    $   517,433    $   339,942
Gross profit                      $   628,679    $   581,859    $   555,290    $   353,623    $   236,375
  Percent of sales                       63.2%          66.4%          65.5%          68.3%          69.5%
Operating profit                  $    86,817    $    69,469    $   169,086    $   123,516    $   110,099
  Percent of sales                        8.7%           8.0%          19.9%          23.9%          32.4%
Net income                        $    53,140    $    60,637    $   117,116    $    95,749    $    94,544
  Percent of sales                        5.3%           6.9%          13.8%          18.5%          28.7%
Diluted earnings
  per share                       $      0.58    $      0.66    $      1.28    $      1.06    $      1.04
</TABLE>

                                       47
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                               <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        
Financial Position at Year End:
Cash and marketable
  securities                      $   184,536    $   235,395    $   239,621    $   209,099    $   427,721
Working capital                   $   491,688    $   426,951    $   405,060    $   426,297    $   498,758
Total assets                      $ 1,458,616    $ 1,472,494    $ 1,192,235    $ 1,101,283    $   684,015
Long-term debt                    $   220,000    $   229,500    $   120,000    $   255,000    $        36
Total shareholders'
  equity                          $   987,022    $   922,061    $   855,388    $   772,629    $   625,938

Other Data:
Dividend declared
  per share                       $        --    $        --    $        --    $      0.20    $      0.27
Diluted weighted average
  shares outstanding               92,052,000     92,372,000     91,335,000     90,558,000     90,852,000
Total employees                         3,772          4,168          3,090          2,980          1,272

</TABLE>

Note: The Five-Year Summary of Selected Financial Data includes the results of
Ventritex, Inc. and Daig Corporation on a pooling of interests basis for all
periods presented.

*    Results for 1997 include $58,669 pre-tax charge for special charges.
**   Results for 1996 include $88,158 pre-tax charge for purchased research and 
     development and special charges.
***  Results for 1994 include $40,800 pre-tax charge for purchased research and 
     development.





                                       48
<PAGE>
   
                              INVESTOR INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSFER AGENT
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
718.921.8293
800.937.5449

Correspondence regarding stock holdings and changes of address should be
directed to the transfer agent.

When share owned by one shareholder are held in different forms of the same name
(e.g., John Doe, J. Doe) or when new accounts are established for shares
purchased at different times, duplicate mailings of shareholder information
results. The Company, by law, is required to mail each name on the shareholder
list unless the shareholder requests that duplicate mailings be eliminated or
consolidates all accounts. Such requests should be directed, in writing, to
American Stock Transfer, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
The annual meeting of shareholders will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May
14, 1998, at the Lutheran Brotherhood Building, 625 Fourth Avenue South,
Minneapolis, MN.

INVESTOR INFORMATION 
A copy of the Company's annual report of Form 10-K or other financial reports
will be provided free of charge to any shareholder upon written request to
Investor Relations, St. Jude Medical, Inc., One Lillehei Plaza, St. Paul, MN
55117-9983.

St. Jude Medical, Inc., does not issue quarterly shareholder reports.
Shareholders and security analysts can obtain the latest Company news releases,
including quarterly results, and other information by calling Investor Relations
at a toll-free number (800.552.7664). Company news releases are also available
through "Company News On-Call" by fax (800.758.5804, ext. 816662) or at
http://www.prnewswire.com on the Internet.

CASH DIVIDENDS
St. Jude Medical, Inc., discontinued its cash dividend upon completion of the
acquisition of Pacesetter, which was finalized September 30, 1994. The Company
did not pay any cash dividends in 1995, 1996 or 1997.

RESEARCH COVERAGE
The following firms currently provide research coverage of St. Jude Medical,
Inc.:

A.G. Edwards & Sons, Incorporated
Bear, Stearns & Company
BT Alex. Brown & Sons, Incorporated
Cowen & Company
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Dain Rauscher Incorporated
Deutsche Morgan Grenfell
Donaldson, Lufkin, Jenrette Securities
Edward Jones
Fahnestock & Company
Goldman Sachs & Company
Jeffries & Company, Incorporated
John G. Kinnard & Company
J.P. Morgan Securities, Incorporated
Lehman Brothers, Incorporated
Merrill Lynch & Company
Montgomery Securities
Morgan Keegan & Company, Incorporated
Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter
Paine Webber Incorporated
Piper Jaffray Incorporated
Raymond James & Associates, Incorporated
Robert W. Baird & Company, Incorporated
Sanford C. Bernstein & Company, Incorporated
SBC Warburg Dillon Read, Incorporated
Salomon/Smith Barney
UBC Securities
Vector Securities International, Incorporated
Wasserstein Parella Securities, Incorporated
Wessels, Arnold & Henderson

SUPPLEMENTAL MARKET PRICE DATA

On December 2, 1996, the common stock of St. Jude Medical, Inc., began trading
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol STJ. The range of high and low
prices per share for the Company's common stock for fiscal years 1997 and 1996
are set forth below. As of February 11, 1998, the Company had 4,606 shareholders
of record.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           Year Ended December 31
                                   1997                          1996
                          ---------------------------------------------------
Quarter                    High            Low           High            Low
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>   
First                     $42.38         $33.25         $46.00         $36.38
Second                    $39.75         $29.13         $39.50         $33.25
Third                     $42.88         $33.50         $41.50         $29.63
Fourth                    $35.06         $27.06         $43.25         $35.00
</TABLE>

Listed options are traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CB) under the
symbol STJ.

TRADEMARKS

Affinity(TM); Angstrom(TM); APS(TM); AutoCapture(TM); Automaticity(TM); Cellular
Tested(TM); CoaguChek(TM); Combipolar(TM); Contour(R); Flatcap(TM);
Livewire(TM); Locator(TM); Maximum(TM); Meta(TM); Microny(TM); Omniscience(TM);
Passive Plus(R); Regency(TM); SEPT(TM); Silzone(TM); SJM(R); SJM Biocor(TM);
SPL(TM); Spyglass(TM); St. Jude Medical(R); Swartz(TM); Tempo(TM); Tendril(R);
Toronto SPV(R); Trilogy(R)
<PAGE>

Leadership
St. Jude Medical, Inc.
St. Paul, Minnesota
Ronald A. Matricaria
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Fred B. Parks, Ph.D.
President and Chief Operating Officer
John P. Berdusco
Vice President, Administration
David W. Elliot, Jr.
Director, Corporate Business Development
Peter L. Gove
Vice President, Corporate Relations
Robert E. Munzenrider
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Kevin T. O'Malley, Esq.
Vice President and General Counsel
Harold A. Bencic
Chief Information Officer
EDS
Heart Valve Division
St. Paul, Minnesota
Terry L. Shepherd
President
Darrin J. Bergman
Director, Mechanical Valve Development
Robert S. Elgin
Vice President, Operations
Alan R. Flory, DVM
Director, Clinical and
Regulatory Affairs
Donald S. Guzik
Director, Quality Systems
Steven J. Healy
Vice President,
Marketing and Sales
C. Walton Lillehei, Ph.D., M.D.
Medical Director
M. William Mirsch, II
Director, Tissue Programs
Paul J. Vetter III
Director, Finance
Jan M. Webster
Director, Human Resources
Cardiac Rhythm
Management Division
Los Angeles, California
Daniel J. Starks
Chief Executive Officer
James W. Dennis
President
David W. Adinolfi
Vice President, Global Product Planning and Identification
Richard R. Ames
Vice President, Health Care
Services/Sales
Fred A. Colen
Executive Vice President, Quality Speed to Market; Managing Director Pacesetter
AB
Eric S. Fain, M.D.
Vice President, Tachycardia Product Planning and Research
Eric N. Falkenberg
Vice President, Emerging Indications/Sales
Robert D. Gaffney
Vice President, Component Manufacturing
Michael L. Hardage
Vice President, North American FCE
Paul A. Levine, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Vice President, Medical Services
Benjamin D. Pless
Executive Vice President, Product Development
Ronald G. Rolnick, Esq.
Vice President and General Counsel
David B. Stanton
Vice President, Sales, Western Area
Mary C. Sutton
Vice President, Human Resources
Michael B. Sweeney
Executive Vice President, Clinical Engineering and Regulatory Affairs
Daig
Minnetonka, Minnesota
Michael J. Coyle
President
Dean Bruhn-Ding
Director, Regulatory Affairs
James A. Hassett
Director, Clinical Development
Mark W. Kroll, Ph.D.
Vice President, R&D
Peter C. McLane
Director, Marketing
Dennis A. Stowers
Director, Manufacturing
International Operations
Patrick P. Fourteau
President
Terrie M. Ajamil
Vice President, Area Operations 
Asia Pacific 
Michel Cavadini 
Vice President, Administration, Europe 
Ruud Helwig 
Vice President 
BENSAS, Middle East and Africa
Edward A. Storch 
Vice President, Area Operations 
Latin America 
Dr. Ignacio L. Balboa 
Managing Director, Spain 
Joel D. Becker 
European Regional Sales Director
Heart Valve Division 
Alain Brunier 
Managing Director, France 
Eric Delwart
Managing Director, Belgium 
Erwin Eggenschwiler 
Country Manager, Switzerland
Goncalo Esteves 
Country Manager, Portugal 
George J. Fazio 
General Manager 
St. Jude Medical Canada 
Luciano Frattini 
Business Unit Director
Heart Valve Division
Holger Friedrich, M.D.
Managing Director, CRMD Tachy/Ventritex Germany
Jurgen Fuchs
Managing Director, Germany
Roland Gerard
Director, European Regulatory Affairs
Ulf Grape
Country Manager, Sweden
Svend-Erik Hansen
Country Manager, Denmark
Frans M. van Heck
Managing Director, The Netherlands
Jim Lia
Business Unit Director
Daig
Joseph H. McCullough
Director, Business Unit Director CRMD
Luit Mulder
Area Director, Middle East and Africa
Arto Nousiainen
Country Manager, Finland
Roger G. Osborne
Managing Director, United Kingdom
Angelo Rivetti
Managing Director, Italy
Wolfgang Sacken
Country Manager, Austria
Frieda J. Valk
Director, Human Resources


Board of Directors
From Left to Right

Top Row:
Paul J. Chiapparone1
Executive Vice President, Electronic Data Systems Corporation Plano, Texas

Thomas H. Garrett, III3
Business Consultant, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Kenneth G. Langone2
Managing Director, Invemed Associates, Inc. New York, New York

Ronald A. Matricaria
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Middle Row:
William R. Miller2
Former Vice Chairman, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. New York, New York

Walter F. Mondale3
Partner, Dorsey and Whitney Minneapolis, Minnesota

Fred B. Parks, Ph.D.
President and Chief Operating Officer

Walter L. Sembrowich, Ph.D.1, 2
President, Aviex, Inc. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Bottom Row:
Daniel J. Starks
Chief Executive Officer, CRMD

Roger G. Stoll, Ph.D.3
Chief Executive Officer and President, Ohmeda, Inc. Liberty Corner, New Jersey

Gail R.
Wilensky, Ph.D.1
Senior Fellow, Project Hope, Washington, D.C.

1 Denotes members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee 
2 Denotes members of the Compensation Committee 
3 Denotes members of the Audit Committee


                                       50
<PAGE>
    
ST. JUDE MEDICAL
Global Leadership in Medical Technology

St. Jude Medical, Inc.
One Lillehei Plaza
St. Paul, MN 55117-9983
Phone:  612.483.2000
Telex:  298453
Fax:    612.482.8318

<PAGE>
 
                     ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   EXHIBIT 21 - SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

     ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC. WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES:
     -    Pacesetter, Inc. - Sylmar, California 
          -    Ventritex - Europe, Inc. (Belgium)
     -    St. Jude Medical S.C., Inc. - St. Paul, Minnesota
     -    St. Jude Medical Europe, Inc. - (Delaware)
          -    Brussels Belgium branch
     -    SJM Europe, Inc. - (Delaware)
          (former name: St. Jude Medical International Inc.)
          -    Tokyo, Japan branch
     -    St. Jude Medical Sales Corporation - St. Paul, Minnesota (Barbados
          Corporation)
     -    St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico, Inc. - Caguas, Puerto Rico (Delaware
          Corporation)
     -    St. Jude Medical, Canada, Inc. - Mississauga, Ontario and St.
          Hyacinth, Quebec
          (former name: St. Jude Medical, Ltd.) (Canadian Corporation)
     -    151703 Canada, Inc. - St. Paul Minnesota (Canadian Corporation)
     -    St. Jude Medical, Inc., Cardiac Assist Division - (assets sold to Bard
          1/19/96)
     -    St. Jude Medical (Hong Kong), Ltd. - Kowloon Hong Kong
          -    Shanghai and Bejing China branch
     -    Glory Telectronics, Ltd. - Hong Kong
     -    Glory EME, Ltd - Hong Kong
     -    Glory EME China, Ltd. - Hong Kong
     -    Medical Telectronics, Ltd. - New Zealand
     -    St. Jude Medical Brasil, Ltda. - Sao Paulo, Brazil
          -    Telectronics Medica Ltda - Brazil
     -    Daig Corporation - Minnetonka, MN (Minnesota Corporation)
     -    St. Jude Medical Australia Pty, Ltd. (Australia)

     SJM EUROPE INC.'S WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARIES:
     -    St. Jude Medical Netherlands Distribution AB (Sweden)
          -    St. Jude Medical Coordination Center (Belgian branch)
     -    Pacesetter AB (Sweden)
     -    St. Jude Medical Sweden AB (Sweden)
     -    St. Jude Medical Pacesetter Sales AB (Sweden)
     -    St. Jude Medical Italia S.p.A (Italy)
     -    St. Jude Medical Espana S.A. (Spain)
     -    St. Jude Medical Danmark A/s (Denmark)
          -    Telectronics Scandinavia A/s (Denmark)
               (wholly-owned by above-named corporation)
     -    St. Jude Medical Finland O/y (Finland)
     -    St. Jude Medical AG (Switzerland)
     -    St. Jude Medical GmbH (Germany)
     -    St. Jude Medical Medizintechnik Ges.m.b.H. (Austria)
     -    St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H. (Austria)
     -    N.V. St. Jude Medical Belgium, S.A. (Belgium)
          -    Portugal branch
     -    St. Jude Medical France S.A. (France)
          -    (former name: Pacesetter France S.A.)
     -    St. Jude Medical UK Limited (United Kingdom)
          -    Pacesetter Medical Products Limited (United Kingdom)
               (wholly-owned by above-named corporation)
     -    St. Jude Medical Nederland B.V. (Netherlands)
          -    Telectronics B.V. - Netherlands
               (wholly-owned by above-named corporation)
     St. Jude Medical Sp.zo.o. (Poland)

<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 23

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
of St. Jude Medical, Inc. of our report dated February 12, 1998, included in the
1997 Annual Report to Shareholders of St. Jude Medical, Inc.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No.
33-29085; Registration Statement No. 33-41459; Registration Statement No.
33-48502; Registration Statement No. 33-54435 and Registration Statement No.
333-42945 on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 12, 1998, with respect to
the consolidated financial statements and schedule of St. Jude Medical, Inc.
included in or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1997.


                                       /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 27, 1998
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<NAME>ST. JUDE MEDICAL INC.
       
<S>                             <C>                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          28,530 
<SECURITIES>                                   156,006
<RECEIVABLES>                                  256,023
<ALLOWANCES>                                    12,712
<INVENTORY>                                    241,039
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               743,282
<PP&E>                                         456,688
<DEPRECIATION>                                 149,043
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,458,616
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          251,594
<BONDS>                                         57,500
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,191
<OTHER-SE>                                     977,831
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,458,616
<SALES>                                        994,396
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               994,396
<CGS>                                          365,717
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  365,717
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   678 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              14,374
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 88,236
<INCOME-TAX>                                    33,530
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             54,706
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                        1,566
<NET-INCOME>                                    53,140
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.58
        

</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<RESTATED>
<NAME>ST. JUDE MEDICAL INC.
       
<S>                             <C>                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    12-MOS               
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                          62,638
<SECURITIES>                                   176,983
<RECEIVABLES>                                  185,250
<ALLOWANCES>                                     9,845
<INVENTORY>                                    173,026
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               621,907
<PP&E>                                         266,720
<DEPRECIATION>                                  77,792
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,192,235
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          216,847
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,028
<OTHER-SE>                                     846,360
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,192,235
<SALES>                                        848,078
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               848,078
<CGS>                                          292,788
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  292,788
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,584
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              12,967
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                167,094
<INCOME-TAX>                                    49,978
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            117,116
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   117,116
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.28
        

</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<RESTATED>
<NAME>ST. JUDE MEDICAL INC.
       
<S>                             <C>                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          49,388
<SECURITIES>                                   186,007
<RECEIVABLES>                                  224,973
<ALLOWANCES>                                     8,160
<INVENTORY>                                    217,661
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               747,884
<PP&E>                                         397,674
<DEPRECIATION>                                 108,400
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,472,494
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          320,933
<BONDS>                                         57,500
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,145
<OTHER-SE>                                     912,916
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,472,494
<SALES>                                        876,747
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               876,747
<CGS>                                          294,888
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  294,888
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   650
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,725
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 90,609
<INCOME-TAX>                                    29,972
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             60,637
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    60,637
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.66
        

</TABLE>


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