CYBERONICS INC
10-K, 1997-08-15
ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
                                   FORM 10-K
 
(Mark One)
 
/X/ Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934
 
                    For the fiscal year ended: June 30, 1997
 
                                       OR
 
/ / Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934
 
             For the transition period from           to
 
                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-19806
                            ------------------------
 
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                    <C>
              DELAWARE                      76-0236465
   (State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)         Identification
                                              Number)
 
 17448 HIGHWAY 3, STE. 100, WEBSTER,        77598-4135
                TEXAS                       (zip code)
   (address of principal executive
              offices)
</TABLE>
 
       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (281) 332-1375
        SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT: None
 SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT: Common Stock, $.01
                                   par value
 
                                                            (TITLE OF CLASS)
                            ------------------------
 
    Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or 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 (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
Yes _X_  No ____
 
    The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
registrant as of August 14, 1997, was based upon the last sales price reported
for such date on the Nasdaq National Market approximately $163.9 million. For
purposes of this disclosure, shares of Common Stock held by persons who hold
more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and shares held by
officers and directors of the registrant, have been excluded in that such
persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination is not necessarily
conclusive.
 
    At July 31, 1997, registrant had outstanding 13,322,175 shares of Common
Stock.
                            ------------------------
 
                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
    No documents are incorporated by reference herein.
 
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
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PART I.....................................................................................................           1
 
  ITEM 1.       BUSINESS...................................................................................           1
  ITEM 2.       PROPERTIES.................................................................................          16
  ITEM 3.       LEGAL PROCEEDINGS..........................................................................          16
  ITEM 4.       SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS........................................          16
 
PART II....................................................................................................          17
 
  ITEM 5.       MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS......................          17
  ITEM 6.       SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA....................................................................          18
  ITEM 7.       MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS......          19
  ITEM 8.       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA................................................          28
  ITEM 9.       CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.......          28
 
PART III...................................................................................................          28
 
  ITEM 10.      DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.........................................          28
  ITEM 11.      EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.....................................................................          31
  ITEM 12.      SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.............................          34
  ITEM 13.      CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.............................................          36
 
PART IV....................................................................................................          37
 
  ITEM 14.      EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K............................          37
</TABLE>
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                                     PART I
 
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
 
    THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN
THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND SECTION 21E OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM
THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF A NUMBER OF
IMPORTANT FACTORS. FOR A DISCUSSION OF IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT THE
COMPANY'S RESULTS, PLEASE REFER TO THE BUSINESS SECTION BELOW, THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENT LINE ITEM DISCUSSIONS AND THE FACTORS AFFECTING FUTURE OPERATING
RESULTS SET FORTH IN MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
 
THE COMPANY
 
    Cyberonics manufactures and markets the NCP System, an implantable medical
device for the treatment of epilepsy. On July 16, 1997, the Company received
approval from the FDA to market the NCP System in the United States as an
adjunctive therapy for reducing the frequency of seizures in patients over
twelve years of age with partial onset seizures that are refractory (resistant)
to antiepileptic drugs ("AEDs"). The Company has also received regulatory
approval to sell the NCP System in Canada, Europe and certain countries in the
Far East. The Company has completed a total of seven clinical studies, including
five controlled acute phase studies involving over 450 patients, a long-term
multi-year follow-up study involving 253 patients and a mortality study. To
date, over 1,000 patients have accumulated in excess of 2,000 patient years of
treatment experience with the NCP System.
 
EPILEPSY OVERVIEW
 
    Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by recurrent seizures.
Epileptic seizures are categorized as either partial or generalized at onset.
Generalized seizures, known as "grand mal" seizures, involve the entire brain
from the onset, result in the loss of consciousness and are typically manifested
by convulsions. Partial onset seizures initiate in a localized region of the
brain, and may or may not result in the loss of consciousness. Partial onset
seizures can also develop into generalized seizures. Patients who continue to
have unsatisfactory seizure control or intolerable side effects after treatment
with appropriate antiepileptic therapies for a reasonable period of time are
said to suffer from refractory epilepsy. For reasons that are not clear, partial
onset seizures are generally more refractory to existing therapies than
generalized seizures.
 
    It is estimated that over 1.8 million individuals are currently being
treated for epilepsy in the United States, with over 117,000 new cases diagnosed
each year, and that there are in excess of three million individuals being
treated for epilepsy in Western Europe and Japan, with over 210,000 new cases
diagnosed each year. In addition, it is estimated that approximately 50% of
patients with epilepsy suffer from partial onset seizures and that over 20% of
these patients suffer from refractory partial onset seizures.
 
    The medical, psychological, sociological and financial implications of
refractory epilepsy can be profound for individuals and their families. Seizures
can be severely debilitating and may result in major irreversible morbidity
(lasting complications or side effects). Medical consequences may include brain
damage from recurrent seizures, injuries and accidents associated with the loss
or impairment of consciousness, and death as the result of severe seizures.
Personal implications of epilepsy may include suffering the side effects of
AEDs, strained personal and family relations, and the inability to obtain and
hold meaningful employment or a driver's license. Societal implications of
epilepsy include the loss or underutilization of potentially productive citizens
and the cost of long-term public assistance for those disabled by epilepsy.
Epilepsy patients, in general, and refractory patients, to a greater extent,
experience a significantly higher mortality rate than the general population.
 
                                       1
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TRADITIONAL EPILEPSY THERAPIES
 
    Traditionally, there have been two courses of treatment available to persons
suffering from epilepsy: drug therapy and surgery. The efficacy of these
treatments depends in part upon the type of seizures from which a patient
suffers. The efficacy of drugs and surgery for patients suffering from partial
onset seizures is highly variable.
 
    DRUG THERAPY.  AEDs serve as a first-line treatment and are prescribed for
virtually all individuals being treated for epilepsy. There are eight drugs
predominately used for the treatment of epilepsy which are used either alone or
in combination. Lack of patient compliance, which is typical of chronic drug
therapy, inherently reduces the efficacy of a drug therapy regimen. In addition,
side effects are common with AEDs. Side effects range from debilitating central
nervous system conditions such as drowsiness, confusion and cognitive impairment
to life-threatening hematologic reactions or liver failure. Women taking AEDs
are more likely to bear infants with birth defects than the general population.
Children receiving AED therapy often experience learning difficulties. Since
1993, four new AEDs have received FDA approval. No other major AEDs have been
introduced in the United States since 1978. While each of these AEDs
demonstrates some efficacy or tolerability benefits when compared with other
AEDs, the Company believes that none of these AEDs appears to provide
significantly improved clinical outcomes. See "--Competition."
 
    SURGICAL TREATMENT.  When drug therapy is not effective, the other
traditional treatment alternative has been surgical removal of the portion of
the brain where seizures originate. Surgical treatment of epilepsy has been
proven safe and beneficial for a limited number of patients. However, only
approximately 1,500 epilepsy surgeries are performed per year in the United
States. The Company believes that the low number of surgeries is attributable to
several factors, including: the extensive evaluation and testing required to
screen candidates for surgery and to localize the source of the seizures; the
risks of morbidity and mortality associated with brain surgery; the uncertainty
of long-term benefits; the non-reversible nature of the procedure; and the cost
of evaluation, testing and surgery, which is reported to be approximately
$60,000 in many cases.
 
THE CYBERONICS SOLUTION
 
    The Company's FDA approved NCP System is the only currently approved medical
device alternative for treating epilepsy. The NCP System delivers an electrical
signal through an implantable lead to the left vagus nerve in the patient's neck
on a chronic, intermittent basis. Stimulation may also be initiated by the
patient with a hand held magnet.
 
    The Company believes that a successful new therapy for refractory epilepsy
should be clinically proven, provide significant seizure control, be safe and
tolerable with few side effects, provide long-term benefits and be easy for the
physician to prescribe and for the patient to use. Based on the results of its
preclinical studies, mechanism of action research and seven human clinical
trials, the Company believes that the NCP System meets these criteria:
 
        CLINICALLY PROVEN.  To date over 1,000 patients have accumulated in
    excess of 2,000 patient years of treatment experience with the NCP System.
    On July 16, 1997, the NCP System was approved by the FDA for use as an
    adjunctive therapy in reducing frequency of seizures in adults and
    adolescents over twelve years of age with partial onset seizures that are
    refractory to AEDs.
 
        SIGNIFICANT SEIZURE CONTROL.  In the Company's two randomized, parallel,
    double blind active control studies, the treatment groups reported a mean
    seizure reduction of approximately 24% and 28% during the three month acute
    phase of the studies. Additionally, many patients, including some who
    reported no change or an increase in seizure frequency, also reported a
    reduction in seizure severity.
 
                                       2
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        WELL-TOLERATED SIDE EFFECTS.  The side effects associated with the NCP
    System are generally mild, localized and stimulation related. They include
    hoarseness, coughing, a feeling of shortness of breath and throat pain. The
    NCP System has not been associated with the debilitating central nervous
    system side effects which frequently accompany AEDs. Additionally, over
    time, a significant percentage of patients continued to use the therapy
    attesting to its tolerability. See "--Clinical Trials."
 
        LONG-TERM EFFICACY.  Long-term follow-up data, although derived from an
    uncontrolled protocol, on the 253 patients in the Company's first four
    studies suggests that efficacy is maintained and for certain patients
    improves over time when the NCP System is used as an adjunctive therapy with
    drugs as part of a patient's optimized long-term treatment regime. Analysis
    of this pooled data showed that the median percent seizure reduction
    increased from 17% in the first three months to 44% after 18 months of
    treatment. See "--Clinical Trials."
 
        EASY TO USE.  The implantation procedure is a straightforward, fully
    reversible procedure which takes between 30 minutes and two hours, does not
    involve the brain and has been performed by surgeons with a variety of
    specializations. Additionally, the NCP System does not interact with
    existing therapies and, because the NCP System provides continuous
    stimulation without patient (or caregiver) administration, full compliance
    is assured. Moreover, a patient can use a magnet to temporarily override the
    pre-programmed stimulation cycle to activate on-demand therapy if the
    patient senses the onset of a seizure.
 
VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION WITH THE CYBERONICS NCP SYSTEM
 
    The NCP System is a proprietary, integrated system consisting of an
implantable device that delivers an electrical signal to an implantable lead
which is attached to the left vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the longest of the
cranial nerves, extending from the brain stem through the neck to organs in the
chest and abdomen. The left vagus nerve has been shown to have influence over
numerous areas of the brain. Preclinical studies and mechanism of action
research suggest that intermittent stimulation of the left vagus nerve in the
neck activates a number of structures and increases blood flow in several areas
of the brain. These studies have also shown that stimulation of the left vagus
nerve is effective in blocking seizures and results in persistent or carryover
antiepileptic effects which increase with chronic stimulation.
 
    The NCP System consists of the NCP Generator, the vagus nerve lead, the
programming wand and software and the tunneling tool. The NCP Generator and
vagus nerve lead are surgically implanted in a procedure which takes from 30
minutes to two hours, during which time the patient is typically under general
anesthesia. The NCP Generator is surgically implanted in a subcutaneous pocket
in the upper left chest. The vagus nerve lead is connected to the NCP Generator
and attached to the vagus nerve in the lower left side of the patient's neck.
The patient is generally admitted to the hospital the day of surgery and
discharged the following day.
 
    The NCP System delivers vagus nerve stimulation therapy on a chronic,
intermittent basis. These stimulation parameters are preprogrammed by the
treating physician. The standard stimulation parameters recommended by the
Company are a 30 second period of stimulation, followed by a five minute period
without stimulation. To optimize patient treatment, the pulse width, output
current, signal frequency and stimulation duration and intervals of the NCP
Generator can be noninvasively programmed and adjusted by the treating physician
with a personal computer using the Company's programming wand and software. In
addition, the patient can use a small, hand held magnet which is provided with
the NCP Generator to manually activate or deactivate stimulation. On-demand
therapy can be useful for those patients who sense an oncoming seizure and has
been reported by a number of patients to abort or reduce the severity of
seizures.
 
                                       3
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[Illustration showing placement of the NCP System in a patient and a description
of its components]
 
    NCP GENERATOR.  The NCP Generator is an implantable, programmable, cardiac
pacemaker-like signal generator designed to be coupled with the vagus nerve lead
to deliver electrical signals to the vagus nerve. The NCP Generator approved for
use in the United States employs a battery and has an expected life of
approximately 4.5 years at standard stimulation parameters. The Company has
begun to sell an NCP Generator outside of the United States which employs a
battery which has an estimated life of approximately 6.5 years at standard
stimulation parameters. The Company intends to seek FDA approval to market this
newer NCP Generator in the United States. Upon expiration of the battery, the
NCP Generator is removed and a new generator is implanted in a short,
out-patient procedure using local anesthesia.
 
    VAGUS NERVE LEAD.  Cyberonics has licensed a proprietary nerve lead to
convey the electrical signal from the NCP Generator to the vagus nerve. The lead
incorporates patented electrodes which are self-sizing and flexible, minimizing
mechanical trauma to the nerve and allowing body fluid interchange within the
nerve structure. The lead's two electrodes and anchor tether wrap around the
vagus nerve and the connector end is tunneled subcutaneously to the chest where
it is attached to the NCP Generator. The leads are available in two sizes of
inner spiral diameter to ensure optimal electrode placement on different size
nerves.
 
    PROGRAMMING WAND AND SOFTWARE.  The Company's proprietary programming wand
and software are used to transmit programming information from a personal
computer to the NCP Generator via electromagnetic signals. Programming
capabilities include modification of the NCP Generator's programmable parameters
(pulse width, output current, signal frequency and stimulation duration and
interval), and
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
storage and retrieval of telemetry data. The NCP programming wand can be
connected to an industry standard personal computer using a serial connector.
 
    TUNNELING TOOL.  The tunneling tool is a disposable surgical tool designed
to be used during surgical placement of the vagus nerve lead. The tool is used
for subcutaneous tunneling of the lead assembly between the nerve site in the
neck and the NCP Generator site in the chest.
 
    The total cost of the NCP System to the patient, including the implant
procedure, is projected to be between approximately $13,000 and $18,000. This
projected cost includes approximately $8,000 for the NCP System plus hospital
costs and physician fees, which vary depending upon the implanting center.
 
CLINICAL TRIALS
 
    The Company began trials of the NCP System for the treatment of refractory
partial onset seizures in November 1988. As of June 30, 1997, a total of seven
clinical studies have been conducted, consisting of five controlled acute phase
studies involving over 450 patients, a long-term follow-up study involving 253
patients, and a mortality study involving approximately 791 patients with 1,335
patient years of experience. A total of 45 centers participated in these
studies, including 40 in the United States, two in Germany and one each in
Canada, Holland and Sweden. Of the five controlled acute phase studies, two were
randomized, parallel, double blind, active control studies, similar in design to
AED trials. These two studies, E03 and E05, involved 388 enrolled and 310
implanted patients who were included in the efficacy analysis. The duration of
the baseline and treatment periods in both studies was three months. The
following table summarizes the Company's five acute phase clinical studies:
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<S>          <C>           <C>                          <C>
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<CAPTION>
                                     DESIGN/               NUMBER OF PATIENTS INCLUDED
   STUDY         DATE            SEIZURE TYPE(S)               IN EFFICACY ANALYSIS
<S>          <C>           <C>                          <C>
  E01/E02        1988             Single blind/                         14
                                Partial seizures
    E03       1990-1992     Double blind, randomized/                  114
                                Partial seizures
    E04       1991-1995        Open label safety/                      116
                                  All seizures
    E05       1995-1996     Double blind, randomized/                  196
                                Partial seizures
</TABLE>
 
    ACUTE PHASE EFFICACY.  The primary efficacy objective of the Company's
double blind randomized acute phase clinical studies was to demonstrate a
between group difference in mean and/or median percent change in seizure
frequency between patients treated with "High" stimulation (stimulation believed
to be at therapeutic levels for seizure reduction) and "Low" stimulation
(stimulation believed to be at subtherapeutic levels). The primary efficacy
outcome was achieved in both E03 and E05. In the longitudinal studies, E01, E02
and E04, the primary efficacy outcome was a within group difference in mean or
median percent change in seizure frequency compared to baseline. These
longitudinal studies also achieved their
 
                                       5
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primary efficacy objectives. The following table summarizes the mean and median
percentage seizure reduction rates of the treatment groups of the Company's five
acute phase studies:
 
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                                                                            PERCENTAGE SEIZURE
                                                                           REDUCTION RATES FOR
                                                                             TREATMENT GROUP
                                                                         ------------------------
STUDY                                                                       MEAN        MEDIAN
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E01....................................................................       24.3%        31.6%
E02....................................................................       39.9%        48.1%
E03....................................................................       23.6%        22.6%
E04....................................................................        7.0%        21.8%
E05....................................................................       27.9%        23.4%
</TABLE>
 
    ADVERSE EVENTS, SIDE EFFECTS.  The two randomized, parallel studies, E03 and
E05, involved 314 patients who accumulated total acute phase and long-term
follow-up exposure of 591 years. The most frequently reported side effects were:
voice alteration/hoarseness which was reported by 50% of patients at least once
during the acute and extension phases, cough which was reported by 41% of
patients, throat pain/discomfort which was reported by approximately 27% of
patients, and dyspnea, a feeling of shortness of breath, which was reported by
18% of patients at least once in the E03 and E05 acute and extension phases. The
NCP System side effects were generally rated as mild, reportedly occurred only
during actual stimulation and were reported less frequently over time. No
adverse effects of vagus nerve stimulation on the heart, lungs or stomach were
observed in any of the studies. The NCP System also did not produce the
debilitating central nervous system conditions such as drowsiness, confusion and
cognitive impairment commonly associated with AEDs.
 
    LONG-TERM EFFICACY.  In addition to the acute phase studies, the Company
also provided the FDA with long-term follow-up data on the 253 E01 through E04
study patients. The long-term data comes from an uncontrolled open label
protocol where both AEDs and NCP device settings were allowed to be changed. In
the Company's long-term follow-up on patients in studies E01 through E04, a
total of 238 out of a possible 251 completed one year of therapy (95%); 142 out
of 172 completed two years of therapy (83%); and 88 out of 126 completed three
years of therapy (70%).
 
    Long-term efficacy results, although derived from an uncontrolled protocol,
indicate that efficacy is maintained and, for many patients, improves during the
first 18 months when the NCP System is used as adjunctive therapy with drugs as
part of an optimized treatment regimen. The pooled E01 through E04 results
indicate that the median percent seizure reduction increased from 17.1% at the
end of the three month acute phase to a median reduction of 44.3% after 18
months of treatment. The percent of patients reporting a greater than 50%
reduction compared to baseline showed a similar improvement. The pooled results
indicate that 25.0% of the pooled patients reported a greater than 50.0%
reduction after three months of treatment and that 42.9% of patients reported a
greater than 50.0% reduction after 18 months.
 
    Although available long-term clinical data reveal continuing improved
efficacy over the first 18 months of use, this data indicates that improvement
stabilizes thereafter. Data regarding the longer term safety and efficacy of the
NCP System are limited. In addition, although the Company has theories as to why
vagus nerve stimulation reduces epileptic seizures, uncertainty still exists as
to the basic mechanism that provides positive therapeutic effects. There can be
no assurance that the efficacy of the treatment will continue to improve or will
not decline over time, or that long-term operation of the NCP System will not
produce adverse side-effects or cause harm or death to patients. Any such
negative long term effects could adversely affect the regulatory status and/or
market acceptance of the NCP System and thus adversely affect the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
                                       6
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    DEVICE COMPLICATIONS.  During the Company's clinical trials, technical
complications occurred due to lead wire fractures, battery depletion and NCP
Generator malfunctions. Two significant generator complications occurred. One
generator malfunction occurred in 1991 which resulted in permanent paralysis of
one patient's left vocal cord. This malfunction was reported to the FDA as a
serious adverse event. Subsequent design changes were made and, since those
changes, no similar malfunctions have occurred. The second generator malfunction
was premature battery depletion due to an unexplained transient high current
drain which had no adverse effect on the patient. No similar malfunctions have
occurred. Over fifty leads have been verified to have broken or otherwise
developed high impedence. The Company made a series of changes in early lead
designs to address these issues, and over 500 of the latest generation leads
have been implanted with no reported failures due to lead design, materials or
manufacturing.
 
    Although the Company has made several design changes in its generator and
leads and has not recently experienced malfunctions or failures, there can be no
assurance that there will not be future failures which could result in an unsafe
condition in patients. The occurrence of such malfunctioning or other adverse
reactions could result in a recall of the Company's products, possibly requiring
removal (and potentially reimplantation) of the NCP Generator and/or leads. Any
product recall could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations.
 
    MORTALITY STUDY.  As of June 30, 1997, a total of 17 deaths were reported
among the clinical and commercial patients implanted with the NCP System, ten of
which were considered to be possible/ probable/definite SUDEP (Sudden
Unexplained Death in Epilepsy Patients). Although treatment was underway at the
time, no deaths have been linked to the implantation of or stimulation by the
NCP System. Based on the 17 deaths, there was a mortality rate in the NCP cohort
of 10.3/1,000 patient years and a SUDEP incidence of 3.0/1,000 patient years for
definite/probable and 5.0/1,000 patient years for definite/ possible/probable.
The mortality rate and SUDEP rates for the NCP cohort are within the ranges
expected by a panel of independent experts for a medically refractory epilepsy
population. The mortality data was included in the Company's submissions to the
FDA in connection with its PMA application.
 
    FUTURE STUDIES.  The Company's intends to sponsor additional clinical trials
for the NCP System, initially for additional epilepsy indications such as
Lennox- Gastaut Syndrome and generalized seizures and, in the future, for other
neurological disorders outside the field of epilepsy which are covered by the
Company's method patent portfolio. New clinical trials conducted in the United
States will require additional FDA approvals.
 
STRATEGY
 
    The Company's strategy is to establish vagus nerve stimulation as a
preferred means for treating patients who suffer from refractory partial
seizures. The following are key elements of the Company's strategy:
 
LAUNCH THE NCP SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES
 
    The NCP System received FDA approval for the treatment of epilepsy patients
suffering from refractory partial onset seizures in July 1997. The Company
intends to launch the NCP System in the United States through a direct sales
force that will target the epileptologists and neurologists involved in treating
patients suffering from epilepsy. The Company has increased its U.S. sales and
marketing staff from 1 professional at June 30, 1996 to 20 professionals at June
30, 1997 and intends to further increase this staffing. In order to create
physician awareness and patient demand, the Company plans to implement a
multi-faceted marketing approach that includes symposia in the United States to
introduce the NCP System, ongoing physician awareness and training programs,
education and support of patient advocacy groups such as the Epilepsy Foundation
of America, publication of peer-reviewed scientific articles concerning the NCP
System and the Company's clinical trials, and dissemination of public
information regarding the benefits of the NCP System for patients suffering from
epilepsy.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
INCREASE INTERNATIONAL MARKET PENETRATION
 
    In June 1994, the Company was granted regulatory approval to market the NCP
System in the twelve-member countries of the European Union. Due to resource
constraints, however, the Company did not devote significant resources to
marketing the NCP System internationally until fiscal 1997. The Company's sales
strategy in international markets is to use a direct sales force in certain key
markets and to rely upon distributors to reach additional markets. The Company
intends to leverage its United States product launch activities to expand its
sales and marketing activities in the European Union member countries and other
key international markets.
 
ESTABLISH REIMBURSEMENT BY THIRD-PARTY PAYORS
 
    The Company believes that significant market acceptance of the NCP System
for the treatment of epilepsy or other indications will require that the
treatment be eligible for reimbursement from government and private health care
payors in the United States and overseas. The Company is in the process of
seeking the appropriate coverage recommendations from government sources and
from private payor groups. The Company believes that hospitals will gain
adequate reimbursement for the NCP System based on the compelling safety and
efficacy of the NCP System, the debilitating nature and annual cost of treating
refractory epilepsy, and the efficacy and cost of alternative treatments. See
"--Third-Party Reimbursement."
 
EXPAND RANGE OF TREATABLE INDICATIONS
 
    The Company believes that additional epilepsy types, including
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and generalized seizures, as well as severe neurological
disorders outside the field of epilepsy, including movement disorders such as
essential tremor and Parkinson's disease, chronic pain and migraine headaches,
may be amenable to treatment by vagus nerve stimulation with the NCP System. The
Company has been granted method patents relating to the use of vagus nerve
stimulation for the treatment of these and certain other neurological disorders,
and plans to establish a program to discover and develop new applications for
the NCP System both within and outside the field of epilepsy. See "--Product
Development."
 
MARKETING AND SALES
 
    UNITED STATES.  The NCP System was approved for sale in the United States on
July 16, 1997 for use as an adjunctive therapy in reducing the frequency of
seizures in adults and adolescents over twelve years of age with partial onset
seizures that are refractory to AEDs. The Company intends to sell its products
through a direct sales force in the United States. As of August 1, 1997 the
United States sales and marketing team consisted of sixteen direct sales people
(including a Vice President of Sales, four area Directors and eleven territory
managers), all of whom have significant medical device sales experience, and
three national marketing professionals supported by experienced medical device
reimbursement consultants. The Company expects to continue expanding its
marketing and sales team as needed.
 
    The Company's sales and marketing plan focuses on reaching those physicians
who treat a large number of refractory partial onset seizure patients. To date,
only a limited number of neurologists have experience treating patients with the
NCP System throughout the United States. In the United States there are a
limited number of neurologists and epileptologists (neurologists who specialize
in epilepsy). The Company believes that a subset of these neurologists and
epileptologists treat most epileptic patients. The Company intends initially to
target these neurologists and epileptologists.
 
    The Company believes that physician acceptance of new medical products like
the NCP System is typically a function of both the clinical utility of the
product, as demonstrated by preclinical studies, mechanism of action research
and human clinical trials, and the credibility of the data supporting the
product's claims regarding safety, efficacy and clinical utility. Resources used
to support sales of medical
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
devices, such as the NCP System, include physicians who have used the product,
peer reviewed medical journal articles, the Company's Physician's Manual and the
data published by the FDA in the Summary of Safety and Effectiveness. The
Company intends to use all of these sources to gain acceptance of the NCP
System. In addition, in June 1997, the Company sponsored a symposium at the
International Epilepsy Congress in Dublin, Ireland, which over 150 physicians
attended, and in August 1997, the Company is sponsoring the first North American
vagus nerve stimulation symposia in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
 
    To enhance patient awareness, the Company intends to, among other things,
educate and support national, regional and local epilepsy patient advocacy
groups, such as the Epilepsy Foundation of America to provide information on the
NCP System on web sites, in newsletters, at meetings and via mailing lists. The
Company also intends to provide information directly to patients and to work
with experienced centers in co-marketing arrangements.
 
    INTERNATIONAL.  Although the Company obtained the CE Mark to sell the NCP
System in the member countries of the European Union in June 1994, through the
end of calendar 1996, the Company focused its resources and efforts primarily on
the clinical trials necessary to gain FDA approval to sell the NCP System in the
United States. As a result, the Company until recently devoted only limited
resources to international marketing and sales activities. The Company began
building its international marketing and sales organization in fiscal 1997. In
January 1997, the Company established an International Advisory Board consisting
of epileptologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons and clinical scientists from
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United
States. As of June 30, 1997, the Company's international sales and marketing
organization consisted of nine full time employees and approximately 28
independent distributors. The NCP System was officially launched at the
Company's vagus nerve stimulation symposium at the International Epilepsy
Congress in Dublin, Ireland on June 28, 1997.
 
    The NCP System is currently sold by a direct sales force in Germany, France,
Austria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. One of the Company's customers in
the United Kingdom, King's College, accounted for approximately 13% of the
Company's net sales in fiscal 1997. As of June 30, 1997, the Company had
distribution agreements or letters of intent with independent distributors
covering 24 countries including, among others, Australia, China, Italy, The
Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. The distribution agreements generally grant the
distributor exclusive rights for the particular territory for a period of three
years. The distributor generally assumes responsibility for obtaining regulatory
and reimbursement approvals for such territory and agrees to certain minimum
marketing and sales expenditures and purchase commitments.
 
    The Company believes that its success internationally is dependent upon the
acceptance of the NCP System by a concentrated number of key opinion-leading
epileptologists and neurologists. The Company estimates that there are
approximately 200 key opinion-leading epileptologists in Western Europe alone.
These opinion leaders treat a large number of refractory patients, have
significant influence over the treatment decisions made by secondary centers and
are often critical to obtaining approvals for adequate reimbursement coverage in
their respective countries. The Company has implemented several programs to
target these epileptogists, including the International Advisory Board,
international clinical research programs and an international patient registry.
 
    The Company intends to leverage its United States product launch activities,
including the experiences of leading epileptologists and neurologists in the
United States to seek market acceptance of the NCP System in other countries.
Physicians from the United States familiar with the NCP System have in the past
presented their experiences and study results at international symposia, and the
Company intends to continue this practice.
 
    The Company intends to seek additional regulatory and reimbursement
approvals in the future in those major markets where the NCP System is not
approved. The geographic areas initially targeted include South America and the
Far East, in particular, Japan. In Japan, the Company is working with an
independent distributor to obtain the appropriate regulatory and reimbursement
approvals and to ultimately distribute the NCP System if such approvals are
obtained. The Japanese clinical trial began in
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
July 1993. To date, 34 patients have been implanted and treated for an average
of 2.5 years. The Company's Japanese distributor expects to submit the results
of this study, along with the Company's other clinical trial data, in calendar
1997 to the Japanese Ministry of Health for regulatory approval. Application for
reimbursement approval will follow regulatory approval when and if granted.
 
MANUFACTURING AND SOURCES OF SUPPLY
 
    Cyberonics' manufacturing operations are required to comply with the FDA's
QSR, which incorporates the agency's former Good Manufacturing Practices
regulations. QSR addresses the design, controls, methods, facilities and quality
assurance controls used in manufacturing, packing, storing and installing
medical devices. In addition, certain international markets have quality
assurance and manufacturing requirements that may be more or less rigorous than
those in the United States. Specifically, the Company is subject to the
compliance requirements of ISO 9001 and 9001 certification and CE Mark
directives. The Company is audited on a semiannual basis for such compliance.
See "--Government Regulation."
 
    The NCP Generator, which is similar in design and manufacture to a cardiac
pacemaker, is comprised of two printed circuit boards and a battery which are
hermetically sealed in a titanium case. Standard components are assembled on
printed circuit boards by a contract manufacturer using surface-mount
technology. The boards are then shipped to the Company for assembly and testing.
The assembled electronics are then placed in a titanium case which is shipped to
a third-party for laser welding and returned to the Company for attachment of an
epoxy header to which the lead connects and for final testing. Sterilization of
the NCP Generator is performed by a third-party.
 
    The Company has a limited history of operations that, to date, has consisted
primarily of manufacturing limited quantities of NCP Systems for clinical
investigations and for commercial sales activities in international markets. The
Company does not have experience manufacturing the NCP Systems in the volumes
that will be necessary to achieve significant commercial sales. The Company is
currently negotiating a lease for a new facility, and intends to move all of its
manufacturing operations to the new facility, which is expected to begin
production in early calendar 1998. The Company may encounter difficulties in
scaling up production of the NCP System, in procuring the necessary supply of
materials, components and contract services, or in hiring and training
additional manufacturing personnel to support domestic and international demand.
The Company will be required to obtain FDA approval for this change in the
manufacturing facility. The new manufacturing facility will also have to be
inspected for compliance with the FDA's QSR and ISO 9001 and 9002 standards,
which impose certain procedural and documentation requirements with respect to
device design, development, manufacturing and quality assurance activities,
before the Company can begin commercial-scale production of the NCP System at
the new manufacturing facility. In addition, one of the Company's contract
manufacturers has moved its manufacturing operations to a new facility. The
Company will be required to obtain FDA approval of for the change in the
location of the contractor's manufacturing facility, which generally requires a
preapproval inspection by the FDA to determine the contractor's compliance with
the QSR. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain the
necessary FDA and other approvals for its or its contract manufacturers' new
facilities on a timely basis, or at all. If the Company is unable to achieve
commercial-scale production capability on a timely basis with acceptable quality
and manufacturing yield and costs, to sustain such capacity, or to achieve FDA
and other governmental approvals, the ability of the Company to deliver products
on a timely basis could be impaired which could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
    The Company relies upon sole source suppliers for certain of the key
components, materials and contract services used in manufacturing the NCP
System. The Company periodically experiences discontinuation or unavailability
of components, materials and contract services which may require qualification
of alternative sources or, if no such alternative sources are identified,
product design changes. The Company believes that pursuing and qualifying
alternative sources and or redesigning specific components of the NCP System
will consume significant Company resources. In addition, such changes generally
require
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
regulatory submissions and approvals. Although the Company believes that any
such changes will be made without disruption, any extended delays in or
inability to secure alternative sources for these or other components, materials
and contract services could result in product supply and manufacturing
interruptions which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
ability to manufacture the NCP System on a timely and cost competitive basis,
and therefore on its business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
 
    Cyberonics' product development efforts are directed toward improving the
NCP System and developing new products which provide additional features and
functionality. Product development programs that are underway include ongoing
improvements to the NCP Generator, such as reduced size and increased battery
life. The Company intends to file an application with the FDA for a battery
which has an expected life of approximately 6.5 years at standard stimulation
parameters. This unit is already approved for sale in the European market. These
and other longer term development activities are expected to be technically
challenging and no assurance can be given that they will result in marketable
products. The Company will be required to file for the appropriate United States
and international regulatory approvals, and undergo clinical trials, in
connection with the introduction of improved and new products. See "--Government
Regulation."
 
COMPETITION
 
    The Company believes that existing and future AEDs will be the primary
competition for its NCP System. The Company may also face competition from other
medical device companies for the treatment of partial seizures. Medtronic, Inc.
has clinically assessed an implantable signal generator used with an invasive
deep brain probe (thalamic stimulation) for the treatment of neurological
disorders and has received FDA approval for the device for the treatment of
essential tremor, including that associated with Parkinson's disease. The
Company could also face competition from other large medical device companies
which have the technology, experience and capital resources to develop
alternative devices for the treatment of epilepsy. Many of the Company's
competitors have substantially greater financial, manufacturing, marketing and
technical resources than the Company and have obtained third-party reimbursement
approvals. In addition, the health care industry is characterized by extensive
research efforts and rapid technological progress. There can be no assurance
that the Company's competitors will not develop technologies and obtain
regulatory approval for products that are more effective in treating epilepsy
than the Company's current or future products. There can also be no assurance
that advancements in surgical techniques will not make surgery a more attractive
therapy for epilepsy. The development by others of new treatment methods with
novel AEDs, medical devices or surgical techniques for epilepsy could render the
NCP System non-competitive or obsolete. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to compete successfully against current and future
competitors or that competition, including the development and commercialization
of new products and technology, will not have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
    Cyberonics believes that the primary competitive factors within the epilepsy
treatment market are the efficacy and safety of the treatment relative to
alternative therapies, physician and patient acceptance of the product and
procedure, availability of third-party reimbursement and product reliability.
The Company believes that the NCP System compares favorably with competitive
products as to these factors.
 
PATENTS, LICENSES AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
 
    Proprietary protection for the Company's products is important to the
Company's business. The Company maintains a policy of seeking method and device
patents on its inventions, acquiring licenses under selected patents of third
parties, obtaining copyrights on its software and other copyrightable materials
and entering into invention and proprietary information agreements with its
employees and
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
consultants with respect to technology which it considers important to its
business. Cyberonics also relies upon trade secrets, unpatented know-how and
continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain its competitive
position.
 
    The Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with Dr. Jacob
Zabara, a co-founder of and consultant to the Company, pursuant to which the
Company has licensed three United States method patents (and such international
counterparts as have been or may be issued) covering the NCP System for vagus
nerve and other cranial nerve stimulation for the control of epilepsy and other
movement disorders. The License Agreement runs for the term of licensed patents.
Pursuant to the license agreement, the Company is obligated to pay Dr. Zabara a
royalty equal to the greater of $36,000 per year or 6% of net sales of the NCP
System on the first $12 million in cumulative sales, and at the rate of 3%
thereafter for the remaining term of the licensed patents.
 
    The Company entered into a license agreement with Huntington Medical
Research Institute pursuant to which the Company has licensed two United States
patents (and their international counterparts, if and when issued) covering two
lead designs. The license agreement provides a license to the licensor's lead
designs for the field-of-use of vagus nerve stimulation for control of epilepsy
and other movement disorders. Pursuant to the license agreement, as amended, the
Company paid an initial license fee of $200,000. In addition, the Company has a
renewable option to expand the licensed field-of-use for additional indications
for a license fee of $15,000 per indication. Pursuant to the license agreement,
the Company is obligated to pay the licensor a royalty of 1% of net sales of NCP
Systems using the licensor's standard lead (the Company's vagus nerve lead is a
standard lead) and 1.75% of net sales of NCP Systems which include the
licensor's bidirectional lead. The Company also paid royalties during fiscal
1995 and during each of fiscal 1996 and 1997, and has agreed to pay minimum
royalties of $35,000 for fiscal 1998 and each fiscal year thereafter for the
life of the licensed patents. In fiscal 1997, the Company elected not to make
payment of at least $200,000 under this license, and as a result, the licensor
may convert the license regarding the bidirectional lead to a non-exclusive
license.
 
    In addition to the license agreements, as of June 30, 1997, the Company had
United States patents and patent applications pending covering NCP Generator
circuits, electrode designs and various therapeutic applications of vagus nerve
stimulation. In addition to movement disorders, recently issued method patents
cover the fields of eating disorders, endocrine disorders, migraine headaches,
dementia, neuropsychiatric disorders, motility disorders and chronic pain. The
Company has also licensed protection for stimulation of other cranial nerves for
most of the above disorders. The Company currently intends to file for a limited
extension of the term of one of the medical device and method patents under
which it is licensed from Dr. Zabara. The Company has filed counterparts of
certain of its key United States patent applications in certain key
international jurisdictions.
 
    There can be no assurance that patents will issue from any of the remaining
applications or, if patents are issued, that they will be of sufficient scope or
strength to provide meaningful protection of the Company's technology. In
addition, there can be no assurance that any patents issued to the Company will
not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, or that the rights granted
thereunder will provide proprietary protection or commercial advantage to the
Company. Notwithstanding the scope of the patent protection available to the
Company, a competitor could develop other methods of controlling epilepsy by
stimulation which do not involve the vagus or other cranial nerves, the
stimulation of which is patent protected, or which use electrodes which are not
covered by the licensed patents.
 
    Cyberonics believes that the licenses described above provide it with
protection in the United States in the field of cranial nerve stimulation,
including vagus nerve stimulation for the control of epilepsy, movement
disorders, including Parkinson's disease and essential tremor, and additional
indications for which method patents have been issued. The protection offered by
the licensed international patents is not as strong as that offered by the
licensed United States patents due to differences in patent laws. In particular,
the European Patent Convention prohibits patents covering methods for treatment
of the
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
human body by surgery or therapy. In addition, there has been substantial
litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the
medical device industry. Litigation, which could result in substantial cost to
and diversion of effort by the Company, may be necessary to enforce patents
issued or licensed to the Company, to protect trade secrets or know-how owned by
the Company or to defend the Company against claimed infringement of the rights
of others and to determine the scope and validity of the proprietary rights of
others. Adverse determinations in litigation could subject the Company to
significant liabilities to third parties, could require the Company to seek
licenses from third parties and could prevent the Company from manufacturing,
selling or using the NCP System, any of which could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
The Company is not currently a party to any patent litigation or other
litigation regarding proprietary rights and is not aware of any challenge to its
patents or proprietary rights.
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
 
    The preclinical and clinical testing, manufacturing, labeling, sale,
distribution and promotion of the Company's product are subject to extensive and
rigorous regulation in the United States by federal agencies, primarily the FDA,
and by comparable state agencies and by other countries. In the United States,
the NCP System is regulated as a medical device and is subject to FDA's
premarket approval requirements. Under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, all
medical devices are classified into three classes, class I, II or III. New class
III devices, such as the NCP System, are subject to the most stringent FDA
review, and require submission and approval of a PMA before commencement of
marketing, sales and distribution in the United States.
 
    In July 1997, the Company received FDA approval to market the NCP System in
the United States for use as an adjunctive therapy in reducing the frequency of
seizures in adults and adolescents over 12 years of age with partial onset
seizures that are refractory to AEDs. While the Company has satisfied FDA's
requirements to commence domestic sales of its product, it continues to be
subject to FDA's ongoing requirements to maintain regulatory compliance.
Additionally, pursuant to the post-market surveillance conditions specified as
part of the Company's FDA marketing approval, the Company is required to conduct
clinical follow-up on a total of 50 patients during the first five years of
stimulation in order to monitor the safety and tolerability of the NCP System.
In addition, the Company has been required by the FDA to continue to provide
information about which patients benefit most from the device as well as
information on any deaths that occur in patients who have the device implanted.
There can be no assurance that additional concerns will not be raised by the FDA
in the future. The Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations are critically dependent upon ongoing compliance with FDA regulations
and requirements.
 
    The Company will be required to obtain FDA approval of a new PMA or PMA
supplement before making any change to the NCP System affecting the safety or
effectiveness of the device, including, but not limited to, new indications for
use of the device, changes in the device's performance or design specifications
and device modifications and future generation products. New PMAs and PMA
supplements generally require submission of information needed to support the
proposed change and often require additional clinical data. If the clinical
testing required to obtain the information necessary to support the change
places research subjects at risk, the Company will be required to obtain the
FDA's approval of an IDE before beginning such testing. The Company intends to
sponsor additional clinical trials of the NCP System in the United States,
initially for additional epilepsy conditions and, in the future, for
non-epilepsy neurological disorders. The Company believes that it will be
required to conduct these additional clinical trials under one or more
FDA-approved IDEs and under the auspices of one or more independent
institutional review boards ("IRBs") established pursuant to FDA regulations.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain any required
FDA or IRB approvals for such clinical trials, the studies will be completed in
a timely manner or the data and information obtained will be sufficient to
support the filing of a new PMA or PMA supplement for the proposed charges. In
addition, international
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
sales are subject to foreign government regulation, the requirements of which
vary substantially from country to country. The Company has obtained certain
foreign governmental approvals, including the European Union "CE" Mark, and has
applied for additional approvals. There can be no assurance that the necessary
approvals, including approval of new PMAs or supplements to existing PMAs for
the NCP System, will be granted on a timely basis or at all, and delays in
receipt of or failure to receive such approvals, or the withdrawal of previously
received approvals, could have a material adverse effect on the business,
financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
    The Company also is required to register as a medical device manufacturer
with the FDA and state agencies and to list its products with the FDA. The
Company has registered as a medical device manufacturer with the FDA. The
Company's facilities are subject to inspection on a routine basis by the FDA for
compliance with the FDA's QSR and other applicable regulations. The Company also
is required to file Medical Device Reports with the FDA for certain product
malfunctions or where its device causes or contributes to a death or serious
injury. QSR impose procedural and documentation requirements upon the Company
with respect to product designs, manufacturing, testing, control, process
validation and similar activities. As of June 30, 1997, the Company has been the
subject of an FDA pre-PMA approval site inspection, which was completed with no
deficiencies noted. Additionally, the Company must comply with various FDA
requirements such as those governing advertising, labeling and reporting of
adverse experiences with the use of the product. New regulations governing such
matters as device tracking and post-market surveillance also may apply to the
NCP System. The FDA actively enforces regulations prohibiting marketing of
products for non-indicated uses. Failure to comply with applicable regulatory
requirements can result in, among other things, fines, suspensions or withdrawal
of approvals, confiscations or recalls of products, operating restrictions and
criminal prosecutions. Changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new
requirements could adversely affect the Company's ability to comply with
regulatory requirements. Failure to comply with regulatory requirements could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations.
 
    In addition, the Company's products are covered by FDA regulations for
implantable medical devices that require the Company to comply with certain
specific record keeping, reporting, product testing, design, safety and product
labeling requirements. The Company believes that it is in material compliance
with these requirements. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company
will be able to maintain such compliance in the future. Any such failure to
comply could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations.
 
    The advertising of most FDA-regulated products, including the Company's NCP
System, is subject to both FDA and Federal Trade Commission jurisdiction. The
Company also is subject to regulation by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration and by other governmental entities.
 
    Clinical testing, manufacture and sale of the Company's products outside of
the United States are subject to regulatory approval by other jurisdictions
which may be more or less rigorous than in the United States. The Company must
comply with its ISO 9001 and 9002 certification, which is similar to the FDA's
QSR, and CE Mark directives. The Company is audited on a semiannual basis for
such compliance. The Company has received regulatory approval to market the NCP
System in the thirteen member countries of the European Union, Canada, and is
pursuing other regulatory approvals outside the United States.
 
THIRD-PARTY REIMBURSEMENT
 
    The Company's ability to commercialize the NCP System successfully will
depend in part on whether third party payors, including private healthcare
insurers, managed care plans, the United States government's Medicare and
Medicaid programs, and others, agree both to cover the NCP System, and the
procedures and services associated with the NCP System, and to reimburse
adequately for the costs of the NCP System and the related services.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
    In deciding to cover a new therapy, third party payors base their initial
coverage decisions on several factors, including, but not limited to, the status
of the FDA's review of the product, the product's safety and efficacy, the
number of studies performed and peer-reviewed articles published with respect to
the product, and how the product and therapy compares to alternative therapies.
The Company believes that, based on all of these factors, the NCP System will
achieve favorable coverage decisions by third party payors. The Company has
implemented a program to provide third party payors with the clinical and
regulatory information that they will need to reach coverage decisions, both by
sending materials directly to the payors and by assisting hospitals and
physicians in their interactions with the payor. There can be no assurance that
third-party payors will view the Company and the NCP System favorably with
respect to any of the above factors, which may impede the Company's obtaining
favorable coverage decisions on a timely basis, or at all. A failure to achieve
favorable coverage decisions for the NCP System in a timely manner could deter
patients and their physicians from using the Company's products and could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations.
 
    Once a favorable coverage determination is made with respect to a product,
payors must determine the level of reimbursement for the product and related
therapy and procedures. The Company believes that coverage and reimbursement for
most epilepsy patients who may be implanted with the NCP System will need to be
obtained from third-party private payors. In making decisions about
reimbursement amounts, third party private payors typically reimburse for the
costs of newly covered devices and services using the standard methods they
employ for other products and services already covered. Many private insurers
and managed care plans use a variety of payment mechanisms, including, but not
limited to, discounted charges, per diem amounts, resource-based payment scales
and reimbursed costs. Those mechanisms have provided payment levels for many
other implantable devices that have been adequate to allow device use and
commercial success. Assuming that most payors determine to cover the NCP System
and related services, the Company expects that many of these same payment
mechanisms will provide reimbursement levels for the NCP System and related
services that physicians and hospitals will view as adequate to support use of
the NCP System.
 
    The Company believes that a significant number of epilepsy patients in the
United States are either eligible for benefits under the Medicare program or are
uninsured. The Medicare program uses a fixed-payment method (based on Diagnosis
Related Groups or DRGs) to pay for hospital inpatient services and uses a
resource-based relative value scale to pay for physicians' services. Under
current DRG groupings, hospital inpatient procedures for implanting the NCP
System are assigned to one of two different DRGs based on whether or not the
patient has complications or comorbidities (coexisting severe medical problems).
The DRG grouping that would include implantation of the NCP System for patients
without complications or comorbidities pays hospitals less than the costs of
purchasing and implanting the NCP System. The Company believes that this DRG
grouping would apply to most of the epilepsy patients covered by Medicare. In
order to assure adequate reimbursement for all epileptic patients eligible for
benefits under Medicare, the Company intends to seek changes in the DRG grouping
so that NCP System implant cases would be reclassified to other, higher-paying
DRGs.
 
    The Company has only limited experience in seeking and obtaining coverage
and payment approvals from third party payors, and there can be no assurance
that the Company would be successful in achieving coverage or adequate
reimbursement levels, or any, or that it can obtain new DRG assignments under
the Medicare program to cover the complete costs of therapy using the NCP
System. If the Company is unsuccessful in achieving coverage or adequate
reimbursement levels or in obtaining new DRG assignments, or if hospitals or
physicians view their payments as inadequate, then patients, physicians and
hospitals could be deterred from using the NCP System, which could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
PRODUCT LIABILITY AND INSURANCE
 
    The manufacture and sale of the Company's products entails the risk of
product liability claims. Although the Company maintains product liability
insurance, there can be no assurance that the coverage limits of the Company's
insurance policies will be adequate. Such insurance is expensive and in the
future may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. A successful claim
brought against the Company in excess of its insurance coverage could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    As of August 15, 1997, the Company had 69 full-time employees, including 7
in research and development, 9 in clinical and regulatory affairs, 22 in
manufacturing and quality assurance, 24 in field sales and 7 in marketing and
administration. The Company believes that the success of its business will
depend, in part, on its ability to attract and retain qualified personnel,
including but not limited to its key officers and its Board of Directors. The
Company believes its relationship with its employees is good. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be successful in hiring or retaining qualified
personnel. The loss of key personnel, or inability to hire or retain qualified
personnel, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations.
 
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
 
PROPERTIES
 
    The Company leases approximately 25,000 square feet of office and
manufacturing space in Webster, Texas through October 1997 and a sales office in
Brussels, Belgium through January 2000. The Company intends to enter into an
operating lease agreement for a new domestic office and manufacturing facility
totaling approximately 22,000 square feet beginning in October 1997, expanding
to approximately 41,000 square feet by March 1998. The Company believes that its
current facility, together with its planned additional space, will be adequate
to meet its needs at least through June 30, 1999.
 
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    The Company is not party to any legal proceedings.
 
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
 
    Not applicable.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
 
ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
 
    The Company's Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "CYBX." The high and low sale prices for the Company's Common Stock
during Fiscal 1996 and 1997 are set forth below. Price data reflect actual
transactions, but do not reflect mark-ups, mark-downs or commissions.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 HIGH        LOW
                                                                               ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                            <C>        <C>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1996
First Quarter................................................................  $    6.00  $    4.00
Second Quarter...............................................................  $    8.00  $    4.50
Third Quarter................................................................  $    6.25  $    4.00
Fourth Quarter...............................................................  $    7.50  $    4.25
 
FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1997
First Quarter................................................................  $    6.56  $    5.75
Second Quarter...............................................................  $    6.69  $    2.63
Third Quarter................................................................  $    5.13  $    3.25
Fourth Quarter...............................................................  $    9.38  $    4.63
</TABLE>
 
    The stock market has from time to time experienced significant price and
volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of
particular companies. Like the stock prices of other medical device companies,
the market price of the Company's Common Stock has in the past been, and may in
the future be, subject to significant volatility. Factors such as reports on the
clinical efficacy and safety of the NCP System, product and component supply
issues, government approval status, fluctuations in the Company's operating
results, announcements of technological innovations or new products by the
Company or its competitors, changes in estimates of the Company's performance by
securities analysts, failure to meet securities analysts' expectations,
developments with respect to patents or proprietary rights, public concern as to
the safety of products developed by the Company or others may have a significant
effect on the market price of the Common Stock. In addition, the price of the
Company's stock could be affected by stock price volatility in the medical
device industry or the capital markets in general without regard to the
Company's operating performance.
 
    As of July 31, 1997, there were 155 stockholders of record.
 
    The Company currently intends to retain future earnings to fund the
development and growth of its business and, therefore, does not anticipate
paying cash dividends within the foreseeable future. Any future payment of
dividends will be determined by the Company's Board of Directors and will depend
on the Company's financial condition, results of operations and other factors
deemed relevant by its Board of Directors.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The following table summarizes certain selected financial data and is
qualified by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements and with "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere herein. The
selected consolidated financial data as of June 30, 1997 and 1996, and for each
of the years in the three-year period ended June 30, 1997 are derived from
consolidated financial statements that have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants, which are included elsewhere herein. The
selected financial data as of June 30, 1995, 1994 and 1993 and for the years
ended June 30, 1994 and 1993 are derived from audited financial statements not
included herein.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1997            1996            1995            1994            1993
                                  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
<S>                               <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
  OPERATIONS DATA:
Net sales.......................  $    1,372,005  $    1,416,965  $      966,989  $      399,689  $      149,775
Cost of goods sold..............         372,180         411,562         347,457         117,835          50,463
                                  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
Gross profit....................         999,825       1,005,403         619,532         281,854          99,312
Operating expenses:
  Research and development......       6,549,474       8,024,502       5,678,024       4,323,671       3,390,037
  Selling, general and
    administrative..............       5,933,852       3,420,111       2,906,589       2,519,037       2,154,070
                                  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
    Total operating expenses....      12,483,326      11,444,613       8,584,613       6,842,708       5,544,107
Interest income, net............         436,813         423,044         688,909         629,993         326,408
Other (expense) income, net.....        (198,143)        (97,084)         37,362           5,136          (3,333)
                                  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
Net loss........................  $  (11,244,831) $  (10,113,250) $   (7,238,810) $   (5,925,725) $   (5,121,720)
                                  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
Net loss per share..............  $        (0.93) $        (1.06) $         (.79) $         (.66) $         (.65)
                                  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
Shares used in computing net
  loss per share................      12,030,171       9,513,038       9,218,008       8,945,968       7,882,857
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, cash equivalents and
  marketable securities.........  $    8,123,456  $    2,201,962  $   11,852,619  $   18,468,154  $   24,385,755
Working capital.................       7,763,480       1,042,396       8,988,373       9,676,289      20,489,855
Total assets....................      10,249,737       3,948,043      13,560,593      19,756,148      25,195,514
Accumulated deficit.............     (49,167,002)    (37,922,171)    (27,808,921)    (20,570,111)    (14,644,386)
Common stockholders' equity.....  $    8,421,472  $    1,465,050  $   11,443,555  $   18,503,398  $   24,134,127
</TABLE>
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
        OF OPERATIONS
 
    THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN
THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND SECTION 21E OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM
THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF A NUMBER OF
IMPORTANT FACTORS. FOR A DISCUSSION OF IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT THE
COMPANY'S RESULTS, PLEASE REFER TO THE BUSINESS SECTION AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT
LINE ITEM DISCUSSIONS SET FORTH IN MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
 
SUMMARY
 
    Cyberonics was founded in 1987 to design, develop and bring to market
medical devices which provide a novel therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, for the
treatment of epilepsy and other debilitating neurological disorders. Clinical
trials of the NCP System began with the first patient implant in November 1988
under an IDE from the FDA. The Company received FDA approval to market the NCP
System in the United States in July 1997 for use as an adjunctive therapy in
reducing the frequency of seizures in adults and adolescents over twelve years
of age with partial onset seizures that are refractory to AEDs. From inception
through July 1997, the Company's primary focus was on obtaining FDA approval for
the NCP System. The Company has had minimal revenues to date, primarily
consisting of sales to clinical investigators and international sales, and has
been unprofitable since inception. Since inception, the Company has incurred
substantial expenses, primarily for research and development activities
(including product and process development and clinical trials and related
regulatory activities), sales and marketing activities and manufacturing
start-up. For the period from inception through June 30, 1997, the Company
incurred a cumulative net deficit of approximately $49.2 million.
 
    Cyberonics was granted regulatory approval in 1994 to market and sell the
NCP System in the member countries of the European Union and also has permission
to sell in certain other international markets. However, through fiscal 1996,
the Company devoted only limited resources to marketing and sales activities
internationally, and only in early fiscal 1997 began initiating significant
marketing and sales activities. International sales of the NCP System have been
limited to date.
 
    Cyberonics is engaged in obtaining reimbursement approvals from the various
health care provider systems in the United States and in key international
markets, and has received reimbursement approvals from certain payment
authorities in a limited number of international markets. The Company does not
expect to achieve significant sales unless and until additional reimbursement
approvals are obtained for the NCP System.
 
    The Company expects to incur substantial costs related to sales and
marketing activities associated with United States and international market
entry, expansion of manufacturing capabilities, clinical trials and regulatory
activities and product and process development. It is expected that there will
be a significant delay between the increased levels of spending and any
resulting increase in revenues. Accordingly, the Company expects to remain
unprofitable through at least the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999. There can be
no assurance that the Company will become profitable after that time or, that if
it becomes profitable, it will remain so in future periods. Furthermore, the
Company's results of operations may fluctuate significantly from quarter to
quarter and will depend upon numerous factors, many of which are outside the
Company's control. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the extent to
which the Company's NCP System gains market acceptance, any approvals for
reimbursement by third-party payors, the rate and size of expenditures incurred
as the Company expands its sales and marketing efforts, availability of key
components, materials and contract services which may be dependent on the
Company's ability to forecast sales and ability to achieve acceptable
manufacturing yields and costs.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    NET SALES.  Net sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997 totaled $1.4
million compared to $1.4 million and $967,000 for the years ended June 30, 1996
and 1995, respectively. The substantial majority of sales in each period
presented were derived from international markets where the Company had
regulatory approval to sell the NCP System. Through fiscal 1997, domestic sales
have depended entirely upon the Company's conducting clinical trial activities
under arrangements with certain investigational centers, some of which receive
research funding from the Company. Domestic sales made in connection with such
clinical studies have been limited to date and, in certain cases, have been made
pursuant to risk-sharing provisions. Sales made under risk-sharing arrangements
are deferred until Cyberonics receives payment from the centers and the centers
in turn receive third-party reimbursement or satisfy other terms set forth in
their respective arrangements. International sales were $1.3 million, $1.3
million and $763,000 in fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, while domestic
sales, net of risk sharing provisions, were $24,000, $110,000 and $204,000 in
such periods. In July 1997, the Company received FDA approval to market the NCP
System in the United States. Although the Company may utilize risk-sharing
arrangements in connection with clinical trials for additional indications for
the NCP System, the Company expects that such revenues will not represent a
material component of its net sales in any future period. While the Company
currently has regulatory approval to sell the NCP System in the United States
and in a number of significant key international markets, significant increases
in sales will be dependent upon achieving market acceptance for the NCP System
and upon obtaining reimbursement approval in key markets.
 
    GROSS PROFIT.  Cost of sales consist primarily of direct labor, allocated
manufacturing overhead and the acquisition cost of raw materials and components.
In addition, the Company is obligated to pay royalties ranging from 7% to 7.75%
on the first $12 million in cumulative net sales, and from 4% to 4.75%
thereafter. Expenses related to royalty obligations under the Company's license
agreements totaled $46,000 during each of the years ended June 30, 1997, 1996
and 1995, and will continue at or above this level in future years. The Company
will include substantially all royalties in cost of sales in future periods.
 
    The Company's gross margin percentage was 72.9% for the year ended June 30,
1997 compared to 71.0% and 64.1% for fiscal 1996 and 1995, respectively. The
fiscal 1997 increase is attributable primarily to a shift in international sales
mix toward markets where the Company sells its products directly, resulting in
higher average selling prices and consequently, higher gross margins. Gross
margin percentages can be expected to fluctuate in future periods based upon the
mix between direct and distributor sales, the NCP System's selling price and the
levels of production volume.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES.  Research and development expenses are
comprised of both expenses related to the Company's product and process
development efforts and expenses associated with conducting clinical trials and
certain related regulatory activities. Research and development expenses totaled
$6.5 million, $8.0 million and $5.7 million during the years ended June 30,
1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The Company's research and development
spending decreased during fiscal 1997 as the Company completed its confirmatory
clinical trial. The increased level of research and development expenditures in
1996 over 1995 was due primarily to the costs associated with the Company's
confirmatory clinical trial which was at its peak level of activity during
fiscal 1996. The Company intends to conduct clinical trials of the NCP System
for additional indications both within and outside the field of epilepsy.
Accordingly, the Company expects research and development expenses to fluctuate
in future periods depending primarily upon the level of clinical trial activity.
 
    SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.  Selling, general and
administrative expenses totaled $5.9 million, $3.4 million and $2.9 million
during the years ended June 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The continued
increases from year to year were primarily due to expanded international market
development activities and, during the second half of fiscal 1997, preparations
for United States product launch. The Company began expanding its sales and
marketing staff in late calendar 1996 and
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
early 1997 to more actively pursue international sales and in anticipation of
FDA approval in the United States and expects to add further sales and marketing
personnel during fiscal 1998. The Company also expects to add administrative
personnel in anticipation of higher levels of business activity. Accordingly,
the Company expects its sales, general and administrative expenses to increase
substantially in absolute amount over the fiscal 1997 level.
 
    INTEREST INCOME, NET.  Net interest income totaled $437,000, $423,000 and
$689,000 during the years ended June 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Interest income increased in fiscal 1997 over fiscal 1996 as a result of higher
average cash and investment balances during fiscal 1997 due to investment of the
proceeds from private placements of Common Stock completed during fiscal 1997.
The decrease in interest income in 1996 compared to 1995 resulted from lower
average cash and investment balances available for investment during 1996.
 
    OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME, NET.  Other income (expense) totaled $(198,000),
$(97,000) and $37,000 during the three years ended June 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively. For each of these years, other income (expense) consisted of net
gains and losses resulting from foreign currency fluctuations.
 
    INCOME TAXES.  At June 30, 1997, the Company had net operating loss
carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately $42.2 million
which expire during the years 2003 through 2012, and tax credit carryforwards of
approximately $1.3 million for federal income tax purposes which expire during
the years 2006 through 2012. Due to its net operating loss history, to date the
Company has established a valuation allowance to fully offset its deferred tax
assets, including those related to its carryforwards, resulting in no income tax
benefit for financial reporting purposes. Current federal income tax regulations
with respect to changes in ownership could limit the utilization of the
Company's net operating loss carryforwards.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
    From inception through February 1993, the Company financed its operations
primarily through private placements of its securities through which it raised
approximately $16.5 million in net proceeds. In February 1993, the Company
completed an initial public offering of 2,000,000 shares of its Common Stock,
generating net proceeds to the Company of approximately $22 million. In July
1996, the Company raised an additional $11.2 million in net proceeds in a sale
of 2,181,818 shares of its Common Stock to St. Jude and, in March 1997, the
Company raised an additional approximately $6.8 million in a sale of 1,534,374
shares of its Common Stock in a private placement. Additionally, through June
30, 1997, the Company has funded approximately $530,000 of its equipment needs
with proceeds from an equipment lease agreement. The Company had no short-or
long-term borrowings outstanding at June 30, 1997, and had no credit facilities
available at that time.
 
    The Company expects to incur substantial additional costs related to sales
and marketing activities associated with United States and international market
entry, expansion of manufacturing capabilities, clinical trials and regulatory
activities and product and process development. The amount and timing of
anticipated expenditures will depend upon numerous factors both within and
outside of the Company's control, including the nature and timing of marketing
and sales activities and the nature and timing of additional clinical trials for
additional indications, both within and outside the field of epilepsy. Moreover,
the Company's ability to generate income from operations will be dependent upon
obtaining reimbursement approval from government and third-party payors as well
as receiving market acceptance for the NCP System.
 
    During fiscal 1997, the Company used approximately $12.0 million in cash in
operating activities. During the fiscal year, inventories increased to $1.0
million from $672,000 at June 30, 1996 as the Company built inventory levels in
anticipation of higher levels of manufacturing and sales activities. During
fiscal 1997, the Company raised approximately $18.0 million from the sale of
Common Stock in two private
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
placement transactions, one of which (approximately $11.2 million) was completed
in July 1996 and the other (approximately $6.8 million) was completed in March
1997.
 
    The Company's liquidity will continue to be reduced as amounts are expended
for expansion of sales and marketing activities, manufacturing expansion,
continuing clinical trials and related regulatory affairs, and product and
process development. Although the Company has no firm commitments, the Company
expects to make capital expenditures of approximately $1.6 million during the
remainder of fiscal 1998 and approximately $3.0 million in fiscal 1999,
primarily to expand manufacturing capabilities and to enhance general
infrastructure and facilities.
 
    The Company believes that its current resources, combined with the proceeds
from an anticipated public offering of Common Stock, will be sufficient to fund
its operations at least through June 30, 1999. This estimate is based on certain
assumptions, which may not hold true, including the timely completion of a
financing. There can be no assurance that such financing will be completed on a
timely basis, or at all, or that proceeds from such financing, if any, combined
with the Company's available cash, cash equivalents, investment securities and
investment income, will be sufficient to meet the Company's capital requirements
through June 30, 1999. The availability of financing either before or after that
time will depend upon a number of important factors, including the state of the
United States capital markets and economy in general and the health care and
medical device segments in particular, the status of the Company's international
and domestic sales activities and the status of the Company's clinical and
regulatory activities. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to raise additional capital when needed or that the terms upon which capital
will be available will be favorable to the Company.
 
IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
    See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of
the impact of new accounting pronouncements.
 
FACTORS AFFECTING FUTURE OPERATING RESULTS
 
    RELIANCE ON SINGLE PRODUCT.  The Company has only one product, the NCP
System, which has been approved by the FDA only for a single indication: as an
adjunctive therapy in reducing the frequency of seizures in adults and
adolescents over twelve years of age with partial onset seizures that are
refractory to antiepileptic drugs ("AEDs"). The Company does not expect to have
any other product or approved indication for the NCP System for the foreseeable
future. Although the Company has been able to sell the NCP System in certain
countries in Europe since 1994 and recently received United States FDA approval
and Canadian approval, it is only now in the process of initiating full-scale
marketing and sales efforts in the United States and other countries. The
Company's inability to commercialize successfully the NCP System would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations.
 
    UNCERTAINTY OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE.  Although the NCP System was approved for
commercial sale in a number of European countries beginning in 1994, the Company
has sold, through June 30, 1997, a limited number of NCP Systems. Market
acceptance of the Company's NCP System will depend on the Company's ability to
convince the medical community of the clinical efficacy and safety of vagus
nerve stimulation and the NCP System, and on the approval and availability of
adequate levels of reimbursement. While the NCP System has been used in
approximately 1,000 patients through June 30, 1997, it provides a new form of
therapy with which many physicians are unfamiliar. The Company believes that
existing AEDs and surgery are the only other approved and currently available
therapies competitive with the NCP System in the treatment of epileptic
seizures. Such therapies may be more attractive to patients or their physicians
than the NCP System in terms of efficacy, cost or reimbursement availability.
There can be no assurance that the NCP System will achieve market acceptance for
the treatment of epilepsy or for any other indication or that adequate levels of
reimbursement from governmental or third-party payors will be available. Failure
of
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
the NCP System to gain market acceptance would have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
    HISTORY OF LOSSES; PROFITABILITY UNCERTAIN; FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY
OPERATING RESULTS.  The Company has incurred net losses and accumulated a
deficit of approximately $49.2 million through June 30, 1997. In July 1997, the
Company received FDA marketing approval which permits the Company to sell the
NCP System in the United States for use as an adjunctive therapy in reducing the
frequency of refractory partial onset seizures in patients over twelve years of
age. In addition, the Company has obtained "CE Marking," the designation of
market approval now accepted by all European Union member countries, for its NCP
System which, when combined with approvals from Canada and certain other
countries, permits the Company to sell the NCP System internationally. Even with
these marketing approvals, there can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to generate adequate sales to achieve profitability in the future. In
addition, in order to develop these markets, the Company will incur substantial
marketing and sales expenses. The amount and timing of anticipated expenditures
will depend on numerous factors, including the nature and timing of marketing
and sales activities, the expansion of the Company's manufacturing capabilities,
the nature and timing of additional clinical trials, and the Company's product
development efforts.
 
    The Company's results of operations may fluctuate significantly from quarter
to quarter and will depend upon numerous factors, many of which are outside the
Company's control. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the extent to
which the Company's NCP System gains market acceptance, timing of any approvals
for reimbursement by third-party payors, the rate and size of expenditures
occurred as the Company expands its sales and marketing efforts and availability
of key components, materials and contract services which may be dependent on the
Company's ability to forecast sales.
 
    LIMITATIONS ON THIRD-PARTY REIMBURSEMENT.  The Company's ability to
commercialize the NCP System successfully will depend in part on whether
third-party payors, including private healthcare insurers, managed care plans,
the United States government's Medicare and Medicaid programs, and others, agree
both to cover the NCP System, and the procedures and services associated with
the NCP System, and to reimburse adequately for the costs of the NCP System and
the related services.
 
    In deciding to cover a new therapy, third-party payors base their initial
coverage decisions on several factors, including, but not limited to, the status
of the FDA's review of the product, the product's safety and efficacy, the
number of studies performed and peer-reviewed articles published with respect to
the product, and how the product and therapy compares to alternative therapies.
There can be no assurance that third-party payors will view the Company and the
NCP System favorably with respect to any of the above factors, which may impede
the Company's obtaining favorable coverage decisions on a timely basis, or at
all. The Company has only limited experience in seeking and obtaining coverage
decisions from third-party payors. A failure to achieve favorable coverage
decisions for the NCP System in a timely manner could deter patients and their
physicians from using the NCP System and could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
    Once a favorable coverage determination is made with respect to a product,
payors must determine the level of reimbursement for the product and related
therapy and procedures. The Company believes that coverage and reimbursement for
most epilepsy patients who may be implanted with the NCP System will need to be
obtained from third-party private payors. In making decisions about
reimbursement amounts, third-party private payors typically reimburse for the
costs of newly covered devices and services using the standard methods they
employ for other products and services already covered. Many private insurers
and managed care plans use a variety of payment mechanisms, including, but not
limited to, discounted charges, per diem amounts, resource-based payment scales
and reimbursed costs. The Company believes that a significant number of epilepsy
patients in the United States are either eligible for benefits under the
Medicare program or are uninsured. The Medicare program uses a fixed-payment
method (based on Diagnosis Related Groups or "DRGs") to pay for hospital
inpatient services and uses a resource-based relative value scale to pay for
physicians' services. Under current DRG groupings, hospital
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
inpatient procedures for implanting the NCP System are assigned to one of two
different DRGs based on whether or not the patient has complications or
comorbidities (coexisting severe medical problems). The DRG grouping that would
include implantation of the NCP System for patients without complications or
comorbidities pay hospitals less than the costs of purchasing and implanting the
NCP System. The Company believes that this DRG grouping would apply to most of
the epilepsy patients covered by Medicare. In order to assure adequate
reimbursement for all epileptic patients eligible for benefits under Medicare,
the Company intends to seek changes in the DRG grouping so that NCP System
implant cases would be reclassified to other, higher-paying DRGs. The Company
has only limited experience in seeking and obtaining coverage and payment
approvals from third-party payors, and there can be no assurance that the
Company would be successful in achieving coverage or adequate reimbursement
levels, or any, or that it can obtain new DRG assignments under the Medicare
program to cover the complete costs of therapy using the NCP System. If the
Company is unsuccessful in achieving coverage or adequate reimbursement levels
or in obtaining new DRG assignments, or if hospitals or physicians view their
payments as inadequate, then patients, physicians and hospitals could be
deterred from using the NCP System, which could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations. See
"Business--Third-Party Reimbursement."
 
    LIMITED MARKETING AND SALES EXPERIENCE.  Although the Company has had
approval to market the NCP System in the member countries of the European Union
since 1994, it has only recently received FDA approval to commercialize the NCP
System in the United States and, consequently, it has limited experience in
marketing, direct sales and distribution. The Company has recently established a
marketing and sales force for the United States market, but no assurance can be
given that the Company's direct marketing and sales force will succeed in
promoting the NCP System to patients, health care providers or third-party
payors. The Company believes that, to market its products directly, it must
employ a marketing and sales force with technical expertise. In addition, due to
the limited market awareness of the NCP System, the Company believes that the
sales process could be lengthy, requiring the Company to educate patients,
health care providers and third-party payors regarding the clinical benefits of
the NCP System. In addition, in certain international territories, the Company
relies, and intends to continue relying, upon independent distributors. There
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to recruit and retain skilled
marketing and sales personnel or foreign distributors, or that the Company's
marketing efforts will be successful. Failure by the Company to market
successfully the NCP System would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See
"Business-- Marketing and Sales."
 
    LIMITED MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE.  The Company has a limited history of
operations that, to date, has consisted primarily of manufacturing limited
quantities of the NCP System for clinical investigations and for commercial
sales activities in international markets. The Company does not have experience
manufacturing the NCP System in the volumes that will be necessary to achieve
significant commercial sales. The Company is currently negotiating a lease for a
new facility, and intends to move all of its manufacturing operations to the new
facility, which is expected to begin production in early calendar 1998. The
Company may encounter difficulties in scaling up production of the NCP System,
in procuring the necessary supply of materials, components and contract
services, or in hiring and training additional manufacturing personnel to
support domestic and international demand. The Company will be required to
obtain FDA approval for this change in the manufacturing facility. The new
manufacturing facility will also have to be inspected for compliance with the
FDA's Quality System regulations ("QSR") and ISO 9001 and 9002 standards, which
impose certain procedural and documentation requirements with respect to device
design, development, manufacturing and quality assurance activities, before the
Company can begin commercial-scale production of the NCP System at the new
manufacturing facility. In addition, one of the Company's contract manufacturers
has moved its manufacturing operations to a new facility. The Company will be
required to obtain FDA approval for the change in the location of the
contractor's manufacturing facility, which generally requires a preapproval
inspection by the FDA to determine the
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
contractor's compliance with the QSR. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to obtain the necessary FDA and other approvals for its or its
contract manufacturers' new facilities on a timely basis, or at all. If the
Company is unable to achieve commercial-scale production capability on a timely
basis with acceptable quality and manufacturing yield and costs, to sustain such
capacity, or to achieve FDA and other governmental approvals, the ability of the
Company to deliver products on a timely basis could be impaired which could have
a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations. See "Business--Manufacturing and Sources of Supply."
 
    DEPENDENCE ON KEY SUPPLIERS AND MANUFACTURERS.  The Company relies upon sole
source suppliers for certain of the key components, materials and contract
services used in manufacturing the NCP System. The Company periodically
experiences discontinuation or unavailability of components, materials and
contract services which may require qualification of alternative sources or, if
no such alternative sources are identified, product design changes. The Company
believes that pursuing and qualifying alternative sources and/or redesigning
specific components of the NCP System, when necessary, could consume significant
Company resources. In addition, such changes generally require regulatory
submissions and approvals. Any extended delays in or inability to secure
alternative sources for these or other components, materials and contract
services could result in product supply and manufacturing interruptions. These
delays could have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to
manufacture the NCP System on a timely and cost competitive basis, and therefore
on its business, financial condition or results of operations. See
"Business--Manufacturing and Sources of Supply."
 
    RISK OF PRODUCT RECALL.  The NCP System includes a complex electronic device
and lead designed to be implanted in the human body. Component failures,
manufacturing errors or design defects could result in an unsafe condition in
patients. The occurrence of such problems or other adverse reactions could
result in a recall of the Company's products, possibly requiring removal (and
potentially reimplantation) of NCP Generators and/or leads. In 1991, a failure
of an NCP System caused permanent paralysis of one patient's left vocal cord. In
addition, several patients experienced vagus nerve lead failures which, although
not harmful to the patient, reduced the efficacy of the treatment and required
replacement. Since the occurrence of these failures, changes have been made to
the Company's product designs and no similar failures have been reported to the
Company. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will not
experience similar or other product problems or that the Company will not be
required to recall products. Any product recall could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
See "Business--Clinical Trials" and "--Government Regulation."
 
    DEPENDENCE ON PATENTS, LICENSES AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS.  The Company's
success will depend in part on its ability to obtain and maintain patent and
other intellectual property protection for the NCP System and its improvements,
and for vagus nerve stimulation therapy. To that end, the Company has acquired
licenses under certain patents and intends to seek patents on its own inventions
used in its products and treatment methods. The process of seeking patent
protection can be expensive and time consuming and there can be no assurance
that patents will issue from the currently pending or future applications or
that, if patents are issued, they will be of sufficient scope or strength to
provide meaningful protection of the Company's technology, or any commercial
advantage to the Company.
 
    Cyberonics believes that the licenses held by the Company provide it with
protection in the United States in the field of cranial nerve stimulation,
including vagus nerve stimulation for the control of epilepsy, movement
disorders, including Parkinson's disease and essential tremor, and additional
indications for which method patents have been issued. The protection offered by
the licensed international patents is not as strong as that offered by the
licensed United States patents due to differences in patent laws. In particular,
the European Patent Convention prohibits patents covering methods for treatment
of the human body by surgery or therapy. In addition, there has been substantial
litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the
medical device industry. Litigation, which could result in substantial cost to
and diversion of effort by the Company, may be necessary to enforce patents
issued or
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
licensed to the Company, to protect trade secrets or know-how owned by the
Company or to defend the Company against claimed infringement of the rights of
others and to determine the scope and validity of the proprietary rights of
others. Adverse determinations in litigation could subject the Company to
significant liabilities to third parties, could require the Company to seek
licenses from third parties and could prevent the Company from manufacturing,
selling or using the NCP System, any of which could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
There can be no assurance that any required license would be available on
acceptable terms, if at all. See "Business-- Patents, Licenses and Proprietary
Rights."
 
    COMPETITION; RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE.  The Company believes that existing
and future AEDs will be the primary competition for its NCP System. The Company
may also face competition from other medical device companies for the treatment
of partial seizures. Medtronic, Inc. has clinically assessed an implantable
signal generator used with an invasive deep brain probe (thalamic stimulation)
for the treatment of neurological disorders and has received FDA approval for
the device for the treatment of essential tremor, including that associated with
Parkinson's disease. The Company could also face competition from other large
medical device companies which have the technology, experience and capital
resources to develop alternative devices for the treatment of epilepsy. Many of
the Company's competitors have substantially greater financial, manufacturing,
marketing and technical resources than the Company and have obtained third-party
reimbursement approvals. In addition, the health care industry is characterized
by extensive research efforts and rapid technological progress. There can be no
assurance that the Company's competitors will not develop technologies and
obtain regulatory approval for products that are more effective in treating
epilepsy than the Company's current or future products. There can also be no
assurance that advancements in surgical techniques will not make surgery a more
attractive therapy for epilepsy. The development by others of new treatment
methods with novel AEDs, medical devices or surgical techniques for epilepsy
could render the NCP System non-competitive or obsolete. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully against current
and future competitors or that competition, including the development and
commercialization of new products and technology, will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of
operations. See "Business--Competition."
 
    MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH.  In connection with the commercialization of the NCP
System in the United States, the Company has begun and intends to continue to
significantly expand the scope of its operations, in particular in
manufacturing, marketing and sales. Such activities have placed, and may
continue to place, a significant strain on the Company's resources and
operations. The Company's ability to effectively manage such growth will depend
upon its ability to attract, hire and retain highly qualified employees and
management personnel. The Company competes for such personnel with other
companies, academic institutions, government entities and other organizations.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in hiring or
retaining qualified personnel. The Company's success will also depend on the
ability of its officers and key employees to continue to implement and improve
its operational, management information and financial control systems, of which
there can be no assurance. The Company's inability to manage growth effectively
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations. See "Business--Employees."
 
    PRODUCT LIABILITY AND AVAILABILITY OF INSURANCE.  The manufacture and sale
of the NCP System entails the risk of product liability claims. Although the
Company maintains product liability insurance, there can be no assurance that
the coverage limits of the Company's insurance policies will be adequate. Such
insurance is expensive and in the future may not be available on acceptable
terms, if at all. A successful claim brought against the Company in excess of
its insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition or results of operations. See "Business--Product
Liability and Insurance."
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
    GOVERNMENT REGULATION.  The preclinical and clinical testing, manufacturing,
labeling, sale, distribution and promotion of the NCP System are subject to
extensive and rigorous regulation in the United States by federal agencies,
primarily the FDA, and by comparable state agencies. The NCP System is regulated
as a medical device by the FDA and is subject to the FDA's premarket approval
("PMA") requirements. In July 1997, the Company received FDA approval to market
the NCP System in the United States for use as an adjunctive therapy in reducing
the frequency of seizures in adults and adolescents over twelve years of age
with partial onset seizures that are refractory to AEDs. Nonetheless, in the
future, it will be necessary for the Company to file PMA supplements, and apply
for additional regulatory approvals, possibly including new investigational
device exemptions ("IDEs") and additional PMAs, for other applications of the
NCP System and for modified or future-generation products. Commercial
distribution in certain foreign countries is also subject to obtaining
regulatory approvals from the appropriate authorities in such countries. The
process of obtaining FDA and other required regulatory approvals is lengthy,
expensive and uncertain. Moreover, regulatory approvals may include regulatory
restrictions on the indicated uses for which a product may be marketed. Failure
to comply with applicable regulatory requirements can result in, among other
things, fines, suspension or withdrawal of approvals, confiscations or recalls
of products, operating restrictions and criminal prosecution. Furthermore,
changes in existing regulations or adoption of new regulations could prevent the
Company from obtaining, or affect the timing of, future regulatory approvals.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain additional
future regulatory approvals on a timely basis or at all. Delays in receipt of or
failure to receive such future approvals, suspension or withdrawal of previously
received approvals, or recalls of the NCP System could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
See "Business--Government Regulation."
 
    FUTURE CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS.  Although the Company believes that its current
resources, together with the proceeds from an anticipated public offering of
Common Stock, will be sufficient to meet its capital requirements at least
through June 30, 1999, there can be no assurance that the Company will not
require additional financing either before or after that date. This estimate is
based on certain assumptions, which may not hold true, including the timely
completion of a financing. There can be no assurance that such financing will be
completed on a timely basis, or at all, or that proceeds from such financing, if
any, combined with Company's available cash, cash equivalents, investment
securities and investment income, will be sufficient to meet the Company's
capital requirements through June 30, 1999. The Company's future capital
requirements will depend upon numerous factors, including the extent and timing
of future product sales, the scale-up of the Company's manufacturing facilities,
and the nature, timing and success of clinical trials for additional indications
for the NCP System. Such financing, if required, may not be available on
satisfactory terms, or at all. Lack of access to sufficient financing would
impair the Company's ability to fully pursue its business objectives, which
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations.
 
    RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS.  Although the NCP System has
been approved for commercialization in the European Union countries since 1994,
the Company has not generated significant revenues from such countries to date.
The Company currently is expanding its marketing and sales activities in
international markets. There can be no assurance that the Company will
successfully increase international sales or that the Company will be successful
in obtaining reimbursement or any regulatory approvals required in foreign
countries. Changes in overseas economic conditions, currency exchange rates,
foreign tax laws, or tariffs or other trade regulations could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of
operations. The anticipated international nature of the Company's business is
also expected to subject the Company and its representatives, agents and
distributors to laws and regulations of the foreign jurisdictions in which they
operate or where the NCP System is sold. The regulation of medical devices in a
number of such jurisdictions, particularly in the European Union, continues to
develop and there can be no assurance that new laws or regulations will not have
an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of
operations. In addition, the laws of certain foreign countries do not protect
the Company's intellectual property rights to the same
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
extent as do the laws of the United States. In particular, the European Patent
Convention prohibits patents covering methods for the treatment of the human
body by surgery or therapy. See "Business--Patents and Proprietary Rights" and
"--Government Regulation."
 
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
    The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the
Consolidated Financial Statements set forth on pages F-1 through F-18 hereof.
 
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
        FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
    None.
 
                                    PART III
 
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
    The executive officers and directors of the Company, their ages as of August
15, 1997, and certain additional information about them, are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                            AGE                       POSITION
- ------------------------------  ---   -------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>   <C>
Robert P. Cummins.............  43    President and Chief Executive Officer
Reese S. Terry, Jr............  55    Chairman of the Board, Executive Vice President
                                        and Secretary
John K. Bakewell..............  36    Vice President, Finance and Administration and
                                        Chief Financial Officer
Michael D. Dale...............  38    Vice President, Global Sales
William H. Duffell, Jr.,        37    Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs
  Ph.D........................
Stephen D. Ford...............  47    Vice President, Manufacturing
Shawn P. Lunney...............  34    Vice President, Marketing
Stanley H. Appel, M.D.........  64    Director
Tony Coelho...................  55    Director
Thomas A. Duerden, Ph.D.......  67    Director
Michael J. Strauss, M.D.......  44    Director
</TABLE>
 
    Mr. Cummins became a director of the Company in June 1988. He was appointed
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in September 1995. Until
September 1995, he was also a general partner of Vista Partners, L.P., a venture
capital partnership which he joined in 1984, a general partner of Vista III
Partners, L.P., a venture capital firm formed in 1986 and Vice President of
Vista Ventures Inc., a venture capital advisory firm. Mr. Cummins is also a
director of Sigma Circuits Inc., a manufacturer of electronic interconnect
products.
 
    Mr. Terry co-founded the Company in December 1987 and served as a Director
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company until February 1990, when he became
Chairman of the Board and Executive Vice President. Mr. Terry has also served as
Secretary of the Company from its inception and as President of the Company for
four months in 1995. From 1976 to 1986, Mr. Terry held executive positions with
Intermedics, Inc., a medical device and electronics company, including serving
as Vice President of Engineering, Vice President of Corporate Technical
Resources and, most recently, as Vice President of Quality.
 
    Mr. Bakewell joined the Company as Vice President, Finance and
Administration and Chief Financial Officer in May 1993. Prior to joining the
Company, Mr. Bakewell held the position of Chief Financial Officer with Zeos
International, Ltd., a manufacturer and direct marketer of personal computers
and
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
related products from October 1990 until May 1993. From May 1988 to October
1990, Mr. Bakewell served as Manager with the Entrepreneurial Services Group of
Ernst & Young, an international accounting firm. From August 1983 to May 1988,
Mr. Bakewell held various positions with KPMG Peat Marwick, an international
accounting firm. Mr. Bakewell is a certified public accountant.
 
    Mr. Dale joined the Company in October 1996 as Vice President, Global Sales
and as Managing Director of the Company's international subsidiary, Cyberonics
Europe, S.A. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Dale held positions of increasing
responsibility with St. Jude Medical, Inc., most recently as Business Unit
Director, Heart Valves for St. Jude Medical Europe from May 1994 to October 1996
and as Marketing Manager, Heart Valves and Cardiac Assist Products for St. Jude
Medical Europe from January 1991 to May 1994.
 
    Dr. Duffell joined the Company as Vice President, Regulatory and Clinical
Affairs in May 1995. Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Duffell held the position
of Director, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance with Bristol-Meyers Squibb
Companies from April 1991 until May 1995, where his responsibilities included
the areas of regulatory affairs, quality assurance and clinical research in both
corporate and divisional capacities. From March 1987 to March 1989, Dr. Duffell
served as Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Research with Dornier
Medical, Inc., a manufacturer of extracaporial shock-wave lithotriptors and
related gastrointestinal and urological products.
 
    Mr. Ford joined the Company as Vice President, Manufacturing in March 1992.
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Ford held the position of Manager of
Manufacturing with the Biomedical Products Division of McGaw, Inc. from
September 1987 to March 1992. From March 1983 to September 1987, Mr. Ford served
as Director of Manufacturing at Quest Medical.
 
    Mr. Lunney joined the Company in April, 1991 and served in various sales,
marketing and reimbursement planning positions until May 1996, when he became
Vice President, Marketing. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Lunney held the
position of Sales and Marketing Manager with Perceptive Systems, Inc., a
hospital laboratory medical instrument manufacturer from December 1985 to April
1991.
 
    Dr. Appel has been a director of the Company since December 1996 and the
chair of Company's Scientific Advisory Board since its formation in 1994. Since
1992, Dr. Appel has been Chairman of the Baylor College of Medicine Department
of Neurology.
 
    Mr. Coelho has been a director of the Company since March 1997. Mr. Coelho
is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ETC w/tci, the Washington-based
education, training and communications subsidiary of Tele-Communications, Inc.,
a position he held since October 1996. From January 1990 to September 1995, Mr.
Coelho served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Wertheim Schroder
Investment Services, Inc., an asset management firm, and from October 1989 to
September 1995, he served as Managing Director of Wertheim Schroder and Co., an
investment banking firm. Mr. Coelho served in the United States House of
Representatives from California from 1979 to 1989, and served as House Majority
Whip from 1986 to 1989. Mr. Coelho is also a member of the Board of Directors of
Auto Lend Group, Inc., ICF Kaiser International, Inc., International
Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., Service Corporation International, TEI, Inc. and
Tele-Communications, Inc.
 
    Dr. Duerden has been a director of the Company since March 1989 and an
independent business consultant since January 1990. From December 1988 through
January 1990, Dr. Duerden served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of Tonometrics, Inc., a medical diagnostic device company. From 1979
through 1988, Dr. Duerden served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Electro Biology, Inc., an orthopedic device company.
 
    Dr. Strauss has been a director of the Company since March 1997. Since June
1988, Dr. Strauss served first as President and later as Corporate Vice
President and General Manager at Covance Health Economics and Outcomes Services
Inc. (formerly Health Technology Associates, Inc.), a consulting and research
services firm specializing in third-party payor issues.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
BOARD COMPOSITION
 
    Pursuant to a letter agreement dated March 28, 1997, the Clark Estates is
entitled to designate one person to serve on the Company's Board of Directors
for as long as the Clark Estates retains at least 600,000 of the aggregate of
901,408 shares of Common Stock purchased on such date by parties affiliated with
the Clark Estates. To date, the Clark Estates has not exercised this right.
 
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
 
    The Board of Directors of the Company held a total of 9 meetings during the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1997. The Board has an Audit Committee and a
Compensation Committee. There is no nominating committee or other committee
performing a similar function.
 
    The Audit Committee, which consists of Thomas A. Duerden and Stanley H.
Appel, did not meet during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997. This Committee
recommends engagement of the Company's independent public accountants and is
primarily responsible for approving the services performed by such accountants
and for reviewing and evaluating the Company's accounting principles and its
system of internal accounting controls.
 
    The Compensation Committee, which consists of director Thomas A. Duerden and
Stanley H. Appel, did not meet during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997. This
Committee establishes salary and incentive compensation of the executive
officers of the Company and administers the Company's employee benefit plans.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, compensation decisions were made by
the Board of Directors.
 
    During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, all current directors attended
at least seventy five percent of the meetings of the Board of Directors, with
the exception of Mr. Coehlo, who missed two of the four meetings held since he
became a director.
 
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
 
    Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a
registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file reports of
ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 or Form 5 with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Such officers, directors and
ten-percent stockholders are also required by SEC rules to furnish the Company
with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
 
    Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it, the
Company believes that, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, all Section
16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and ten-percent
stockholders were complied with.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE.  The following table sets forth the compensation
paid by the Company for the year ended June 30, 1997 to the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and each of the other most highly compensated executive
officers of the Company whose total compensation exceeded $100,000
(collectively, the "Named Executive Officers"):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               LONG-TERM
                                                                                             COMPENSATION
                                                                                                AWARDS
                                                                                             -------------
                                                                     ANNUAL COMPENSATION      SECURITIES
                                                        FISCAL     ------------------------   UNDERLYING      ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION                              YEAR      SALARY ($)    BONUS ($)    OPTIONS (#)   COMPENSATION
- ----------------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                                   <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>
Robert P. Cummins(1) ...............................        1997      196,596       68,530       356,000            294(2)
  President and Chief Executive Officer                     1996      140,758       32,930        50,000          8,194(2)(3)
 
Reese S. Terry, Jr. ................................        1997      146,693       32,596        63,500          6,705(2)
  Chairman of the Board and Executive Vice President        1996      130,880       32,950        --              5,321(2)
                                                            1995      127,746       11,158        20,000          5,544(2)
 
William H. Duffell, Jr.(4) .........................        1997      157,356       32,963        90,000         13,952(5)
  Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs           1996      150,000       27,886        --             27,881(6)
                                                            1995       23,077        5,000        85,000         --
 
John K. Bakewell ...................................        1997      131,187       29,527       135,000            263(2)
  Vice President Finance and Administration and             1996      105,502       27,537        --                225(2)
  Chief Financial Officer                                   1995      101,620        8,630        55,000            226(2)
 
Shawn P. Lunney ....................................        1997      119,423       54,744       137,750            231(2)
  Vice President, Marketing
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Mr. Cummins became an executive officer of the Company in fiscal 1996.
 
(2) Represents premiums paid by the Company for term life insurance.
 
(3) Also includes $7,900 paid to Mr. Cummins in fiscal 1996 as a travel/auto
    allowance.
 
(4) Mr. Duffell joined the Company in 1995. Mr. Duffell's bonus in fiscal 1996
    includes a $10,000 bonus related to Mr. Duffell's relocation to Houston.
 
(5) Represents $332 paid by the Company for term life insurance and $13,620 paid
    to Mr. Duffell for expenses related to relocation to Houston.
 
(6) Represents $315 paid by the Company for term life insurance and $27,566 paid
    to Mr. Duffell for expenses related to relocation to Houston.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
    OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR.  The following table sets forth each
grant of stock options made during the year ended June 30, 1997 to each of the
Named Executive Officers:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
                                          ----------------------------------------------------  POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                                        PERCENT OF                                VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                           NUMBER OF   TOTAL OPTIONS                            ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
                                          SECURITIES    GRANTED TO                               PRICE APPRECIATION
                                          UNDERLYING   EMPLOYEES IN    EXERCISE                 FOR OPTION TERM($)(2)
                                            OPTIONS       FISCAL         PRICE     EXPIRATION   ---------------------
NAME                                      GRANTED(#)      YEAR(2)       ($/SH)        DATE         5%         10%
- ----------------------------------------  -----------  -------------  -----------  -----------  ---------  ----------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>
Robert P. Cummins.......................       2,000(3)         0.1%   $    3.06     06/01/03       2,318       5,342
                                               2,000(3)         0.1%   $    3.06     07/05/04       2,776       6,589
                                               2,000(3)         0.1%   $    3.06     06/01/05       3,183       7,749
                                              50,000(3)         2.6%   $    3.06     10/11/05      83,391     204,912
                                             300,000          15.8%    $    3.06     11/01/06     577,325   1,463,056
 
Reese S. Terry, Jr......................      20,000(3)         1.1%  3$.06 $3.06    09/20/04      28,488      67,920
                                              43,500           2.3%                  11/01/06      83,712     212,143
 
John K. Bakewell........................      45,000(3)         2.4%   $    3.06     05/10/03      51,388     118,151
                                              15,000(3)         0.8%   $    3.06     09/20/04      21,366      50,940
                                              75,000           4.0%    $    3.06     11/01/06     144,331     365,764
 
William H. Duffell, Jr..................      90,000(3)         4.8%   $    3.06     11/01/06     173,197     438,917
 
Shawn P. Lunney.........................       3,000(3)         0.2%   $    3.06     12/09/02       3,172       7,213
                                              10,000(3)         0.5%   $    3.06     03/25/03      11,249      25,805
                                              15,000(3)         0.8%   $    3.06     09/20/04      21,640      51,812
                                             104,750           5.5%    $    3.06     11/01/06     201,583     510,850
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Total number of shares subject to options granted to employees in fiscal
    1997 was 1,893,388, which number includes options granted to employee
    directors.
 
(2) Potential realizable value is based on an assumption that the stock price
    appreciates at the annual rate shown (compounded annually) from the date of
    grant until the end of the ten-year option term. These numbers are
    calculated based on the requirements promulgated by the SEC and do not
    reflect the Company's estimate of future stock price growth.
 
(3) In November 1996, the Company repriced stock options that had an exercise
    price in excess of the fair market value in effect on the date of repricing.
    The option grants indicated reflect previously granted options that were
    repriced as if such options had been newly granted in November 1996.
 
    AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END
VALUES.  The following table sets forth, for each of the Named Executive
Officers, each exercise of stock options during the fiscal year ended June 30,
1997 and the year-end value of unexercised options:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 NUMBER OF SECURITIES           VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                 SHARES           VALUE         UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED              IN-THE-MONEY
                                ACQUIRED        REALIZED      OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR-END     OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
NAME                         ON EXERCISE(#)      ($)(1)      EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE(#)(2) EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE($)(3)
- ---------------------------  ---------------  -------------  -----------------------------  ----------------------------
<S>                          <C>              <C>            <C>                            <C>
Robert P. Cummins..........        --              --                 176,750/181,250           $   829,078/$850,063
Reese S. Terry, Jr.........        --              --                   27,219/36,281           $   127,657/$170,158
John K. Bakewell...........        --              --                  104,355/70,645           $   481,771/$327,629
William H. Duffell, Jr.....        --              --                   83,542/91,458           $   382,708/$421,892
Shawn P. Lunney............         7,125       $  29,231               86,081/74,669           $   127,657/$170,158
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Represents market value of underlying securities at date of exercise less
    option exercise price.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
(2) Options granted by the Company generally vest over a four-year period such
    that 12.5% of the shares subject to the option vest on the six month
    anniversary of the grant date, and 1/48 of the optioned shares vest each
    month thereafter until fully vested.
 
(3) Market value of underlying securities at fiscal year-end ($7.75/per share)
    minus the exercise price.
 
BOARD COMPENSATION
 
    Directors do not receive any cash compensation for their services as members
of the Board of Directors. Nonemployee directors are eligible for discretionary
option grants under the Company's 1996 Option Plan. During fiscal 1997, each
nonemployee director was granted an option to purchase 35,000 shares of Common
Stock with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock
on the date of grant.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
    The Company does not have employment agreements with any Named Executive
Officer.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
    Mr. Cummins, formerly a member of the Compensation Committee, was appointed
President and Chief Executive Officer in September 1995. In connection with this
appointment, Mr. Cummins ceased to serve on the Compensation Committee. During
fiscal 1997, compensation decisions were made by the entire Board of Directors.
Messrs. Cummins and Terry abstained from decisions relating to their own
compensation.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
    The following table sets forth as of July 31, 1997 certain information with
respect to the beneficial ownership of Cyberonics Common Stock (i) by each
person known by Cyberonics to own beneficially more than five percent of the
outstanding shares of Cyberonics Common Stock, (ii) by each director of
Cyberonics, (iii) by each of the Chief Executive Officer and four other most
highly paid executive officers of Cyberonics who earned over $100,000 in fiscal
1997 and (iv) by all directors and executive officers as a group. Except as
otherwise noted below, Cyberonics knows of no agreements among its stockholders
which relate to voting or investment of its shares of Cyberonics Common Stock.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     SHARES         PERCENTAGE OF
                                                                                   BENEFICIALLY  OUTSTANDING SHARES
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                                                            OWNED(1)          OWNED(1)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>          <C>
St. Jude Medical, Inc.(2)........................................................   2,181,818              16.4%
  One Lillehei Plaza
  St. Paul, MN 55117-9983
 
Vista III, L.P.(3)...............................................................   1,573,204              11.8%
  36 Grove Street
  New Canaan, CT 06840
 
The Clark Estates(4).............................................................   1,226,208               9.2%
  30 Wall Street
  New York, NY 10005
 
Reese S. Terry, Jr.(5)...........................................................     978,625               7.3%
  c/o Cyberonics, Inc.
  17448 Highway 3, Suite 100
  Webster, TX 77598-4135
 
SmallCap World Fund Inc..........................................................     864,800               6.5%
  c/o Capital Research and Management
  333 South Hope Street
  Los Angeles, CA 90071
 
Wisconsin Investment Board.......................................................     718,000               5.4%
  P.O. Box 7842
  Madison, WI 53707
 
Robert P. Cummins(6).............................................................     328,500               2.4%
 
John K. Bakewell(7)..............................................................     139,130               1.0%
 
William H. Duffell(8)............................................................     132,692               1.0%
 
Shawn P. Lunney(9)...............................................................     105,471             *
 
Thomas A. Duerden, Ph.D.(10).....................................................      51,000             *
 
Stanley H. Appel, M.D.(11).......................................................      82,500             *
 
Tony Coelho(12)..................................................................      31,833             *
 
Michael J. Strauss(13)...........................................................       8,750             *
 
All executive officers and directors as a group (11 persons)(14).................   2,115,886              14.7%
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
  * Less than 1%
 
 (1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC
    and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to
    securities. Shares of Cyberonics Common Stock subject to options and
    warrants currently exercisable, or exercisable within 60 days, are deemed
    outstanding for
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
    computing the percentage of the person holding such options but are not
    deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person. Except
    as indicated by footnote, and subject to community property laws where
    applicable, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment
    power with respect to all shares of Cyberonics Common Stock shown as
    beneficially owned by them.
 
 (2) St. Jude acquired these shares pursuant a Common Stock Purchase Agreement
    dated April 8, 1996, which acquisition closed in July 1996. On April 8,1996,
    the Company and St. Jude also entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
    pursuant to which the Company granted to St. Jude the right, but not the
    obligation, to acquire the Company on or before October 18, 1996 in the form
    of a merger. On October 18, 1996, St. Jude's right to acquire the Company
    expired unexercised. In connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement, St.
    Jude also entered into a Stockholders' Agreement which provides, among other
    things, that St. Jude will not acquire additional shares of Common Stock. In
    addition, St. Jude has agreed that, through July 1, 1998, it will vote its
    shares of Common Stock in favor of director nominees as recommended by the
    Board of Directors and, for so long as it holds any Common Stock, to vote
    its shares of Common Stock on all other matters submitted to the
    stockholders for a vote as recommended by the Board of Directors or in the
    same proportion as the votes cast by all other stockholders. Finally, St.
    Jude has agreed with the Company not to sell or otherwise dispose of its
    shares of Common Stock on or before March 31, 1998.
 
 (3) Mr. Cummins, the Chief Executive Officer, President and a director of
    Cyberonics, is a limited partner of the partnership that controls Vista III,
    L.P.
 
 (4) Pursuant to a letter agreement dated March 28, 1997, the Clark Estates is
    entitled to designate one person to serve on the Company's Board of
    Directors for as long as the Clark Estates retains at least 600,000 of the
    aggregate of 901,408 shares of Common Stock purchased on such date by
    parties affiliated with the Clark Estates. To date, the Clark Estates has
    not exercised this right.
 
 (5) Includes 148,500 shares held in trusts for the benefit of Mr. Terry's
    children of which Mr. Terry serves as trustee. Also includes 42,625 shares
    subject to options exercisable on or before November 30, 1997.
 
 (6) Includes 5,000 shares held in trust for the benefit of Mr. Cummins'
    daughter of which Mr. Cummins serves as trustee. Also includes 283,000
    shares subject to options exercisable on or before November 30, 1997.
    Excludes shares held by Vista III, L.P. as to which Mr. Cummins disclaims
    beneficial ownership except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
 
 (7) Includes 138,000 shares subject to options exercisable on or before
    November 30, 1997.
 
 (8) Includes 122,500 shares subject to options exercisable on or before
    November 30, 1997.
 
 (9) Includes 98,346 shares subject to options exercisable on or before November
    30, 1997.
 
(10) Includes 27,500 shares subject to options exercisable on or before November
    30, 1997.
 
(11) Includes 42,500 shares subject to options exercisable on or before November
    30, 1997.
 
(12) Includes 31,833 shares subject to options exercisable on or before November
    30, 1997.
 
(13) Includes 8,750 shares subject to options exercisable on or before November
    30, 1997.
 
(14) Includes 1,049,971 shares subject to options held by executive officers and
    directors, which options are exercisable on or before November 30, 1997.
    Also includes shares which may be determined to be beneficially owned by
    executive officers and directors. See Notes 5 through 13.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
    Certain stockholders of the Company, including Messrs. Cummins and Terry,
Drs. Appel and Duffell and venture capital firms formerly affiliated with Mr.
Cummins, are entitled to certain registration rights with respect to the Common
Stock held by them.
 
    The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company is required to indemnify its
officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law,
including those circumstances in which indemnification would otherwise be
discretionary, and that the Company is required to advance expenses to its
officers and directors as incurred. Further, the Company has entered into
indemnification agreements with its officers and directors. The Company believes
that its charter and bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are
necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
 
    The Company believes that all of the transactions set forth above were made
on terms no less favorable to the Company than could have been obtained from
unaffiliated third parties. All future transactions between the Company and its
officers, directors, principal stockholders and affiliates will be approved by a
majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the independent and
disinterested outside directors on the Board of Directors, and will be on terms
no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained from unaffiliated third
parties.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
                                    PART IV
 
ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
 
    (a) Documents Filed with Report
 
    1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  The following consolidated financial statements
of Cyberonics, Inc. and subsidiary, and the Report of Independent Public
Accountants are included at pages F-1 through F-19 of this Form 10-K:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                PAGE
DESCRIPTION                                                                                                      NO.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     -----
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
Report of Independent Public Accountants...................................................................         F-1
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 1997 and 1996...................................................         F-2
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Years Ended June 30, 1997..............................         F-3
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Three Years Ended June 30, 1997....................         F-4
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Years Ended June 30, 1997..............................         F-5
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................................................................         F-6
</TABLE>
 
    2.  EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
 NUMBER   DESCRIPTION
- --------  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>       <C>
3.1(1)    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant.
 
3.2(1)    Bylaws of Registrant.
 
4.1(2)    Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of March 4, 1997 between
          Cyberonics, Inc. and First National Bank of Boston, including the
          Certificate of Designation, the form of Rights Certificate and the
          Summary of Rights attached thereto as Exhibit A, B and C,
          respectively.
 
10.1(1)*  1988 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended.
 
10.2(1)*  1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 
10.3(1)   License Agreement dated March 15, 1988 between the Registrant and Dr.
          Jacob Zabara.
 
10.4(1)   Patent License Agreement effective as of July 28, 1989 between the
          Registrant and Huntington Medical Research Institute.
 
10.5      Lease Agreement dated November 3, 1994 together with amendments dated
          April 18, 1996 and April 30, 1997, respectively, between the
          Registrant and Salitex II, Ltd.
 
10.6(1)   Form of Indemnification Agreement.
 
10.7(1)   Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement dated October 16, 1992.
 
10.8(3)   Registration Rights Agreement dated March 28, 1997.
 
10.9(4)*  1996 Stock Option Plan.
 
10.10     Stockholders' Agreement dated April 8, 1996 between the Registration
          and St. Jude Medical, Inc.
 
10.11     Letter Agreement dated March 28, 1997 between the Clark Estates and
          the Registrant.
 
21.1      List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 
23.1      Consent of Independent Public Accountants.
</TABLE>
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>       <C>
24        Power of Attorney (see page 39).
 
27        Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
    S-1 (Reg. No. 33-45118) declared effective February 10, 1993.
 
(2) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
    8-A (Commission File No. 000-19806) filed on March 6, 1997.
 
(3) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the
    quarter ended March 31, 1997.
 
(4) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
    S-8 (Reg. No. 333-19785) filed on January 14, 1997.
 
 * Document indicated is a compensatory plan.
 
    (b) Reports on Form 8-K.
 
        Not Applicable
 
    (c) Exhibits
 
        See Item 14(a)(2) above
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of Section 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.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>  <C>
                                Registrant
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                                By:            /s/ ROBERT P. CUMMINS
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                                 Robert P. Cummins
                                       PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
</TABLE>
 
August 15, 1997
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Reese S. Terry, Jr. and John K. Bakewell, jointly
and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for
him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Report on Form
10-K, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby
ratifying and conforming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his
substitute or substitutes, any do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
    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 dates indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SIGNATURE              CAPACITY IN WHICH SIGNED          DATE
- ------------------------------  --------------------------  -------------------
 
<C>                             <S>                         <C>
   /s/ REESE S. TERRY, JR.
- ------------------------------  Chairman of the Board and     August 15, 1997
     Reese S. Terry, Jr.          Executive Vice President
 
                                President, Chief Executive
    /s/ ROBERT P. CUMMINS         Officer and Director
- ------------------------------    (Principal Executive        August 15, 1997
      Robert P. Cummins           Officer)
 
                                Vice President, Finance
     /s/ JOHN K. BAKEWELL         and Administration and
- ------------------------------    Chief Financial Officer     August 15, 1997
       John K. Bakewell           (Principal Financial and
                                  Accounting Officer)
 
  /s/ STANLEY H. APPEL, M.D.
- ------------------------------  Director                      August 15, 1997
    Stanley H. Appel, M.D.
 
       /s/ TONY COELHO
- ------------------------------  Director                      August 15, 1997
         Tony Coelho
 
 /s/ THOMAS A. DUERDEN, PH.D.
- ------------------------------  Director                      August 15, 1997
   Thomas A. Duerden, Ph.D.
 
    /s/ MICHAEL J. STRAUSS
- ------------------------------  Director                      August 15, 1997
      Michael J. Strauss
</TABLE>
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                             DESCRIPTION
- --------  ----------------------------------------------------------------
<S>       <C>
3.1(1)    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant.
 
3.2(1)    Bylaws of Registrant.
 
4.1(2)    Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of March 4, 1997
          between Cyberonics, Inc. and First National Bank of Boston,
          including the Certificate of Designation, the form of Rights
          Certificate and the Summary of Rights attached thereto as
          Exhibit A, B and C, respectively.
 
10.1(1)*  1988 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended.
 
10.2(1)*  1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 
10.3(1)   License Agreement dated March 15, 1988 between the Registrant
          and Dr. Jacob Zabara.
 
10.4(1)   Patent License Agreement effective as of July 28, 1989 between
          the Registrant and Huntington Medical Research Institute.
 
10.5      Lease Agreement dated November 3, 1994 together with amendments
          dated April 18, 1996 and April 30, 1997, respectively, between
          the Registrant and Salitex II, Ltd.
 
10.6(1)   Form of Indemnification Agreement.
 
10.7(1)   Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement dated October 16,
          1992.
 
10.8(3)   Registration Rights Agreement dated March 28, 1997.
 
10.9(4)*  1996 Stock Option Plan.
 
10.10     Stockholders' Agreement dated April 8, 1996 between the
          Registrant and St. Jude Medical, Inc.
 
10.11     Letter Agreement dated March 28, 1997 between the Clark Estates
          and the Registrant.
 
21.1      List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 
23.1      Consent of Independent Public Accountants.
 
24        Power of Attorney (see page 39).
 
27        Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
    S-1 (Reg. No. 33-45118) declared effective February 10, 1993.
 
(2) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
    8-A (Commission File No. 000-19806) filed on March 6, 1997.
 
(3) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the
    quarter ended March 31, 1997.
 
(4) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
    S-8 (Reg. No. 333-19785) filed on January 14, 1997.
 
 * Document indicated is a compensatory plan.
 
        (b) Reports on Form 8-K.
 
           Not Applicable
 
        (c) Exhibits
 
           See Item 14(a)(2) above
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
To Cyberonics, Inc.:
 
    We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cyberonics,
Inc. (a Delaware corporation), and subsidiary as of June 30, 1997 and 1996, and
the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 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.
 
    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 consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Cyberonics,
Inc., and subsidiary as of June 30, 1997 and 1996, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
June 30, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
/s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Houston, Texas
August 7, 1997
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               JUNE 30,
                                                                                     -----------------------------
                                                                                         1997            1996
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
<S>                                                                                  <C>            <C>
                                      ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents........................................................  $     781,639  $    2,121,930
  Securities held to maturity......................................................      7,129,409        --
  Accounts receivable, net.........................................................        548,542         473,038
  Inventories......................................................................      1,005,356         671,836
  Prepaid expenses.................................................................        126,799         258,585
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
    TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS...........................................................      9,591,745       3,525,389
Securities held to maturity........................................................        212,408          80,032
Property and equipment, net........................................................        362,333         332,881
Other assets, net..................................................................         83,251           9,741
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
                                                                                     $  10,249,737  $    3,948,043
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
                       LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable.................................................................  $     365,351  $      924,059
  Accrued liabilities..............................................................      1,462,914       1,558,934
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
    TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES......................................................      1,828,265       2,482,993
 
Commitments and Contingencies
 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share; 2,500,000 shares authorized; no shares
    issued and outstanding.........................................................       --              --
  Common Stock, $.01 par value per share; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 13,322,175
    and 9,577,115 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 1997 and 1996,
    respectively...................................................................        133,222          95,771
  Additional paid-in capital.......................................................     57,338,856      39,261,602
  Deferred compensation............................................................        (63,750)         (4,460)
  Accumulated deficit..............................................................    (49,167,002)    (37,922,171)
  Cumulative translation adjustment................................................        180,146          34,308
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
    TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY.....................................................      8,421,472       1,465,050
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
                                                                                     $  10,249,737  $    3,948,043
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
                                                                                     -------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
                 SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                                    ---------------------------------------------
                                                                         1997            1996           1995
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
<S>                                                                 <C>             <C>             <C>
Net sales.........................................................  $    1,372,005  $    1,416,965  $     966,989
Cost of sales.....................................................         372,180         411,562        347,457
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
      GROSS PROFIT................................................         999,825       1,005,403        619,532
Operating Expenses:
  Research and development........................................       6,549,474       8,024,502      5,678,024
  Selling, general and administrative.............................       5,933,852       3,420,111      2,906,589
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
    Total operating expenses......................................      12,483,326      11,444,613      8,584,613
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
      LOSS FROM OPERATIONS........................................     (11,483,501)    (10,439,210)    (7,965,081)
Interest income, net..............................................         436,813         423,044        688,909
Other (expense) income, net.......................................        (198,143)        (97,084)        37,362
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
      NET LOSS....................................................  $  (11,244,831) $  (10,113,250) $  (7,238,810)
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
      NET LOSS PER SHARE..........................................  $         (.93) $        (1.06) $        (.79)
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
      SHARES USED IN COMPUTING NET LOSS PER SHARE.................      12,030,171       9,513,038      9,218,008
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                 SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  COMMON STOCK       ADDITIONAL                               CUMULATIVE
                                              ---------------------   PAID-IN      DEFERRED     ACCUMULATED   TRANSLATION
                                                SHARES     AMOUNT     CAPITAL    COMPENSATION     DEFICIT     ADJUSTMENT
                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ------------  -----------
<S>                                           <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>            <C>           <C>
Balance at June 30, 1994....................   9,051,054  $  90,511  $39,205,998   $(223,000)   ($20,570,111)  $  --
Stock options exercised.....................     415,616      4,156      27,775       --             --           --
Issuance of Common Stock under Employee
  Stock Purchase Plan.......................      32,391        324      94,485       --             --           --
Issuance of Common Stock under Employee
  Special Recognition Stock Program.........         200          2         748       --             --           --
Amortization of deferred compensation.......      --         --          --           91,200         --           --
Translation adjustment......................      --         --          --           --             --          (39,723)
Net loss....................................      --         --          --           --         (7,238,810)      --
                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ------------  -----------
Balance at June 30, 1995....................   9,499,261     94,993  39,329,006     (131,800)   (27,808,921)     (39,723)
Stock options exercised.....................      63,849        638      44,875       --             --           --
Issuance of Common Stock under Employee
  Stock Purchase Plan.......................      14,005        140      54,485       --             --           --
Effect of employee terminations on deferred
  compensation and related balances.........      --         --        (166,764)      56,264         --           --
Amortization of deferred compensation.......      --         --          --           71,076         --           --
Translation adjustment......................      --         --          --           --             --           74,031
Net loss....................................      --         --          --           --        (10,113,250)      --
                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ------------  -----------
Balance at June 30, 1996....................   9,577,115     95,771  39,261,602       (4,460)   (37,922,171)      34,308
Issuance of Common Stock in corporate
  relationship..............................   2,181,818     21,818  11,154,663       --             --           --
Issuance of Common Stock in private
  placement.................................   1,534,374     15,344   6,768,599       --             --           --
Stock options exercised.....................      10,734        108      13,914       --             --           --
Issuance of Common Stock under Employee
  Stock Purchase Plan.......................      18,134        181      47,423       --             --           --
Deferred compensation relating to issuance
  of certain stock options..................      --         --          76,500      (76,500)        --           --
Amortization of deferred compensation and
  expenses related to certain stock
  options...................................      --         --          16,155       17,210         --           --
Translation adjustment......................      --         --          --           --             --          145,838
Net loss....................................      --         --          --           --        (11,244,831)      --
                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ------------  -----------
Balance at June 30, 1997....................  13,322,175  $ 133,222  $57,338,856   $ (63,750)   ($49,167,002)  $ 180,146
                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ------------  -----------
                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -------------  ------------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                 SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                                    ---------------------------------------------
                                                                         1997            1996           1995
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
<S>                                                                 <C>             <C>             <C>
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net loss........................................................  $  (11,244,831) $  (10,113,250) $  (7,238,810)
  Noncash items included in net loss:
    Depreciation..................................................         253,615         273,905        329,738
    Compensation expense (income) related to certain stock
      options.....................................................          33,365         (39,424)        91,200
    Issuance of Common Stock under Employee Stock Recognition
      Program.....................................................        --              --                  750
  Change in operating assets and liabilities:
    Accounts receivable...........................................         (75,504)       (133,380)      (265,627)
    Inventories...................................................        (333,520)        (66,280)      (180,257)
    Prepaid expenses..............................................         131,786           8,721        (47,693)
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities......................        (654,728)        427,581        983,685
  Other...........................................................         (73,510)          3,738          4,356
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
      NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES.......................     (11,963,327)     (9,638,389)    (6,322,658)
CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Purchases of property and equipment.............................        (283,067)       (124,811)      (260,497)
  Purchases of marketable securities..............................     (11,614,676)     (3,181,598)    (8,050,344)
  Maturities of marketable securities.............................       4,352,891       6,091,192     18,920,809
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
      NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY
        INVESTING ACTIVITIES......................................      (7,544,852)      2,784,783     10,609,968
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock..........................      18,022,050         100,138        126,740
  Payments of capital lease obligations...........................        --               (61,626)      (119,397)
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
      Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities...................      18,022,050          38,512          7,343
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents....         145,838          74,031        (39,723)
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
      NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS........      (1,340,291)     (6,741,063)     4,254,930
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year....................       2,121,930       8,862,993      4,608,063
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year..........................  $      781,639  $    2,121,930  $   8,862,993
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                    --------------  --------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    INTEREST PAYMENTS TOTALED $14,953 AND $13,348 DURING THE YEARS ENDED JUNE
30, 1996 AND 1995, RESPECTIVELY.
 
    INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES NOT RESULTING IN CASH RECEIPTS OR
PAYMENTS CONSIST OF THE DEFERRAL OF $76,500 OF COMPENSATION COSTS INCURRED IN
THE ISSUANCE OF CERTAIN STOCK OPTIONS DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, AND
RECLASSIFICATIONS OF $56,264 OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION TO ADDITIONAL PAID-IN
CAPITAL DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1996.
 
                 SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 JUNE 30, 1997
 
NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND RELATED DATA
 
    NATURE OF OPERATIONS.  Cyberonics, Inc. ("Cyberonics" or the "Company"),
designs, develops, manufactures and markets medical devices which deliver a
novel therapy, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS-TM-), for the treatment of epilepsy
and other debilitating neurological disorders. In July 1997, Cyberonics' sole
product, its proprietary implantable device, the NCP-Registered Trademark-
System, was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA")
for commercial distribution in the United States, where the Company intends to
market it using its own employee-based direct sales organization. In addition,
the NCP System is marketed internationally (principally in Europe) using a
combination of the Company's own direct sales organization and independent
distributors. Cyberonics is headquartered in Webster, Texas.
 
    The Company's future success is dependent upon a number of factors which
include, among others, obtaining and maintaining regulatory and reimbursement
approvals for its products, achieving market acceptance and generating
sufficient sales volume, the possibility of competition and technological
changes, developing its sales and marketing infrastructures, maintaining an
uninterrupted supply of certain sole source components and materials, adding
sufficient manufacturing capacity to meet future possible product demand,
possible product liability or recall, and reliance on key personnel.
Additionally, in order for the Company to execute its intended business plan,
which includes the commercial launch of the NCP System in the United States and
the continued development of the Company's international marketplace, the
Company will require additional financing. The Company intends to seek to raise
such financing in fiscal 1998 in an amount sufficient to fund its intended
business plan and the related operating expense levels that are expected to be
significantly higher than those incurred during the year ended June 30, 1997. If
the Company is unable to raise sufficient financing in fiscal 1998, operating
activities will require extensive reductions and, in certain cases, elimination
to enable the Company's present levels of cash and investments to provide
sufficient liquidity to fund the Company into fiscal 1999.
 
    CONSOLIDATION.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements include
the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cyberonics Europe, S.A. All
significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
 
    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.
 
    FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION.  The assets and liabilities of Cyberonics
Europe S.A. are generally translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in
effect on reporting dates, while capital accounts and certain obligations of a
long-term nature payable to the parent company are translated at historical
rates. Income statement items are translated at average exchange rates in effect
during the financial statement period. Gains and losses resulting from foreign
currency transactions denominated in currency other than the functional currency
are included in other income and expense.
 
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS.  The Company considers all highly liquid
investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to
be cash equivalents.
 
    MARKETABLE SECURITIES.  At June 30, 1997 and 1996, the Company's investment
portfolios consisted of securities held to maturity that are reported at
amortized cost. Securities held to maturity are primarily
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           JUNE 30, 1997 (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND RELATED DATA (CONTINUED)
corporate bonds, international treasury obligations and asset-backed investments
with various maturity dates ranging up to approximately 18 months and have a
fair market value of $7,382,721 and $79,442, respectively. At June 30, 1997 and
1996, the Company's investment portfolio consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1997                      1996
                                                          --------------------------  ----------------------
                                                          FAIR MARKET     CARRYING    FAIR MARKET  CARRYING
                                                             VALUE         VALUE         VALUE       VALUE
                                                          ------------  ------------  -----------  ---------
<S>                                                       <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>
Securities held to maturity--
  Current--
    Corporate bonds.....................................  $  6,668,976  $  6,636,281   $  --       $  --
    International treasury obligations..................       500,000       493,128      --          --
                                                          ------------  ------------  -----------  ---------
                                                             7,168,976     7,129,409      --          --
  Noncurrent--
    Corporate bonds.....................................       213,745       212,408      62,384      62,931
    Collateralized mortgage obligations.................       --            --           17,058      17,101
                                                          ------------  ------------  -----------  ---------
                                                               213,745       212,408      79,442      80,032
                                                          ------------  ------------  -----------  ---------
      Total.............................................  $  7,382,721  $  7,341,817   $  79,442   $  80,032
                                                          ------------  ------------  -----------  ---------
                                                          ------------  ------------  -----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    INVENTORIES.  Cyberonics states its inventories at the lower of cost,
first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, or market. Cost includes the acquisition cost
of raw materials and components, direct labor and overhead.
 
    PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT.  Property and equipment are carried at cost, less
accumulated depreciation. Maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are
charged to expense as incurred; significant renewals and betterments are
capitalized. For financial reporting purposes, the Company computes depreciation
using the double declining balance method over useful lives ranging from three
to seven years.
 
    STOCK OPTIONS.  In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
issued Statement No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," which
allows the Company to adopt one of two methods for accounting for stock options.
The Company has elected the method that requires disclosure of stock-based
compensation. Because of this election, the Company continues to account for its
employee stock-based compensation plans under Accounting Principles Board (APB)
Opinion No. 25 and the related interpretations. Accordingly, deferred
compensation is recorded for stock-based compensation grants based on the excess
of the market value of the common stock on the measurement date over the
exercise price. The deferred compensation is amortized over the vesting period
of each unit of stock-based compensation. If the exercise price of the
stock-based compensation grant is equal to the market price of the Company's
stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is recorded.
 
    REVENUE RECOGNITION.  Revenue from product sales is generally recognized
upon shipment to the customer. Domestic sales activities prior to the Company's
July 1997 receipt of FDA approval have depended entirely upon the Company
conducting clinical trial activities under arrangements with certain
investigational centers, some of which employed risk-sharing provisions.
Domestic sales made under such risk-sharing arrangements were deferred until
Cyberonics received payment from the centers and the centers in turn received
third-party reimbursement or satisfied other terms set forth in their respective
arrangements. During fiscal year 1997, one customer represented approximately 13
percent of net sales.
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           JUNE 30, 1997 (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND RELATED DATA (CONTINUED)
    ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.  During fiscal year 1997, the Company recorded an
allowance for doubtful accounts of $58,826, and no write-offs have been charged
against the allowance through June 30, 1997.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.  All research and development costs are expensed
as incurred.
 
    WARRANTY EXPENSE.  The Company provides at the time of shipment for the
estimated costs which may be incurred under its product warranties.
 
    LICENSE AGREEMENTS.  The Company has executed licensing agreements under
which it has secured the rights provided under certain patents. License fees and
royalties, payable under the terms of these agreements, are expensed as
incurred.
 
    INCOME TAXES.  Cyberonics accounts for income taxes in accordance with the
liability method prescribed by Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes."
Under this method, deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary
differences between financial accounting and tax bases of assets and
liabilities. Such differences relate primarily to the Company's election to
defer the deduction of certain start-up costs for federal income tax purposes,
the deductibility of certain accruals and reserves and the effect of tax loss
and tax credit carryforwards not yet utilized. Deferred tax assets are evaluated
for realization based on a more-likely-than-not criteria in determining if a
valuation allowance should be provided.
 
    NET LOSS PER SHARE.  The Company's net loss per share is based on the
weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Common equivalent shares,
consisting of the effect of stock options and warrants, are excluded from the
per share calculations, as the effect of their inclusion is antidilutive. In
March 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 128,
"Earnings Per Share." For periods ending after December 15, 1997, Cyberonics
will adopt the provisions of the new statement and the Company will
retroactively revise the presentation of net loss per share in historical
financial statements to present both basic and diluted net loss per share as
required by SFAS No. 128. The Company's net loss per share presented in the
accompanying financial statements, as calculated under the provisions of APB
Opinion No. 15, are the same as those had basic net loss per share under SFAS
No. 128 been presented. Additionally, net loss per share as presented herein is
also the same as those had diluted net loss per share under the provisions of
SFAS No. 128 been presented, since the Company's outstanding stock options and
warrants would not have been included in the calculation because their effect
would have been antidilutive.
 
NOTE 2. INVENTORIES
 
Inventories consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              JUNE 30,
                                                                      ------------------------
                                                                          1997         1996
                                                                      ------------  ----------
<S>                                                                   <C>           <C>
Raw materials and components........................................  $    454,122  $  307,707
Work-in-process.....................................................       206,282     227,821
Finished goods......................................................       344,952     136,308
                                                                      ------------  ----------
                                                                      $  1,005,356  $  671,836
                                                                      ------------  ----------
                                                                      ------------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 JUNE 30, 1997
 
NOTE 3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
Property and equipment consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             JUNE 30,
                                                                     ------------------------
                                                                        1997         1996
                                                                     -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                  <C>          <C>
Furniture and fixtures.............................................  $   357,510  $   232,704
Office equipment...................................................       64,223       59,633
Computer equipment.................................................      730,085      612,113
Research and development equipment.................................      115,898      109,959
Manufacturing equipment............................................      515,950      501,309
Leasehold improvements.............................................      243,123      243,123
                                                                     -----------  -----------
                                                                       2,026,789    1,758,841
Accumulated depreciation...........................................   (1,664,456)  (1,425,960)
                                                                     -----------  -----------
                                                                     $   362,333  $   332,881
                                                                     -----------  -----------
                                                                     -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 4. ACCRUED LIABILITIES
 
Accrued liabilities are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             JUNE 30,
                                                                    --------------------------
                                                                        1997          1996
                                                                    ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                 <C>           <C>
Clinical costs....................................................  $    688,271  $    618,885
Warranties........................................................       231,808       167,778
Payroll and other compensation....................................       219,288       257,468
Professional services.............................................       114,800       209,540
Marketing activities..............................................        58,562       155,526
Royalties.........................................................        46,320        48,444
Customer deposits.................................................        18,364        48,916
Other.............................................................        85,501        52,377
                                                                    ------------  ------------
                                                                    $  1,462,914  $  1,558,934
                                                                    ------------  ------------
                                                                    ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 5. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
    PREFERRED STOCK.  The Company has 2,500,000 shares of undesignated Preferred
Stock authorized and available for future issuance, of which none have been
issued through June 30, 1997. With respect to the shares authorized, the
Company's Board of Directors, at its sole discretion, may determine, fix and
alter dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms
of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of
shares constituting any such series, and may determine the designation, terms
and conditions of the issuance of any such shares.
 
    COMMON STOCK.  During the year ended June 30, 1995, stock option exercises
and issuances of Common Stock under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Company's Employee Stock Recognition Program increased the number of
common shares by 415,616, 32,391 and 200, respectively. During the year ended
June 30, 1996, stock option exercises and issuances of Common Stock under the
Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan increased the number of common shares by
63,849 and 14,005,
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           JUNE 30, 1997 (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 5. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
respectively. During the year ended June 30, 1997, stock option exercises and
issuances of Common Stock under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan
increased the number of common shares by 10,734 and 18,134, respectively.
 
    In April 1996, Cyberonics and St. Jude Medical, Inc. ("St. Jude") entered
into an Agreement and Plan of Merger ("Merger Agreement") and a related Common
Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement"). Pursuant to the Stock
Purchase Agreement, in July 1996, Cyberonics sold to St. Jude 2,181,818 newly
issued shares of Cyberonics Common Stock at $5.50 per share, providing proceeds
to the Company of approximately $11,200,000 after offering costs. In October
1996, St. Jude's right, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, to acquire the
Company's remaining outstanding common shares for approximately $7.00 per share
expired unexercised.
 
    In March 1997, the Company completed a private equity financing, issuing
1,534,374 new shares of the Company's Common Stock in exchange for $4.44 per
share, providing additional proceeds to the Company of approximately $6,800,000
after offering costs.
 
    WARRANTS.  In connection with the execution of certain lease agreements,
Cyberonics granted warrants to a third-party leasing company to effectively
purchase up to 9,104 shares of the Company's Common Stock. Through June 30,
1997, the warrant holder has exercised its rights to purchase 7,534 shares,
netting 5,185 shares upon the execution of a cashless exercise. A warrant for
the purchase of 1,570 shares at an exercise price of $5.33 per common share was
outstanding at June 30, 1997, and was exercised in August 1997.
 
    PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS.  In January 1997, the Company's Board of
Directors declared a dividend distribution of one Preferred Share Purchase Right
("Right") on each outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock to
stockholders of record on March 10, 1997. The Rights will become exercisable
following the tenth day after a person or group announces an acquisition of 20
percent or more of the Company's Common Stock or announces commencement of a
tender offer, the consummation of which would result in ownership by the persons
or group of 20 percent or more of the Common Stock. Each Right entitles
stockholders to buy 1/1000 of a share of the Company's Series A Participating
Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $30. The Company will be entitled to
redeem the Rights at $.01 per Right at any time on or before the tenth day
following acquisition by a person or group of 20 percent or more of the
Company's Common Stock. If, prior to redemption of the Rights, a person or group
acquires 20 percent or more of the Company's Common Stock, each Right not owned
by a holder of 20 percent or more of the Common Stock will entitle its holder to
purchase, at the Right's then current exchange price, that number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company (or, in certain circumstances as determined by the
Board, cash, other property or other securities) having a market value at that
time of twice the Right's exercise price. If, after the tenth day following
acquisition by a person or group of 20 percent or more of the Company's Common
Stock, the Company sells more than 50 percent of its assets or earning power or
is acquired in a merger or other business combination, the acquiring person must
assume the obligations under the Rights and the Rights will become exercisable
to acquire Common Stock of the acquiring person at the discounted price. At any
time after an event triggering exercisability of the Rights at a discounted
price and prior to the acquisition by the acquiring person of 50 percent or more
of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than those owned by the acquiring person or its
affiliates) for the Common Stock of the Company at an exchange ratio of one
share of Common Stock per Right.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           JUNE 30, 1997 (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 6. STOCK INCENTIVE AND PURCHASE PLANS
 
    STOCK OPTIONS.  Cyberonics has reserved an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of
its Common Stock through June 30, 1997, for issuance pursuant to its Amended
1988 Incentive Stock Option Plan and its 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Stock
Option Plans"). Options granted under the Stock Option Plans generally vest
ratably over four or five years following their date of grant. The vesting of
certain options occurs up to 10 years from the grant date but can accelerate
based upon the achievement of specific milestones related to regulatory
approvals and the achievement of Company sales objectives. In June 1997, 446,147
shares vested upon receipt of FDA panel recommendation, and in July 1997 an
additional 356,156 shares vested upon FDA approval. Options granted under the
Stock Option Plans have maximum terms of 10 years. The Amended 1988 Incentive
Stock Option Plan allows issuance of either nonstatutory or incentive stock
options, while the 1996 Stock Option Plan provides for issuance of nonstatutory
stock options exclusively.
 
    The following is a summary of the Company's stock option activity for the
three years ended June 30, 1997:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          OUTSTANDING              EXERCISABLE
                                                                    -----------------------  -----------------------
                                                                                 WEIGHTED                 WEIGHTED
                                                                                  AVERAGE                  AVERAGE
                                                         SHARES                  EXERCISE                 EXERCISE
                                                        RESERVED      SHARES       PRICE       SHARES       PRICE
                                                       -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>
Balance at June 30, 1994.............................      427,129     892,713       $2.39      486,185   $    1.26
  Shares reserved....................................      500,000
  Granted............................................     (613,800)    613,800        4.12
  Options becoming exercisable.......................                                           133,523
  Exercised..........................................                 (429,666)        .17     (429,666)
  Canceled or forfeited..............................      273,396    (273,396)       5.58
                                                       -----------  ----------               ----------
Balance at June 30, 1995.............................      586,725     803,451        3.82      190,042        2.94
  Granted............................................      (52,000)     52,000        4.77
  Options becoming exercisable.......................                                           167,412
  Exercised..........................................                  (63,849)        .71      (63,849)
  Canceled or forfeited..............................       72,050     (72,050)       3.38
                                                       -----------  ----------               ----------
Balance at June 30, 1996.............................      606,775     719,552        4.20      293,605        4.74
  Shares reserved....................................    2,000,000
  Granted............................................   (1,893,388)  1,893,388        3.11
  Options becoming exercisable.......................                                           762,269
  Exercised..........................................                  (10,734)       1.31      (10,734)
  Canceled or forfeited..............................      396,816    (396,816)       5.05
                                                       -----------  ----------               ----------
Balance at June 30, 1997.............................    1,110,203   2,205,390       $3.13    1,045,140  $     3.04
                                                       -----------  ----------               ----------
                                                       -----------  ----------               ----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           JUNE 30, 1997 (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 6. STOCK INCENTIVE AND PURCHASE PLANS (CONTINUED)
 
    For certain options granted, the Company recognizes as compensation expense
the excess of the deemed value for accounting purposes of the Common Stock on
the date the options were granted over the aggregate exercise price of such
options. This compensation expense is amortized ratably over the vesting period
of each option. The Company recognized compensation expense totaling $33,365
during fiscal 1997, $71,076 during fiscal 1996 and $91,200 during fiscal 1997.
The Company also recognized adjustments totaling $56,264 during fiscal 1996 to
reduce deferred compensation balances as a result of employee terminations.
 
    The fair values of each option grant and purchase plan discounts are
estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following
weighted average assumptions used for grants in fiscal years 1997 and 1996:
risk-free interest rate of 7.2 percent, expected life of five years for options
and restricted stock, expected life of six months for purchase plan shares,
expected volatility of 78 percent and no expected dividend yields. The weighted
average fair value of options granted at prices equal to the Company's market
value in fiscal years 1997 and 1996 was $2.20 and $3.22, respectively, and was
$2.12 for options granted below the Company's market value during fiscal 1997.
 
    Had the compensation cost for these plans been determined pursuant to the
alternative method under Statement No. 123, the Company's net loss and loss per
share would have been increased to the following pro forma amounts:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                                ------------------------------
                                                                     1997            1996
                                                                --------------  --------------
<S>                                                             <C>             <C>
Net loss--
  As reported.................................................  $  (11,244,831) $  (10,113,250)
  Pro forma...................................................     (13,003,529)    (10,227,189)
Loss per share--
  As reported.................................................            (.93)          (1.06)
  Pro forma...................................................           (1.08)          (1.08)
</TABLE>
 
    Because the Statement No. 123 method of accounting has not been applied to
options granted prior to July 1, 1995, the resulting pro forma compensation cost
may not be representative of that to be expected in future years. Additionally,
the 1997 pro forma amounts include $5,028 related to the purchase discount
offered under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The weighted average
fair value of shares granted to employees in fiscal year 1997 was $3.25.
 
    The Company's outstanding options are segregated into the following three
categories in accordance with Statement No. 123:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       WEIGHTED
                                          WEIGHTED      AVERAGE
                            RANGE OF       AVERAGE     REMAINING
OUTSTANDING  EXERCISABLE    EXERCISE      EXERCISE    CONTRACTUAL
  SHARES       SHARES         PRICE         PRICE        LIFE
- -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------  -----------
<S>          <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
     25,502      25,502   $  0.37-$0.67   $    0.51    4.2 years
  2,058,388     998,221       2.55-3.50        3.04    8.8 years
    121,500      21,417       4.00-8.25        5.09    8.9 years
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           JUNE 30, 1997 (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 6. STOCK INCENTIVE AND PURCHASE PLANS (CONTINUED)
    In December 1994, Cyberonics canceled outstanding stock options for the
purchase of 100,700 shares of the Company's Common Stock with a weighted average
exercise price of $7.46 per share and in exchange granted stock options for the
same number of shares and with the same vesting provisions following a one-year
halt on exercisability at an exercise price of $5.25 per share, which equaled
the Company's market value per share on the date of reissuance. In November
1996, Cyberonics canceled outstanding stock options for the purchase of 354,800
shares of the Company's Common Stock with a weighted average exercise price of
$5.20 per share and in exchange granted stock options for the same number of
shares and with the same vesting provisions following a halt on exercisability
until the sooner of 14 months expired or FDA advisory panel approval was
received for the Company's product, at an exercise price of $3.06 per share,
which equaled the Company's market value per share on the date of reissuance.
 
    STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.  Under the Cyberonics, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase
Plan (the "Stock Purchase Plan"), 100,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock
have been reserved for issuance. Subject to certain limits, the Stock Purchase
Plan allows eligible employees to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock
through payroll deductions of up to 15 percent of their respective current
compensation at a price equaling the lesser of 85 percent of the fair market
value of the Company's Common Stock on (a) the first business day of the
purchase period or (b) the last business day of the purchase period. Purchase
periods, under provisions of the Stock Purchase Plan, are six months in length
and begin on the first business days of June and December. At June 30, 1997,
10,137 shares remain available for future issuances under the Stock Purchase
Plan.
 
    STOCK RECOGNITION PROGRAM.  In May 1992, the Company's Board of Directors
established the Cyberonics Employee Stock Recognition Program. Since its
inception, a total of 8,600 shares of the Company's Common Stock has been
reserved for issuance as special recognition grants. The shares are granted to
employees for special performances and/or contributions at the discretion of the
Company's President, based on nominations made by fellow employees. At June 30,
1997, 4,030 shares remain available for future issuances under the program.
 
NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES
 
Components of the Company's loss before taxes are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                ---------------------------------------------
                                                     1997            1996           1995
                                                --------------  --------------  -------------
<S>                                             <C>             <C>             <C>
Domestic......................................  $   (8,730,646) $   (8,772,435) $  (6,604,780)
Foreign.......................................      (2,514,185)     (1,340,815)      (634,030)
                                                --------------  --------------  -------------
                                                $  (11,244,831) $  (10,113,250) $  (7,238,810)
                                                --------------  --------------  -------------
                                                --------------  --------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           JUNE 30, 1997 (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the Company's
effective income tax rate is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                               -------------------------------
                                                                 1997       1996       1995
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                            <C>        <C>        <C>
U.S. statutory rate..........................................      (34.0)%     (34.0)%     (34.0)%
Increase in deferred tax valuation allowance.................       35.1       30.8       31.4
Amortization of deferred compensation........................        0.1       (0.1)       0.4
Other, net...................................................       (1.2)       3.3        2.2
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                     0.0%       0.0%       0.0%
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities
are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           JUNE 30,
                                                                 ----------------------------
                                                                     1997           1996
                                                                 -------------  -------------
<S>                                                              <C>            <C>
Deferred tax assets:
  Federal net operating loss carryforwards.....................  $  14,350,529  $  11,436,378
  Foreign net operating loss carryforwards.....................      1,191,384        210,852
  Tax credit carryforwards.....................................      1,254,312      1,003,964
  Warranties...................................................         78,816         57,046
  Depreciation.................................................         76,006         77,787
  Clinical costs...............................................         55,083         81,772
  Other, net...................................................        132,586        169,161
                                                                 -------------  -------------
    Total deferred tax assets..................................     17,138,716     13,036,960
Total deferred tax liabilities, net............................        (12,676)       (23,514)
Deferred tax valuation allowance...............................    (17,126,040)   (13,013,446)
                                                                 -------------  -------------
                                                                 -------------  -------------
    Net deferred tax assets and liabilities....................  $    --        $    --
                                                                 -------------  -------------
                                                                 -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    At June 30, 1997, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards of
approximately $42,200,000 for federal income tax purposes, which expire during
the years 2003 through 2012, and tax credit carryforwards of approximately
$1,300,000 for federal income tax purposes, which expire during the years 2006
through 2012. As the Company has had cumulative losses and there is no assurance
of future taxable income, a valuation allowance totaling $17,126,040 is
established as of June 30, 1997, to fully offset the Company's net deferred tax
assets, including those relating to its carryforwards. The valuation allowance
increased $4,112,594 and $3,117,728 for the years ended June 30, 1997 and 1996,
due primarily to the Company's additional net operating losses. Current federal
income tax regulations with respect to changes in ownership could limit the
utilization of the Company's net operating loss carryforwards.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           JUNE 30, 1997 (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 8. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
 
    In September 1994, Cyberonics implemented an employee retirement savings
plan (the "Plan") which qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue
Code. The Plan is designed to provide eligible employees with an opportunity to
make regular contributions into a long-term investment and savings program.
Substantially all U.S. employees are eligible to participate in the Plan
beginning with the first quarterly open enrollment date following start of
employment. Employer contributions are made solely at the Company's discretion.
No employer contributions were made to the Plan for the years ended June 30,
1997, 1996 and 1995.
 
NOTE 9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
    POSTMARKET CLINICAL SURVEILLANCE.  Pursuant to the postmarket surveillance
conditions specified as part of the Company's recent FDA marketing approval, the
Company is required to conduct clinical follow-up on a limited number of
patients from its most recent study in order to monitor the safety and
tolerability of the NCP-Registered Trademark- System on an extended basis. The
Company expenses the costs related to these long-term follow-up activities as
they are incurred and establishes accruals for such costs incurred but not paid
as of the respective balance sheet dates.
 
    LICENSE AGREEMENTS.  The Company executed a license agreement which provides
Cyberonics with worldwide exclusive rights under three United States patents
(and their international counterparts) covering the method and devices of the
NCP System for vagus nerve and other cranial nerve stimulation for the control
of epilepsy and other movement disorders. The license agreement provides that
the Company will pay a royalty equal to the greater of $36,000 per year or at
the rate of 6 percent on the first $12 million of sales and at the rate of 3
percent thereafter for the remaining term of the licensed patents. The license
agreement runs for successive three-year terms, renewable at the Company's
election. The license agreement, and its periods of extension, may not be
terminated by the licensor without cause. The Company's royalty payments
pursuant to this agreement are ratably charged to expense.
 
    On July 28, 1989, the Company executed a license agreement for a specific
application of lead designs to be used in vagus nerve stimulation for the
control of epilepsy and other movement disorders. The licensor retains all
rights to this patent for applications outside the above specified use. Pursuant
to the license agreement, as amended in 1991, the Company was obligated to pay a
license fee of $200,000, of which all had been paid as of June 30, 1997. The
Company has a limited-term option to expand the licensed field of use for
additional indications for a license fee of $15,000 per indication and has made
partial payments for certain such indications. Amounts due under this agreement
are being charged to expense as incurred. In addition, the Company is obligated
to pay the licensor an earned royalty of 1 percent of the Company's net sales
price of implantable systems incorporating the licenser's standard lead and 1.75
percent of net sales incorporating the licenser's bi-directional lead. The
Company paid royalties of $26,000 during fiscal year 1995 and $35,000 during
each of fiscal years 1996 and 1997, and has agreed to pay minimum royalties of
$35,000 in each fiscal year thereafter for the life of the licensed patents.
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           JUNE 30, 1997 (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)
    LEASE AGREEMENTS.  The Company leases offices, manufacturing and sales
distribution facilities as well as transportation and office equipment under
operating leases. Future minimum payments relating to these agreements at June
30, 1997, are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
- ----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                   <C>
1998................................................  $  282,934
1999................................................     160,737
2000................................................      83,409
2001................................................      16,307
2002................................................      13,778
                                                      ----------
                                                      $  557,165
                                                      ----------
                                                      ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The Company is negotiating an operating lease agreement for a new domestic
office and manufacturing facility totaling approximately 22,000 square feet and
expanding to approximately 41,000 square feet by March 1998. Future minimum
payments relating to this lease are expected to be approximately $287,000 for
the year ending June 30, 1998, $679,000 for each of the years ending June 30,
1999 through 2002, and $848,000 in aggregate beyond June 30, 2002.
 
    OTHER COMMITMENTS.  At June 30, 1997, Cyberonics had approximately $650,000
in noncancelable commitments related to domestic launch activities planned for
the Company's NCP System during fiscal 1998.
 
NOTE 10. CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK
 
    The Company's cash equivalents and securities held to maturity represent
potential concentrations of credit risk. The Company minimizes potential
concentrations of credit risk in cash equivalents and marketable securities by
placing investments in high quality financial instruments and, as required by
its corporate investment policy, limiting the amount of investment in any one
issuing party. At June 30, 1997, management believes that the Company has no
significant concentrations of credit risk and has incurred no material
impairments in the carrying values of its cash equivalents and securities held
to maturity.
 
NOTE 11. GEOGRAPHIC AREA INFORMATION
 
    The Company's business activities are represented by a single industry
segment, the manufacturing and distribution of medical products. For management
purposes, the Company is segmented into two geographic areas: North America and
Europe (which includes all export sales to unaffiliated customers in Europe, the
Middle East, Africa and Asia/Pacific). Sales between geographic areas are made
at prices which would approximate transfers to unaffiliated distributors.
Because of the interdependence of the Company's geographic areas, the operating
loss as presented below may not be representative of the geographic distribution
which would occur if the areas were not interdependent.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           JUNE 30, 1997 (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 11. GEOGRAPHIC AREA INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
 
    The Company's net sales, losses from operations and assets by geographic
area for the fiscal years that separate geographic business units have operated
are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         NORTH
                                                        AMERICA         EUROPE      ELIMINATIONS    CONSOLIDATED
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>
1997
Customer sales.....................................  $       24,452  $   1,347,553  $    --        $    1,372,005
Intercompany sales.................................       1,256,150       --           (1,256,150)       --
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Total net sales....................................  $    1,280,602  $   1,347,553  $  (1,256,150) $    1,372,005
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Loss from operations...............................  $  (11,610,600) $  (2,314,614) $   2,441,713  $  (11,483,501)
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Identifiable assets................................  $    9,902,199  $   1,135,011  $    (787,473) $   10,249,737
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         NORTH
                                                        AMERICA         EUROPE      ELIMINATIONS    CONSOLIDATED
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>
1996
Customer sales.....................................  $      109,691  $   1,307,274  $    --        $    1,416,965
Intercompany sales.................................       1,227,500       --           (1,227,500)       --
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Total net sales....................................  $    1,337,191  $   1,307,274  $  (1,227,500) $    1,416,965
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Loss from operations...............................  $  (10,492,597) $  (1,243,843) $   1,297,230  $  (10,439,210)
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Identifiable assets................................  $    3,689,080  $     420,193  $    (161,230) $    3,948,043
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         NORTH
                                                        AMERICA         EUROPE      ELIMINATIONS    CONSOLIDATED
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>
1995
Customer sales.....................................  $      204,187  $     762,802  $    --        $      966,989
Intercompany sales.................................         778,437       --             (778,437)       --
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Total net sales....................................  $      982,624  $     762,802  $    (778,437) $      966,989
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Loss from operations...............................  $   (7,917,323) $    (671,384) $     623,626  $   (7,965,081)
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
Identifiable assets................................  $   13,509,248  $     282,305  $    (230,960) $   13,560,593
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
                                                     --------------  -------------  -------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
                                CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           JUNE 30, 1997 (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 12. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION--UNAUDITED
 
    The tables below contain summarized unaudited quarterly data for the years
ended June 30, 1997 and 1996. The Company believes this information reflects all
adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a
fair presentation of the quarterly information presented. The operating results
for any quarter presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may
be expected for future periods.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            FIRST         SECOND          THIRD         FOURTH         ANNUAL
                                           QUARTER        QUARTER        QUARTER        QUARTER        TOTALS
                                        -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
1997
Net sales.............................  $     284,943  $     437,818  $     288,979  $     360,265  $   1,372,005
Gross profit..........................        215,652        279,437        216,310        288,426        999,825
Operating expenses....................      2,237,235      2,977,854      3,339,736      3,928,501     12,483,326
Net loss..............................     (1,792,521)    (2,696,226)    (3,050,028)    (3,706,056)   (11,244,831)
Net loss per share....................  $        (.16) $        (.23) $        (.26) $        (.28) $        (.93)
Shares used in computing net loss per
  share...............................     11,216,235     11,765,178     11,824,121     13,315,148     12,030,171
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            FIRST         SECOND          THIRD         FOURTH         ANNUAL
                                           QUARTER        QUARTER        QUARTER        QUARTER        TOTALS
                                        -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
1996
Net sales.............................  $     192,310  $     400,236  $     292,818  $     531,601  $   1,416,965
Gross profit..........................        136,250        299,977        221,203        347,973      1,005,403
Operating expenses....................      2,414,645      2,892,027      2,665,176      3,472,765     11,444,613
Net loss..............................     (2,129,564)    (2,475,081)    (2,340,296)    (3,168,309)   (10,113,250)
Net loss per share....................  $        (.22) $        (.26) $        (.25) $        (.33) $       (1.06)
Shares used in computing net loss per
  share...............................      9,500,209      9,503,971      9,509,345      9,538,626      9,513,038
</TABLE>
 
    Quarterly and annual loss per share are computed independently based upon
the applicable number of weighted average common shares and share equivalents
for each period.
 
                                      F-18

<PAGE>

1

LEASE AGREEMENT

STATE OF TEXAS

COUNTY OF HARRIS

     This Lease, made and entered into on the third day of November, 1994, by 
and between SALITEX II, LIMITED (Landlord), and CYBERONICS, INC., as (Tenant):

                                   WITNESSETH:

1.   LEASED PREMISES.

     In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth 
herein, Landlord hereby leases to Tenant and Tenant hereby leases from 
Landlord, for the rental and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set 
forth, those certain premises outlined on the floor plan attached hereto as 
Exhibit "A" and made a part hereof (the "Leased Premises"), on the first 
floor, in the building known as CLEAR LAKE ONE (the "Building") located at 
17448 Highway Three in Webster, Harris County, Texas. The Building is located 
on that certain land (the "Land") conveyed by that certain deed recorded 
under Film Code Number 181-39-0452 of the Official Public Records of Real 
Property of Harris County, Texas, and more specifically described on the 
attached exhibit "A-1".

The term "Net Rentable Area" as used herein, shall refer to (i), in the case 
of a single tenancy floor, all floor area measured from the inside surface of 
the outer glass line of the Building to the inside surface of the opposite 
outer glass line, excluding only the areas ("service areas") within the 
outside walls used for Building stairs, fire towers, elevator shafts, flues, 
vents, stacks, pipe shafts and vertical ducts, but including any such service 
areas which are for the specific use of the particular tenant, such as 
special stairs or elevators, plus an allocation of the square footage of the 
Building's elevator machine rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms and public 
lobbies, and (ii), in the case of a floor to be occupied by more than one 
tenant, all floor areas within the inside surface of the outer glass walls 
enclosing the Leased Premises and measured to the mid-point of the walls 
separating areas leased by or held for lease to other tenants or from areas 
devoted to corridors, elevator foyers, restrooms, mechanical rooms, janitor 
closets, vending areas and other similar facilities for the use of all 
tenants (hereinafter sometimes called "common areas"), but including a 
proportionate part of the common areas located on such floor based upon the 
ratio which the tenant's Net Rentable Area (excluding common areas) on such
floor bears to the aggregate Net Rentable Area (excluding common areas) on such


                                       1



<PAGE>

floor, plus an allocation of the square footage of the Building's elevator 
machine rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms, and public lobbies. For the 
purposes of this Lease the common area factor is fifteen (15%) percent 
("add-on factor"). No deductions from Net Rentable Area shall be made for 
columns or projections necessary to the Building. The Net Rentable Area in 
the Leased Premises has been calculated on the basis of the foregoing 
definition and is hereby stipulated for all purposes hereof to be 16,591 
square feet.

2.   USE.

     Tenant shall have the right to occupy and use the Leased Premises for 
office, laboratory, clean room, light machine shop, light assembly in 
connection with implantable medical devices.

3.   TERM.

     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, this Lease shall 
be in force for a term (the "Term") of Thirty six (36) months, beginning on 
November 1, 1994, (the "Commencement Date") and expiring on October 31, 1997, 
(the "Expiration Date").

4.   BASE RENTAL; RENT.

     A.  Subject to the provisions for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 
Tenant hereby agrees to pay, without deduction or offset, a base annual 
rental (the "Base Rental") in the amount of One hundred ninety nine thousand 
ninety two and 00/100 ($199,092.00) dollars throughout the Term of this 
Lease. The Base Rental shall be due and payable in twelve (12) equal monthly 
installments of Sixteen thousand five hundred ninety one and 00/100 
($16,591.00) dollars in advance, without demand, on the first day of each 
calendar month during each year of the Term hereof. If the Term commences or 
terminates on any day other than the first or last day of a calendar month, 
the Base Rental and any other sums due hereunder shall be prorated for such 
fractional calendar month.

     B.  The term "Rent" as used in this Lease shall mean the Base Rental, 
the Additional Rental, and all other amounts provided for in this Lease to be 
paid by Tenant, all of which shall constitute rental in consideration for 
this Lease and the leasing of the Leased Premises. All past due installments 
of Rent shall bear interest at four (4) percentage points over the current 
prime rate, of the average of the three (3) largest banks located in Houston, 
Texas, of per annum from the date due until paid. All payments of Rent shall 
be paid to Landlord in lawful money of the United States of America at the 
address of Landlord shown herein in Harris County, Texas, or to such other 
party or at such other place as Landlord may designate from time to time in a 
written notice to Tenant.


                                       2


<PAGE>

5.   SECURITY DEPOSIT.

     Tenant has deposited prior to execution of this Lease with Landlord the 
sum of Thirteen thousand six hundred six and 26/100 ($13,606.26), which upon 
execution of this Lease, Six thousand eight hundred fifty four and 17/100 
($6,803.13) dollars will be returned to Tenant making the security deposit 
held by Landlord Six thousand eight hundred fifty four and 17/100 
($6,803.13), as a security deposit (the "Security Deposit") for the faithful 
performance and observance by Tenant of the terms, provisions and conditions 
of this Lease. It is agreed that in the event Tenant defaults in respect of 
any of the terms, provisions or conditions of this Lease, including, but not 
limited to, the payment of Base Rental, or Additional Rental, Landlord may, 
at Landlord's option, use, apply or retain the whole or any part of the 
Security Deposit to the extent required for the payment of any Rent or any 
other sum as to which Tenant is in default, or for any sum which Landlord may 
expend or may be required to expend by reason of Tenant's default in respect 
of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Lease, including, but 
not limited to, any damages or deficiency in the re-letting of the Leased 
Premises, whether such damages or deficiency accrued before or after summary 
proceedings or other re-entry by Landlord. In the event that Tenant shall 
fully and faithfully comply with all of the terms, provisions, covenants and 
conditions of this Lease, the Security Deposit shall be returned to Tenant 
within thirty (30) days after termination of this Lease (provided such 
termination is not the result of a default by Tenant hereunder) and after 
delivery of entire possession of the Leased Premises to Landlord and payment 
of all sums due to Landlord. In the event of a sale of the Land or the 
Building of which the Leased Premises form a part, Landlord shall have the 
right to transfer the Security Deposit to the vendee and upon the express 
assumption of such obligation by such vendee Landlord shall thereupon be 
released by Tenant from all liability for the return of the Security Deposit; 
and Tenant agrees to look solely to the new Landlord for the return of the 
Security Deposit; and it is agreed that the provisions hereof shall apply to 
every transfer or assignment made of the Security Deposit to a new Landlord.

6.   ADDITIONAL RENTAL.

     In addition to the Base Rental payable by Tenant during each year of the 
Term, Tenant shall also pay Additional Rental in accordance with this 
paragraph.

     A.   Definitions

          (1) The term "Taxes" shall mean all taxes, assessments and all 
other governmental charges, if any, which are levied, assessed or imposed 
upon, or become due and payable in connection


                                       3

<PAGE>

with, or a lien upon, the Land, the Building, Garage, or facilities used in 
connection therewith, or the operation thereof, (excepting federal and state 
taxes on income) including taxes levied by present or future taxing 
authorities and all taxes of whatsoever nature that are imposed in 
substitution for or in lieu of any of the taxes, impositions, assessments or 
other charges included in this definition of Taxes; provided, however, Taxes 
shall not include the portion, if any, of ad valorem taxes against the Leased 
Premises that is paid by tenants as a separate charge pursuant to paragraph 7 
of this Lease.

     (2)   The term "Operating Cost" shall mean all operating expenses of the 
Building which shall be computed on the accrual basis and which shall include 
all expenses, costs and disbursements of every kind and nature which Landlord 
shall pay or become obligated to pay because of or in connection with the 
ownership and operation of the Land and the Building, including, but not 
limited to, the following:

           (a)   Wages and salaries of all employees engaged in the operation 
and maintenance of the Land and the Building, including taxes, insurance and 
benefits relating thereto and prorated to reflect time actually spent at the 
building;

           (b)   All supplies and materials used in the operation and 
maintenance of the Building;

           (c)   Cost of water, sewage, power, heating, lighting, air 
conditioning, ventilating, and other utilities furnished in connection with 
the operation of the Building (excluding any such cost billed to specific 
tenants);

           (d)   Costs of all maintenance and service agreements on 
equipment, including, but not limited to, security services, alarm services, 
window cleaning, janitorial service, and elevator maintenance;

           (e)   Costs of casualty, rentals and liability insurance 
applicable to the Building and Landlord's personal property used in 
connection therewith;

           (f)   Costs of repairs and general maintenance of the interior, 
parking areas, and landscaping of the Land and the Building, excluding 
repairs and general maintenance paid by proceeds of insurance or paid 
directly by any tenant or other third parties and alterations attributable 
solely to tenants of the Building other than Tenant;

           (g)   Management fees not to exceed a sum equal to five percent 
(5%) of the Base Rentals derived from tenants of the Building; and

                                       4


<PAGE>

           (h)   A reasonable amortization charge on account of any capital 
expenditures incurred to effect a reduction in operating expenses of the 
Building.

Expressly excluded from the definition of the term Operating Cost are:

     (i)     Replacement of capital investment items, excepting those set 
forth above in paragraph 6A(2)(h);

     (ii)    Rental and similar commissions, other than those set forth in 
paragraph 6A(2)(g) above, advertising, and legal expenses;

     (iii)   Specific costs billed to and paid by specific tenants;

     (iv)    Depreciation; and,

     (v)     Principal, interest, and other costs directly related to 
financing.

For the purpose herein the term "Basic Operating Cost" shall be deemed to be 
the 1994 operating expenses for the Building per square foot of total Net 
Rentable Area of the Building.

     (3)   The term "Tenant's Share" shall mean the proportion that the Net 
Rentable Area of the Leased Premises bears to the total Net Rentable Area of 
the Building, which shall be deemed to be 49,890 square feet. For the 
purposes of this Lease, Tenant's Share shall be deemed to be 33.25%.

     (4)   The term "Operating Year" shall mean any calendar year ending 
December 31st after the Commencement Date, including the calendar year in 
which the Term commences.

     (5)   Within 120 days from the end of each Operating Year, Landlord 
shall deliver to Tenant an operating statement setting forth Taxes and 
Operating Cost for such year and comparing such cost with the Basic Taxes and 
Basic Operating Cost defined herein. In the event that the sum of Taxes and 
Operating Cost for any Operating Year as reflected on the operating statement 
exceeds the sum of the Basic Taxes and Basic Operating Cost, Tenant shall pay 
to Landlord, within the time and in the manner as provided below, without 
reduction or set-off, as Additional Rental over and above the Base Rental, 
Tenant's Share of such excess in accordance with the following:

           (a)   Within 30 days of its receipt of the operating statement, 
Tenant shall pay Landlord such Additional Rental due for the preceding 
Operating Year plus an amount necessary so that the Tenant shall have paid 
1/12 of such Additional Rental for each month that has past in the then 
current Operating Year.

                                       5


<PAGE>

           (b)   Tenant shall also pay to Landlord, beginning on the first 
day of the first month after Tenant receives the operating statement and on 
the first day of each month thereafter during the Term, unless subsequently 
adjusted pursuant hereto, one-twelfth of such Additional Rental due for the 
preceding Operating Year.

           (c)   Tenant shall pay to Landlord the Additional Rental due, as 
disclosed by the operating statement furnished after the expiration or 
earlier termination of this Lease, within 10 days of Tenant's receipt of such 
operating statement.

     (6)   Tenant shall be entitled to a credit on the Additional Rental due 
for the Operating Year preceding the year in which each operating statement 
is delivered, which credit shall be equal to the amount of Additional Rental 
already paid by Tenant to Landlord for such Operating Year pursuant to the 
operating statement delivered during such Operating Year.

     (7)   Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall 
the Base Rental provided herein ever be reduced.

     (8)   Within one hundred and twenty (120) days of its receipt of each 
annual operating statement, Tenant at its sole cost and expense shall have 
the right to review in Landlord's offices and during normal business hours 
Landlord's records of Taxes and Operating Cost. If within such thirty-day 
period, Tenant does not give written notice stating in reasonable detail any 
objections to such operating statement, Tenant shall be deemed to have given 
approval of such statement.

     (9)   Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, it is agreed 
that, in the event the Building is not fully occupied during any Operating 
Year, an adjustment shall be made in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles in computing the Operating Costs and Taxes for such 
Operating Year so that such computation would be as though the Building had 
been fully occupied during such Operating Year.

7.   TAXES ON PERSONALTY AND TENANT IMPROVEMENTS.

     Tenant shall pay all ad valorem and similar taxes or assessments levied 
upon or applicable to all equipment, fixtures, furniture, and other property 
placed by Tenant in the Leased Premises in excess of standard Tenant 
Improvements, and all license and other fees or charges imposed on the 
business conducted by Tenant on the Leased Premises.

8.   IMPROVEMENTS.

     A.  Subject to Landlord's prior written approval of Tenant's plans and 
specifications, general contractor(s), and all subcontractors, which approval 
shall not be unreasonably withheld or

                                       6

<PAGE>

delayed, in compliance with all the applicable ordinances, rules, and 
regulations applicable thereto, at Tenant's sole risk, cost, and expense. 
Tenant shall construct, in a good and workmanlike manner, improvements in the 
Leased Premises, and upon completion of such construction by Tenant and 
compliance by Tenant with the following requirements, Landlord shall 
reimburse Tenant for the actual cost of such construction (including 
architectural fees) or $33,182.00, whichever is less; provided, tenant must 
furnish Landlord each and all of the following:

     1. Copy of contractor's contract and all amendments.

     2. Tenant's affidavit that construction is completed and lien waiver and 
        releases from all contractors and subcontractors.

     3. Evidence of all contractors insurance.

     4. One (1) set of as built plans and specifications.

     5. Any contractor guarantee's.

     6. All work performed by Tenant or Tenant's contractor shall be in 
        compliance with all laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and the like.

Payment by Landlord shall be made within fifteen (15) days after Tenant has 
delivered to Landlord the documents and items set forth above.

9. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS OF BUILDING AND LEASED PREMISES.

   A. Landlord shall provide all normal and customary routine maintenance and 
repairs of the exterior and the structural portions of the Building and 
common areas such as lobbies, stairs, corridors, restrooms, roof, and 
elevators in keeping with the usual standards for first class office 
buildings in Clear Lake, Texas. Except to the extent covered by warranties by 
Landlord, suppliers, or contractors, if any, in connection with the Leased 
Premises, Landlord shall not have any obligation to maintain, repair, or 
replace any improvements within the Leased Premises, except for damages 
caused by the acts or omissions of Landlord or tenants contiguous to the 
Leased Premises in the building. Except to the extent that Landlord is 
obligated to repair damage by fire or other casualty pursuant to paragraph 
16, or damage resulting from condemnation pursuant to paragraph 29, or 
tenants contiguous to the Leased Premises in the building, Tenant, at its 
sole cost, shall maintain and repair the Leased Premises and otherwise keep 
the Leased Premises in good order and repair. Landlord shall furnish all 
standard light fixture fluorescent bulb replacements in all areas of the 
Building. Landlord shall not be liable in damages or otherwise by reason of 
inconvenience, annoyance or injury to business arising from the making or 
failure to make any repairs,


                                       7

<PAGE>

alterations, additions or improvements to the Building or the Leased 
Premises, nor shall same be construed as an eviction of Tenant, work an 
abatement of Rent, or relieve Tenant from any covenant or agreement hereof, 
except to the extent provided by law and not waivable by Tenant. If such an 
event materially disrupts Tenants use or occupancy for more than ten (10) 
consecutive days, than Landlord and Tenant will negotiate an abatement of 
rent for such portion of space that is affected.

     B. Tenant covenants and agrees that it will make no improvement, change 
or alteration in the Leased Premises without the prior written consent of 
Landlord which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Tenant further 
covenants not to commit or allow any waste or damage to be committed on any 
portion of the Leased Premises or the Building, and to repair or replace any 
damage or injury done to the Building or any part thereof caused by Tenant or 
Tenant's agents, employees, invitees or visitors; provided, however, if 
Tenant fails to make such repairs or replacements promptly, Landlord may, at 
its option, make such repairs or replacements, and Tenant shall repay all 
cost thereof to Landlord on demand.

10. LANDLORD'S SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY LANDLORD.

     A. Landlord agrees to furnish Tenant, while occupying the Leased 
Premises, with electricity for ordinary office uses and all equipment 
presently in place in Tenant premises as of the date of this Lease; (not to 
include, any additional, duplicating and data processing machines, including 
air conditioning costs therefor, large business machines, special lighting in 
excess of building standard, and any other equipment requiring high 
electrical consumption characteristics), Landlord shall also provide elevator 
service, security service and week - daily janitorial service, in keeping 
with the usual standard for first class office buildings in Clear Lake, 
Texas. During the periods and hours as such services are normally furnished 
to all tenants of the Building (except holidays), Landlord agrees to furnish 
Tenant with hot, cold, and refrigerated water at those points of supply 
provided for general use of other tenants in the Building; heated and 
refrigerated air conditioning in season) at temperatures and in amounts 
considered standard for first class office buildings in Clear Lake, Texas. 
Such services beyond the normal periods and hours will be provided upon 
written request from Tenant at an hourly rate to be billed to Tenant. 
Landlord shall not be liable in damages or otherwise for failure, stoppage, or 
interruption of any such service, including providing parking spaces as 
described in paragraph 10C below, nor shall the same be construed as an 
eviction of Tenant, work an abatement of Rent, or relieve Tenant from any 
covenant or agreement hereof, except to the extent provided by law and not 
waivable by Tenant, but in the event of any failure, stoppage or interruption 
thereof, Landlord shall use reasonable diligence to resume service promptly. 
Landlord shall not be liable in damages or otherwise for


                                       8

<PAGE>

a curtailment of any such service covered by federal, state or municipal 
regulation, and such curtailment shall not be construed as an eviction of 
Tenant, work an abatement of Rent or relieve Tenant from any covenant or 
agreement hereof. If such an event materially disrupts Tenants use or 
occupancy for more than ten (10) consecutive days, than Landlord and Tenant 
will negotiate an abatement of rent for such portion of space that is 
affected.

     B. The work of the Building janitor shall not be unreasonably hindered 
after 6:00 p.m.

     C. Vehicles shall be towed away at their owner's expense for the 
following violations: parking vehicle in the designated Visitor Parking areas 
in or around the Building, in the delivery zones or any other areas other 
than that area specifically designated by Landlord. Landlord may make, modify 
or enforce rules and regulations relating to the parking of vehicles around 
the Building, and Tenant shall abide by such rules and regulations. Landlord 
shall not be liable for any property damage or bodily injury arising from the 
use of the parking lot by the tenants of the Building or their agents, 
employees or invitees.

11. RULES AND REGULATIONS OF BUILDING.

     Tenant shall perform and comply with reasonable Rules and Regulations 
of the Building with respect to safety, care, cleanliness, parking and 
preservation of good order in the Building that may be established from time 
to time by Landlord for tenants of the Building. Such rules and regulations 
and any changes shall apply equally to all tenants. Landlord shall not be 
liable to Tenant for any failure of any other tenants of the Building to 
comply with such Rules and Regulations, attached hereto as Exhibit "C", 
except in the event of an unreasonable refusal to enforce such rule after 
written notice from Tenant.

12. LAWFUL USE.

    Tenant shall comply with all laws, ordinances, orders, rules and 
regulations, whether promulgated by federal, state, municipal or any other 
agency or body having any jurisdiction thereof, and whether in effect now or 
in the future, relating to the use, condition or occupancy of the Leased 
Premises and shall correct any violation thereof promptly after becoming 
aware of such violation. Tenant shall not occupy or use, or permit any 
portion of the Leased Premises to be occupied or used, for any business or 
purpose which is contrary to the use described in paragraph 2 hereof, 
unlawful, or deemed to be extrahazardous on account of fire, or permit 
anything to be done which will in any way increase the rate of fire insurance 
coverage on the Building and/or its contents.


                                      9


<PAGE>


13.  EXTRAORDINARY EQUIPMENT.

     Landlord has approved all current equipment presently used by tenant in 
the Leased Premises. However, without the specific prior written consent 
of Landlord and Tenant's written agreement to pay additional costs, Tenant 
shall not install or maintain any additional apparatus or devices within the 
Leased Premises which will increase the usage of electrical power, water or 
gas for the Leased Premises to an amount greater than would be normally 
required for general office use for space of comparable size in Houston, 
Texas. Upon execution of this Lease, Landlord consents that Tenant may 
install the following equipment based upon the attached list at no extra 
charge.

14.  LANDLORD'S ACCESS.

     Landlord and Landlord's mortgagee shall have the right, unless in case of 
emergency, upon reasonable notice, at all reasonable times during the Term to 
enter the Leased Premises to inspect the condition thereof, and during the 
final six (6) months of the Term to show the Leased Premises to prospective 
new tenants, to determine if Tenant is performing its obligations under this 
Lease, and to perform the services or to make the repairs and restoration 
that Landlord is obligated to perform or furnish under this Lease, to make 
repairs to adjoining space, to cure any defaults of Tenant hereunder that 
Landlord elects to cure, and to remove from the Leased Premises any 
improvements thereto or property placed therein in violation of this Lease.

15.  INSURANCE.

     Landlord shall maintain during the Term of this Lease fire and extended 
coverage insurance insuring the Building and Leased Premises against damage 
or loss from fire or other casualty normally insured against under the terms 
of standard policies of fire and extended coverage insurance. Tenant shall be 
responsible for providing, at Tenant's own expense, (a) all insurance 
coverage necessary for the protection against loss or damage from fire, theft 
or other casualty for Tenant's goods, furniture or other property placed in 
the Leased Premises, and (b) liability insurance covering the Leased Premises 
which insurance coverage and amount shall be in amount not less than 
$2,000,000.00 and Landlord shall be a named loss payee.

16.  FIRE OR OTHER CASUALTY.

     A. If the Leased Premises shall be partially damaged by fire or other 
casualty without the fault or neglect of Tenant or Tenant's agents, 
employees, servants, representatives, guests, invitees or contractors, the 
damages shall be repaired by and at the expense of Landlord, and the Rent 
until such repairs are made shall be abated according to the part of the 
Leased Premises which

                                      10


<PAGE>


is usable by Tenant or Tenant's agents, employees, servants, representatives, 
guests, invitees or contractors. If such partial damage is due to the fault 
or neglect of Tenant, then repairs shall be at Tenant's expense and there 
shall be no abatement of Rent.

     B. If the Leased Premises or the Building shall be totally or 
substantially damaged or rendered wholly or substantially untenantable by 
fire or other casualty without the fault or neglect of Tenant, and if same 
cannot be reasonably expected to be restored or repaired by Landlord within 
six (6) months after such fire or casualty, then Landlord, within sixty (60) 
days after such fire or casualty, shall have the election, upon notifying 
Tenant of its intentions, to terminate this Lease or to repair or reconstruct 
the Leased Premises and Building to substantially the same condition in which 
they existed immediately prior to such damage or destruction. If Landlord 
elects to terminate the Lease as herein permitted, Landlord shall refund to 
Tenant any prepaid rent (unaccrued to the date of the fire or other 
casualty), less any sum then owing Landlord by Tenant. If the Lease is not 
terminated, then this Lease shall continue in full force and effect, Landlord 
shall repair the damage within such six (6) month period, subject to delays 
arising from shortages of labor or material, acts of God, or other conditions 
beyond Landlord's reasonable control (However, Landlords inability to have 
necessary funds available to perform required action shall not be deemed a 
condition of Landlords reasonable control, provided insurance proceeds are 
utilized for the repair and reconstruction of the Leased Premises and 
Building), and the Rent until such repairs are made shall be abated as 
provided in subparagraph A above.

17.  WAIVER OF SUBROGATION.

     Anything in this Lease to the contrary notwithstanding, each party 
hereto hereby releases and waives all claims, rights of recovery, and causes 
of action that either such party or any party claiming by, through, or under 
such party by subrogation or otherwise may now or hereafter have against the 
other party or any of the other party's directors, officers, employees or 
agents for any loss or damage that may occur to the Building, the Leased 
Premises, Tenant Improvements or any of the contents of any of the foregoing 
by reason of fire, Act of God, the elements or any other cause, including 
negligence of the parties hereto or their directors, officers, employees, or 
agents that could have been insured against under the terms of standard fire 
and extended coverage insurance policies; provided, however, that this waiver 
shall be ineffective against any insurer of Landlord or Tenant to the extent 
that such waiver (i) is prohibited by the laws and insurance regulations of 
the State of Texas, or (ii) would invalidate any insurance coverage of 
Landlord or Tenant. Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant for any 
inconvenience or loss to Tenant in connection with any of the repair, 
maintenance, damage, destruction, restoration or replacement referred to in 
this Lease.


                                      11


<PAGE>


18.  MUTUAL INDEMNITY.

     Except for the claims, rights of recovery and causes of action that 
Landlord has released and waived pursuant to Paragraph 17 hereof, Tenant 
shall indemnify and hold harmless Landlord and Landlord's agents, directors, 
officers, employees, invitees, and contractors from all claims, losses, 
costs, damages or expenses (including, but not limited to, attorney's fees) 
resulting or arising from any and all injuries or death of any person or 
damage to any property caused by any act, omission or neglect of Tenant or 
Tenant's directors, officers, employees, agents, invitees or guests, or any 
parties contracting with Tenant relating to the Leased Premises. Except for 
the claims, rights of recovery and causes of action that Tenant has released 
and waived pursuant to Paragraph 17 hereof, Landlord shall indemnify and hold 
harmless Tenant and Tenant's agents, directors, officers, employees, 
invitees, and contractors from all claims, losses, costs, damages or expenses 
(including, but not limited to, attorney's fees) resulting or arising from 
any and all injuries or death of any person or damage to any property caused 
by any act, omission or neglect of Landlord or Landlord's directors, 
officers, employees, agents, invitees or guests, or any parties contracting 
with Landlord relating to the Leased Premises.

19.  NON-WAIVER.

     No consent or waiver, express or implied, by Landlord to or of any 
breach in the performance or observance by the other party of any of its 
obligations under this Lease shall be construed as or constitute a consent or 
waiver to or of any other breach in the performance or observance by such 
party of such obligation or any other obligation of Landlord or Tenant. 
Neither the acceptance by Landlord of any Rent or other payment hereunder, 
whether or not any default hereunder by Tenant is then known to Landlord, nor 
any custom or practice followed in connection with this Lease shall 
constitute a waiver of any of Tenant's obligations under this Lease. Time is 
of the essence with respect to the performance of every obligation of 
Landlord or Tenant under this Lease in which time of performance is a factor.

20.  QUIET POSSESSION.

     Provided Tenant has performed all of its obligations under this Lease, 
including but not limited to the payment of Rent and all other sums due 
hereunder, Tenant shall peaceably and quietly hold and enjoy the Leased 
Premises for the Term, subject to the provisions and conditions set forth in 
this Lease and all reservations and restrictions affecting the Building and 
the Land of record as of the date hereof, and in those that may hereafter be 
created.


                                      12



<PAGE>

21.  NOTICES.

     Each notice required or permitted to be given hereunder by one party to 
the other shall be in writing with a statement therein to the effect that 
notice is given pursuant to this Lease and the same shall be given and shall 
be deemed to have been delivered, served and given if delivered in person or 
placed in the United States Mail, postage prepaid, by United States 
registered or certified mail, addressed to such party at the address provided 
for such party herein. Any notices to Landlord shall be addressed and given 
to Landlord as follows:

     INVESTAR REAL ESTATE SERVICES
     10900 NORTHWEST FREEWAY, SUITE 200A
     HOUSTON, TX 77092
     ATTN: JACK FRILOUX

     With a copy to:

     Salitex II, Limited
     10903 Highland Meadow Village Drive
     Houston, TX 77089
     Attn: Leasing Office

The address for Tenant shall be:

     CYBERONICS, INC.
     17448 HIGHWAY THREE
     SUITE 100
     WEBSTER, TX 77598
     ATTN: JOHN K. BAKEWELL

The address stated above shall be effective for all notices to the respective 
parties until written notice of a change in address is given pursuant to the 
provisions hereof.

22.  LANDLORD'S FAILURE TO PERFORM.

     If Landlord fails to perform any of its obligations under this Lease, 
Landlord shall not be in default hereunder and Tenant shall not have any 
rights or remedies growing out of such failure unless Tenant gives Landlord 
written notice thereof setting forth in reasonable detail the nature and 
extent of such failure and such failure by Landlord is not cured within the 
thirty (30) day period following delivery of such notice or such longer 
period therefor provided elsewhere in this Lease. If such failure cannot 
reasonably be cured within such thirty (30) day period, the length of such 
period shall be extended for the period reasonably required therefor (not to 
exceed an additional thirty (30) day), if Landlord commences curing such 
failure within such thirty (30) day period and continues the curing thereof 
with reasonable diligence and continuity.


                                       13


<PAGE>

23. LIMITATION OF LANDLORD'S PERSONAL LIABILITY.

     In no event shall Landlord, including any successor or assignee of all 
or any portion of Landlord's interest in the Land and Building, be personally 
liable or accountable with respect to any provision of this Lease. If Landlord 
shall be in breach or default with respect to any obligation hereunder or 
otherwise, Tenant agrees to look for satisfaction solely to Landlord's 
interest in the Land and the Building. In the event Landlord transfers this 
Lease, other than as security for a mortgage, Landlord (and, in case of any 
subsequent transfers or conveyances, the then Grantor) shall, upon such 
transfer, upon such transfer and assumption of the obligations hereunder by 
the transferee, be relieved from all liability and obligations hereunder 
arising after such transfer.

24.  LANDLORD'S LIEN AND REMEDIES.

Landlord waives all liens applicable under Texas law, whether statutory, at 
common law, or otherwise arising, including without limitation its statutory 
Landlords lien under the Texas Property Code.

      B. Each of the following acts or omissions of Tenant or occurrence 
shall constitute an "Event of Default":

      (1) Failure or refusal by Tenant to timely pay the Rent or any other 
sum due hereunder within five (5) days of the due date thereof;

      (2) Failure to perform or observe any other covenant or condition of 
this Lease by Tenant to be performed or observed upon the expiration of a 
period of thirty (30) days following written notice to Tenant of such failure;

      (3) Abandonment of the Leased Premises or any significant portion 
thereof;

      (4) The filing on execution or occurrence of: a petition in bankruptcy 
or other insolvency proceeding by or against Tenant; or, petition or answer 
seeking relief under any provision of the Bankruptcy Act; or, an assignment 
for the benefit of creditors or composition; or, a petition or other 
proceeding by or against the Tenant for the appointment of a trustee, 
receiver or liquidator of Tenant or any such guarantor or any property of 
Tenant or a proceeding by any governmental authority for the dissolution or 
liquidation of Tenant. Provided Tenant has ninety (90) days to seek the 
dismissal of any involuntary bankruptcy proceedings.

      C. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, as enumerated above, 
Landlord may, at Landlord's option, in addition


                                      14

<PAGE>

to any other remedy or right given hereunder or by law or equity do any one 
or more of the following:

      (1) Terminate this Lease, in which event Tenant shall immediately 
surrender possession of the Leased Premises to Landlord;

      (2) Enter upon and take possession of the Leased Premises and expel or 
remove Tenant and any other occupant therefrom, with or without having 
terminated this Lease.

      D. Exercise by Landlord of any one or more remedies hereunder granted 
or otherwise available shall not be deemed to be an acceptance of surrender of 
the Leased Premises by Tenant, whether by agreement or by operation of law, 
it being understood that such surrender can be effected only by the written 
agreement of Landlord and Tenant. No removal or other exercise of dominion by 
Landlord over the property of Tenant or others at the Leased Premises shall be 
deemed unauthorized or constitute a conversion, Tenant hereby consenting, 
after any Event of Default, to the aforesaid exercise of dominion over 
Tenant's property within the Leased Premises. All claims for damages by 
reason of such reentry and/or repossession are hereby waived except the 
liability arising by virtue of Landlords gross negligence or willful 
misconduct, as are all claims for damages by reason of any forcible detainer 
proceedings, sequestration proceedings or other legal process, except if such 
actions are unlawful. Tenant agrees that any reentry by Landlord may be 
pursuant to judgment obtained in forcible detainer proceedings or other legal 
proceedings, as Landlord may elect.

      E. In the event Landlord elects to terminate this Lease by reason of an 
Event of Default, then, notwithstanding such termination, Tenant shall be 
liable for and shall pay to Landlord at Houston, Harris County, Texas, the 
sum of all Rent and other indebtedness accrued to the date of such 
termination, plus, as damages, an amount equal to the difference between (1) 
the Rent plus all other payments due by Tenant hereunder for the remaining 
portion of the Term (had such Term not been terminated by Landlord prior to 
the Expiration Date), and (2) the then present fair rental value of the 
Leased Premises for such period.

      F. In the event that Landlord elects to repossess the Leased Premises 
without terminating this Lease, then Tenant shall be liable for and shall pay 
to Landlord at Houston, Harris County, Texas, all Rent and other indebtedness 
accrued to the date of such repossession, plus Rent required to be paid by 
Tenant to Landlord during the remainder of the Term until the Expiration 
Date, diminished by any net sums thereafter received by Landlord through 
reletting the Leased Premises during said period (after deducting expenses 
incurred by Landlord). In no event shall Tenant be entitled to any excess of 
any rent obtained by reletting over and


                                      15
<PAGE>

above the Rent. Actions to collect amounts due by Tenant as provided in this 
paragraph may be brought from time to time, on one or more occasions, 
without the necessity of Landlord's waiting until expiration of the Term.

     G.  In case of an Event of Default, Tenant shall also be liable for and 
shall pay to Landlord, at Houston, Harris County, Texas, in addition to any 
sum provided to be paid above: broker's fees incurred by Landlord in 
connection with reletting the whole or any part of the Leased Premises to the 
extent applicable to the unexpired term hereof; the costs of removing and 
storing Tenant's or other occupant's property; the costs of repairing, 
altering, remodeling or otherwise putting the Leased Premises into condition 
acceptable to a new tenant or tenants at a building standard level, and all 
reasonable expenses incurred by Landlord in enforcing Landlord's remedies 
hereunder, including reasonable attorneys' fees. Past due Rent and other past 
due payments shall bear interest from maturity at four (4%) percentage points 
over prime rate, of the average of the three (3) largest banks located in 
Houston, per annum rate until paid.

     H.  In the event of termination or repossession of the Leased Premises 
for an Event of Default, except to the extent required by law, and not 
waivable by Tenant, Landlord shall not have any obligation to relet or 
attempt to relet the premises, or any portion thereof, or to collect rental 
after reletting; and in the event of reletting, Landlord may relet the whole 
or any portion of the Leased Premises for any period, to any tenant, and for 
any use and purpose. If Landlord is required by law, which is not waivable 
by Tenant, to attempt to mitigate its damages by reletting the Leased 
Premises resulting from an Event of Default by Tenant, Tenant agrees that 
said duty shall be discharged by Landlord's engaging a manager or leasing 
agent to attempt to relet the Leased Premises, which manager or leasing agent 
will show the Leased Premises and attempt to lease same on the same basis as 
it does with other space in the Building, and Tenant agrees that there shall 
be no duty to give any priority or preference to the Leased Premises over 
other available space in the Building.

     I.  If Tenant shall fail to make any payment or cure any default 
hereunder within the time herein permitted, Landlord, without being under 
obligation to do so and without thereby waiving such default, may make such 
payment and/or remedy such other default for the account of Tenant (and enter 
the Leased Premises for such purpose), and thereupon Tenant shall be 
obligated to, and hereby agrees, to pay Landlord upon demand, all costs, 
expenses and disbursements (including reasonable attorney's fees) incurred by 
Landlord in taking such remedial action.

     J.  In addition to the above described remedies, Landlord will also have 
all other remedies provided by law in the event of any default hereunder by 
Tenant. Tenant will pay Landlord's


                                      16


<PAGE>

expenses incurred in enforcing remedies for any default by Tenant, including 
reasonable attorneys' fees.

25.  SURRENDER.

     On the last day of the Term, or upon the earlier termination of this 
Lease, Tenant shall peaceably and quietly surrender the Leased Premises to 
Landlord in good order, repair and condition at least equal to the condition 
of same when delivered to Tenant, excepting only reasonable wear and tear 
resulting from normal use and damage by fire or other casualty covered by the 
insurance carried by Landlord. Tenant may remove its trade furniture, office 
supplies and movable office furniture and equipment attached to the Building 
provided: (1) such removal is made prior to the termination of the Term; (2) 
Tenant is not in default of any obligation or covenant under this Lease at 
the time of such removal; and (3) Tenant promptly repairs all damage caused 
by such removal to Landlords reasonable satisfaction except for normal wear 
and tear. All other building standard property at the Leased Premises 
(including wall-to-wall carpeting, paneling or other wall covering) and any 
other article attached or affixed to the floor, wall or ceiling of the Leased 
Premises shall become the property of Landlord and shall remain in and be 
surrendered with the Leased Premises as a part thereof at the termination of 
this Lease by lapse of time or otherwise, Tenant hereby waiving all rights to 
any payment or compensation therefor. If, however, Landlord so requests in 
writing, Tenant will, prior to termination of this Lease, remove any and all 
alterations, additions, fixtures, equipment and property placed or installed 
by it in the Leased Premises and will repair any damage caused by such 
removal. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Tenant's surrender 
of the Leased Premises shall in no way affect Tenant's obligations under the 
Additional Rental provisions of this Lease to the Expiration Date, whether or 
not the amount of such obligation has been ascertained either as of the date 
Tenant surrenders the Leased Premises or as of the Expiration Date.

26.  HOLDING OVER.

     If Tenant does not surrender possession of the Leased Premises at the 
end of the Term or upon earlier termination of this Lease, at the election of 
the Landlord, Tenant shall be a tenant-at-sufferance of Landlord and the Rent 
and other payments due during the period of such holdover shall be one and a 
half times the amount set forth above in effect immediately prior to the end 
of the Term or termination of this Lease. No holding over by Tenant after the 
Term shall operate to extend the Term hereof and, in the event of such 
holding over, Tenant shall indemnify Landlord against any and all claims for 
damages or loss resulting therefrom, including, but not limited to, claims by 
any other tenant to whom Landlord may have leased all or any part of the 
Leased Premises as of the termination of this Lease.


                                      17


<PAGE>

26A. APPROVED HOLD OVER SPACE.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall have the right to hold over 
pursuant to the terms of this Lease as to approximately 5,000 square feet 
identified as Exhibit "B" ("Approved Hold Over Space"). Such right shall 
arise upon's Tenant's written notice to Landlord prior to termination of this 
Lease that Tenant is exercising this right. Upon the giving of such notice 
Tenant shall be obligated for all obligations hereunder as to such Approved 
Hold Over Space and shall continue to have all rights hereunder as to such 
Approved Hold Over Space until Tenant gives six (6) months written notice or 
Landlord gives twelve (12) months written notice of its election to cancel. 
The Approved Hold Over Space rental rate will be the current market rate 
(which shall not be less than the rental rate described in paragraph 4, nor 
more than a 150% of the rental rate described in paragraph 4) of the building 
of which shall be mutually agreed upon prior to the commencement of the 
Approved Hold Over Space commencement or Section 26. Holding Over will 
govern. If Tenant elects to retain Approved Holdover Space, it shall be 
subject to all terms and conditions of this Lease.

27.  LIENS.

     Tenant shall not permit any mechanics', materialmen's or other liens to 
be fixed or placed against the Leased Premises, the Building or the Land and 
agrees immediately to discharge (either by payment or by filing of the 
necessary bond, or otherwise) any mechanics', materialmen's or other lien 
which is allegedly fixed or placed against any of the foregoing.

28.  ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING.

     A.  Neither Tenant nor Tenant's legal representatives or successors in 
interest by operation of law or otherwise shall assign this Lease or sublease 
the Leased Premises or any part thereof or mortgage, pledge or hypothecate 
its leasehold interest therein without the prior express written permission 
of Landlord, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, and any attempt to do 
any of the foregoing without prior express written permission of the Landlord 
shall be void ab initio and of no effect. This prohibition against any 
assignment or subletting shall be construed to include a prohibition against 
assignment or subletting by operation of law, provide that any transfer of 
this Lease from Tenant by merger or consolidation or any change in ownership 
of power to vote a majority of the voting stock in Tenant outstanding at the 
time of execution of this Lease shall not constitute an assignment for the 
purpose of this Lease.

     B.  If Tenant should desire to assign this Lease or sublet the Leased 
Premises or any portion thereof, Tenant shall give Landlord written notice of 
such desire at least thirty (30) days in


                                      18


<PAGE>


advance of the date on which Tenant desires to make such assignment or 
sublease. Landlord shall then have a period of thirty (30) days following 
receipt of such notice within which to notify Tenant in writing that Landlord 
elects either (1) to terminate this Lease as to the space so affected as of 
the date so specified by Tenant, in which event Tenant will be relieved of 
all further obligation hereunder as to such space after paying all Base 
Rental, Additional Rental and other sums due as of such date, or (2) to 
permit Tenant to assign or sublet such space, subject, however, to subsequent 
written approval of the proposed  assignee or sublessee by Landlord, or (3) 
to refuse to consent to Tenant's assignment or subleasing of such space and 
to continue this Lease in full force and effect as to the entire Leased 
Premises. If Landlord shall fail to notify Tenant of such election within 
said thirty (30) day period, Landlord shall be deemed to have elected option 
(3) above, however such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Landlord 
and Tenant specifically agree that, in the event of any approved assignment 
or subletting the rights of any such assignee or subtenant of Tenant herein 
to the use and occupancy of the Leased Premises shall be subject to all of 
the terms, conditions and provisions of this Lease, including, without 
limitation, restrictions on use and the covenant to pay Base Rental and 
Additional Rental. Landlord may collect Base Rental and Additional Rental 
directly from such assignee or subtenant and apply the amount so collected to 
the Rent. No such consent to or recognition of any such assignment or 
subletting shall constitute a release of Tenant, from further performance by 
Tenant of covenants undertaken to be performed by Tenant herein, and Tenant 
will remain liable and responsible for all Rent and other obligations herein 
imposed upon Tenant.

     C. Consent by Landlord to a particular assignment or sublease or other 
transaction shall not be deemed a consent to any other or subsequent 
transaction. If this Lease be assigned or if the Leased Premises be subleased 
(whether in whole or in part) or in the event of the mortgage, pledge or 
hypothecation of the leasehold interest without the prior express written 
permission of Landlord, or if the Leased Premises be occupied in whole or in 
part by anyone other than Tenant without the prior written permission of 
Landlord, Landlord may nevertheless collect Rent from the assignee, 
sublessee, mortgagee, pledgee, party to whom the leasehold interest was 
hypothecated, or other occupant and apply the net amount collected to the 
Rent payable hereunder, but no such transaction or collection of Rent or 
application thereof by Landlord shall be deemed a waiver of these provisions 
or a release of Tenant from the further performance by Tenant of its 
covenants, duties and obligations hereunder. In any case where Landlord 
consents to any such assignment, sublease or other transaction, Landlord may 
require that Tenant pay Landlord a reasonable sum as attorneys' fees arising 
incident to such transaction. Any rental or other consideration payable to 
Tenant under any permitted assignment or sublease, in excess of the Base 
Rental set forth in this Lease, and


                                      19


<PAGE>


any additional rental payable to Tenant in excess of the Additional Rental 
set forth in this Lease, shall be payable to Landlord.

29.  CONDEMNATION.

     If all or any part of or interest in the Leased Premises shall be taken 
as a result of the exercise of the power of eminent domain or conveyance in 
lieu thereof, this Lease shall terminate as to the part so taken as of the 
date of taking. If only a part of or interest in the Leased Premises or if a 
substantial portion of the Building is so taken, either Landlord or Tenant 
shall have the right to terminate this Lease as to the balance of the Leased 
Premises by written notice to the other within thirty (30) days after the 
date of taking; provided, however, that a condition to the exercise by Tenant 
of such right to terminate shall be that the portion of the Leased Premises 
or Building taken shall be of such extent and nature as to substantially 
handicap, impede or impair Tenant's use of the Leased Premises or the balance 
of the Leased Premises remaining. In the event of any taking, Landlord shall 
be entitled to any and all compensation, damages, income, rent, and awards 
with respect thereto except for an award, if any, specified by the condemning 
authority for any property that Tenant has the right to remove upon 
termination of this Lease. Tenant shall have no claim against Landlord for 
the value of any unexpired portion of the Term. In the event of a partial 
taking of the Leased Premises which does not result in a termination of this 
Lease, the Rent thereafter to be paid shall be proportionally reduced.

30.  RIGHT TO RELOCATE.

     DELETED

31.  SUBORDINATION.

     A. At the option of the holder of any Security Documents, as hereinafter 
defined, the rights and interests of Tenant under this Lease and in and to 
the Leased Premises shall be subject and subordinate to all deeds of trust, 
mortgages, and other security instruments and to all renewals, modifications, 
consolidations, replacements and extensions thereof (the "Security 
Documents") heretofore or hereafter executed by Landlord covering the Leased 
Premises, the Building or the Land or any part thereof, to the same extent as 
if the Security Documents had been executed, delivered, and recorded prior to 
the execution of this Lease. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this 
paragraph 31, Landlord reserves the right, without notice to or consent of 
Tenant, to assign this Lease and/or any and all Rent hereunder as security 
for the payment of any mortgage loan, deed of trust loan or other method of 
financing or refinancing. In the event of foreclosure by the holder of any 
Security Document, at the option of said holder, Tenant shall attorn to said 
holder as Landlord.

                                      20


<PAGE>

     B.  After the delivery to Tenant of a notice from Landlord that it has 
entered into one or more Security Documents, then, during the term of such 
Security Documents, Tenant shall grant to such holder or holders the right to 
cure all defaults, if any, of Landlord hereunder within the same time period 
provided in this Lease for curing such defaults by Landlord. At any time and 
from time to time upon not less than ten (10) days prior notice by Landlord, 
Tenant shall execute, acknowledge, and deliver to Landlord a statement of 
Tenant in writing certifying that this Lease is unmodified and in full force 
and effect (or if there have been modifications, that the same is in full 
force and effect as modified and stating the modifications, if any), and 
stating whether or not to the best knowledge of Tenant, Landlord is in 
default in the keeping, observance or performance of any covenant, agreement, 
term, provision or condition contained in this Lease and, if so, specifying 
each such default of which Tenant may have knowledge, it being intended that 
any such statement may be relied upon by any prospective purchaser, tenant, 
mortgagee or assignee of any mortgage of the Building or the Land or of 
Landlord's interest therein. The failure of Tenant to execute and deliver to 
Landlord a statement in accordance with the provisions hereof shall 
constitute an acknowledgement by Tenant which may be relied upon by any such 
purchaser, tenant, mortgagee or assignee of any such mortgage that this Lease 
is unmodified and in full force and effect, that the Rent has been duly and 
fully paid to and including the respective due dates immediately preceding 
the date of such notice, and that Landlord is not in default. Failure by 
Tenant to deliver timely such statement shall constitute, as to any person 
entitled to rely upon such statement, a waiver of any defaults which may 
exist prior to the date of such notice.

32.  MISCELLANEOUS.

     A.  This Lease and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto 
shall be interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of 
the State of Texas. The determination that one or more provisions of this 
Lease is invalid, void, illegal or unenforceable shall not affect or 
invalidate the remainder. If the rights of the Tenant hereunder are owned by 
two or more parties or two or more parties are designated herein as Tenant, 
then all such parties shall be jointly and severally liable for the 
obligations of Tenant hereunder, and any notice required or permitted by the 
terms of this Lease may be given by or to any one thereof and shall have the 
same force and effect as if given by or to all thereof. Titles are for 
convenient reference only and shall not be used to interpret or limit the 
meaning of any provision of this Lease. In all instances where Tenant or 
Landlord is required hereunder to pay any sum or to do any act at a 
particular indicated time or within an indicated period, it is understood 
that time is of the essence. To the full extent permitted by law, the 
obligation of Tenant to pay all Rent and other sums hereunder provided to be 
paid by Tenant and the obligation of Tenant to perform Tenant's other 
covenants

                                      21
<PAGE>

and duties hereunder constitute independent, unconditional obligations to be 
performed at all times provided for hereunder, save and except only when an 
abatement thereof or reduction thereof is hereinabove expressly provided for 
and not otherwise. The use of the neuter singular pronoun to refer to 
Landlord or Tenant shall be deemed a proper reference, even though Landlord 
or Tenant may be an individual, a partnership, a corporation, or group of two 
or more individuals, partnerships, or corporations.

     B.  This Lease shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of 
Landlord, its successors and assigns, and shall be binding upon and inure to 
the benefit of Tenant, its successors, and, to the extent assignment may be 
approved by Landlord or is otherwise permissible hereunder, Tenant's assigns. 
No payment made by Tenant or received by Landlord in an amount less than the 
monthly Base Rental, Base Parking or Additional Rental herein stipulated 
shall be deemed to be other than on account of the earliest stipulated unpaid 
Base Rental or Additional Rental, nor shall any endorsement or statement on 
any check or any letter accompanying any check or payment of such Rent be 
deemed an accord and satisfaction, and Landlord may accept any such check or 
payment without prejudice to Landlord's right to recover the balance of such 
Rent or to pursue any other remedy in this Lease or by law provided to 
Landlord. All payments due hereunder shall be deemed made on the date 
postmarked for delivery by the United States Post Office.

     C.  Landlord does not become a partner of Tenant in the conduct of its 
business or otherwise, or a joint venturer or a member of a joint enterprise 
with Tenant by virtue of this Lease. Any representation, warranty, covenant 
or agreement contained herein which contemplates performance after the 
expiration or termination of this Lease shall be deemed to survive such 
expiration or termination.

     D.  Tenant and its counsel have had full opportunity to review and 
negotiate the terms and provisions of this Lease. Accordingly, 
notwithstanding that this Lease was drafted by Landlord, in the event of any 
ambiguous provision hereof, there shall be no presumption in favor of either 
Landlord or Tenant in the interpretation or construction of any provision of 
this Lease.

     E.  No oral statements or prior written material not specifically 
incorporated herein shall be of any force or effect. Tenant agrees that in 
entering into and taking this Lease, it relies solely upon the 
representations and agreements contained in this Lease and not elsewhere. 
This Lease, including the exhibits which are attached hereto and made a part 
hereof, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto and shall in 
no way be conditioned, modified, or supplemented except by a written 
agreement executed by both parties.


                                      22
<PAGE>

     F.  Except to the extent expressly set out in this Lease, to the full 
extent allowed by law, Landlord disclaims all representations or warranties 
to Tenant of any kind, whether express or implied, including without 
limitation as to condition of the Leased Premises or Building (including 
without limitation suitability for particular purpose or commercial use), and 
provision of services.

     G.  From time to time as promptly requested by Landlord, Tenant shall 
deliver to Landlord a written statement stating that this Lease is in full 
force and effect, that Landlord is not in default (or specifically setting 
out any defaults), the Commencement Date, the Expiration Date and that all 
obligations of Landlord to build-out the Leased Premises have been completed 
(or stating any work yet to be done), the date through which Rent is paid, 
and the amount of any Security Deposit held by Landlord, if any. If Tenant 
fails to respond to Landlord's request for such a written request to Tenant, 
it shall be deemed that the facts are as set out in the statement prepared by 
Landlord and submitted to Tenant at the time Landlord makes the request to 
Tenant, and Landlord and any prospective purchaser of or lender regarding the 
Building may rely on same.

     H.  At all times during the term of this Lease, Tenant covenants and 
agrees that Tenant shall not cause or permit any Hazardous Materials to be 
brought upon, kept, or used in or about the Leased Premises by Tenant, 
Tenant's agents, employees, customers, clients, invitees, licensees, or 
contractors without prior written notice to Landlord. Upon request of 
Landlord, Tenant must demonstrate to Landlord's reasonable satisfaction that 
such Hazardous Material is necessary or useful to Tenant's business and it 
will be used, kept, and stored in a manner that complies with all laws 
regulating any such Hazardous Material so brought upon or used or kept in or 
about the Leased Premises. As used herein, the term "Hazardous Material" 
means any pollutant, toxic substance, hazardous waste, hazardous material, 
hazardous substance, or oil as defined in or pursuant to the Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended, the Federal Clean 
Water Act, as amended, the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act 
of 1986, as amended, the Toxic Substantial Control Act as amended; all rules 
and regulations promulgated with respect thereto; and all other federal, 
state and local laws, regulations ordinances, rules and bylaws, whether now 
existing, previously in force, or subsequently enacted.

     I.  Brokers: Tenant and Landlord represents that they have dealt only 
with his exclusive broker representative, ESSEX Realty Services, Inc., and 
the Landlord's representative REALSOURCE SERVICES for this transaction, and 
shall hold each party harmless from any outside claims for brokerage 
commission.


                                      23
<PAGE>

     J.  Confidential Disclosure Agreement: Tenant, Tenant's employees and 
agents specifically agree that they will not at any time, in any fashion, 
form or manner, either directly or indirectly, divulge, disclose, or 
communicate to any person, firm, or corporation that is not an agent or 
consultant of Tenant in any manner whatsoever any information of any kind, 
nature, or description concerning any matters affecting or relating to the 
business and legal terms of this Lease. The parties stipulate that, between 
them, the matters of this Lease are important, material, and confidential and 
gravely affect the effective and successful conduct of the business of the 
Landlord, and that any breach of the terms of this section is a breach of 
this agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Lease is hereby executed as of the date first above 
set forth.

                                       "LANDLORD"  SALITEX II, LTD.


                                       /s/     BENJAMIN CHENG
                                       ------------------------------------

                                       By      Benjamin Cheng
                                          -----------------------------------

                                       Title   V.P., Salitex Corp., 
                                               General Partner
                                             --------------------------------

                                       "TENANT"  CYBERONICS, INC.



                                       /s/     ALLEN W. HILL
                                       --------------------------------------

                                       By      Allen W. Hill
                                          -----------------------------------

                                       Title   President & CEO
                                             --------------------------------


                                      24
<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT "A"


                                 FIRST FLOOR

                                 [FLOOR PLAN]

                                     A-1
<PAGE>

                                EXHIBIT "A-1"


                              LEGAL DESCRIPTION


               RESERVE C, Abstract 88 Robert Wilson League
               Medical Center Plaza

               2.1420 Acres


                                     A-2
<PAGE>

                              EXHIBIT "B"


                             1 FIRST FLOOR

                              [FLOOR PLAN]

                               B-1
<PAGE>

                              EXHIBIT "B-1"

                                SITE PLAN

                                  [MAP]

                                   B-2

<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT "C"

                            RULES AND REGULATIONS

     Tenant agrees for itself, its employees, agents, clients, customers, 
invitee, guests and licensees, to comply fully with the following rules and 
regulations and with such reasonable modifications thereof and additions 
there to as Landlord may make for the Building.

     1.    Sidewalks, doorways, vestibules, halls, stairways and similar 
areas shall not be obstructed by tenants or their officers, ingress and egress 
to and from the Premises and for going from one part of the Building to 
another part of the Building. Tenants shall not place objects against glass 
partitions, doors or windows which would be unsightly from the Building's 
corridors, or from the exterior of the Building. Tenant shall have the right 
to black-out windows in offices along front area.

     2.    No dust, rubbish, or litter shall be swept from any room into any 
of the corridors, except under the direction of the janitor nor shall the 
same, or anything else, be thrown or emptied from the windows, or down 
skylights or elevator shafts of the Building, and no slops, ashes, coffee 
grinds, dirt or other rubbish shall be emptied into the water closets. Tenant 
shall provide adequate waste and rubbish receptacles, such as plastic bags, 
to be placed in their own waste and rubbish receptacle to accommodate the 
disposal of slops, ashes and coffee grinds. Cigarette butts or wrappers will 
be disposed of in containers provided by the Tenant in the Premises or placed 
in trash receptacles provided by the Landlord in public areas.

     3.    The Building toilet rooms, urinals, wash bowls and other apparatus 
shall not be used for any purpose other than that for which they were 
constructed and no foreign substance of any kind whatsoever, shall be thrown 
therein and the expense of any breakage, stoppage or damage resulting from 
the violation of this rule shall be borne by the Tenant who, or whose 
employees or invitee, shall have caused it.

     4.    Tenant will not introduce or place any foreign substance of any 
kind such as photographic fluids, lead substances (i.e., barium), or other 
chemicals and fluids that Tenant may use in its course of business into the 
plumbing and/or waste disposal or the Building which results in surcharge 
which may be charged the Landlord by any city, state, federal or other 
governmental agency for the presence of these substances in the waste 
disposal. Landlord acknowledges that Tenant will be using photographic fluids 
and Tenant shall comply with all City requirements for disposal of fluids.


                                    C-1
<PAGE>

     5.    Except as set forth in the Agreement, tenants shall not paint, 
display, inscribe, maintain, or affix any sign, picture, advertisement, 
notice, lettering or direction on any part of the outside or inside of the 
Building, or on any part of the inside or the Premises which can be seen from 
the exterior, unless Landlord gives specific written approval. Landlord 
reserves, without liability, but after twenty-four (24) hours notice to 
tenants, the right to remove at tenant's expense all matter which violates 
this rule. Landlord approves of signage presently in use by Tenant.

     6.    Tenant shall not use the name of the Building, without Landlords 
consent which shall not be unreasonably withheld, for any purpose other than 
that of the business address of the tenant, and shall not use any picture or 
likeness of the Building in any circulars, notices, advertisements or 
correspondence.

     7.    Directories may be placed by Landlord in the Building and Tenant's 
name shall be included at no initial charge to Tenant. No other directories 
will be permitted. Changes, additions and deletions to directory listings 
requested by Tenant shall be at Tenant's expense.

     8.    The Premises shall not be used for conducting any barter, trade, 
or exchange of goods or sale through promotional give-away, gimmicks or any 
business involving the sale of secondhand goods, insurance salvage stock, or 
fire sale stock and shall not be used for any auction or pawnshop business, 
any fire sale, bankruptcy sale, going-out-of-business sale, moving sale, bulk 
sale, or any other business which, because of merchandising methods or 
otherwise, would tend to lower the first-class character of the Building.

     9.    Canvassing, soliciting, and peddling in the Building is prohibited 
without the written permission of Landlord and Tenant shall cooperate to 
prevent same.

    10.    If any governmental license or permit shall be required for the 
proper and lawful conduct of tenant's business, such tenant, before occupying 
the Premises, shall procure and maintain such license or permit and submit it 
for Landlord's inspection and shall at all times comply with the terms of any 
such license or permit.

    11.    Tenants shall not do anything, or permit anything to be done, in 
or about the Building, or bring or keep anything therein, that will in any 
way increase the possibility of fire or other casualty or obstruct or 
interfere with the rights of, otherwise injure or annoy, other tenants, or do 
anything in conflict with valid pertinent laws, rules or regulations or any 
governmental authority having jurisdiction or authority over such instances. 
Landlord acknowledges that Tenant will have oxygen and other gases in 
premises, but Tenant still responsible as stated above.


                                    C-2

<PAGE>

Landlord approves of present use of facilities by Tenant.


    12.    Tenant shall not place, install or operate on the Premises or in 
any part of the Building, any engine, stove, appliance or machinery, or 
conduct mechanical operations or cook thereon or therein, or place or use in 
or about the Premises any explosives, gasoline, kerosene, oil, acids, 
caustics, or any other flammable, explosive, or hazardous material without 
prior written consent of Landlord unless used in the normal operation of 
Tenant's business. Tenant may have microwave in premises.

    13.    Tenants shall not place a load upon any floor of the Premises 
which exceeds the floor load per square foot which is allowed by applicable 
building code. Tenant shall not instal any heavy objects, safes, business 
machines, files or other equipment without having received Landlord's prior 
written consent as to size, maximum weight, routine and location thereof. 
All damage done to the building by the improper placing of heavy items which 
over stresses the floor will be repaired at the sole expense of Tenant. 
Safes, furniture, equipment, machines and other large or bulky articles shall 
be brought through the building and into the out of the Premises at such 
times and in such manner as the Landlord shall direct (including the 
designation of elevator) and at Tenant's sole risk and responsibility. Prior 
to Tenant's removal of any such articles from the building, Tenant shall 
obtain written authorization therefor at the office of the Building and shall 
present such writing to a designated employee of Landlord.

    14.    All deliveries must be made via the service entrance and 
designated service elevators (if available) during normal business hours. 
Prior approval must be obtained from Landlord for any deliveries that must be 
received after normal business hours.

    15.    Tenant shall use only the elevator so designated by Landlord as a 
"freight elevator" (whether such designation is physically located on or near 
said elevator is in the Rules and Regulations promulgated by Landlord for 
this Building or is given to Tenant directly by Landlord for the 
transportation of freight, furniture, inventory, equipment or other items 
which would interfere in any way with the public use of the non-freight 
elevators because of either the size or frequency of the items being 
transported or delivered to the Premises.

    16.    Movement in or out of the Building of furniture of office 
equipment, telegraphic, telephonic, or any other communication service, or 
receipt by Tenant of any merchandise or materials which requires the use of 
elevators or stairways, or movement through the Building entrances or lobby 
shall be restricted to the hours designated by Landlord from time to time. 
All such movement shall be as directed by Landlord and in a manner to be 
agreed upon


                                    C-3
<PAGE>


between Tenant and Landlord by prearrangement before performance. Such 
prearrangement initiated by Tenant shall be include reasonable determination 
by Landlord as to time, method, and routine of movement, and limitations 
imposed by safety or other concerns which may prohibit any article, equipment 
or any other item from being brought into the Building. Tenant expressly 
assumes all risk of damage to any all articles moved by Tenant, as well as 
injury to any person or persons or the public engaged or not engaged in such 
movement, including equipment, property and personnel of Landlord, if 
carrying out this service for Tenant from the time of entering property to 
completion of the work; and Landlord shall not be liable for the act or 
acts of any person or persons so engaged in, or any damage or loss to any 
property of persons resulting directly or indirectly from any act in 
connection with such service performed by or for Tenant.

     17.    The removal of furniture and office machines except in the normal 
course of business from the Building will require the presentation of a 
permit or written authorization by an authorized representative of the 
Landlord. Security Guards will have the right to challenge all persons 
leaving the Building with articles.

     18.    Tenant is cautioned in purchasing furniture that the size is 
limited to such as can be placed on the elevator and will pass through the 
doors of the offices. The Landlord reserves the right to refuse to allow to 
be placed in the Building any furniture or fittings of any description which 
do not comply with such conditions.

     19.    On Sundays, legal holidays (defined as Christmas Day, New Year's 
Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and 
Thanksgiving Day), and on other days after normal working hours, persons will 
not be allowed access to the Building, or to the halls, corridors, elevators, 
or stairways in the Building, or to the Premises unless the persons seeking 
access are known to the security guard on duty or present satisfactory 
identification to such security guard. Persons permitted to enter the 
Building on Sundays, holidays, and after normal working hours on other days 
will be requested to sign the log book on entering and also when leaving the 
Building. Landlord shall in no case be liable for damages for any error with 
regard to the admission to or exclusion from the Building of any person. In 
case of invasion, mob, riot, public excitement, or other commotion, Landlord 
reserves the right to prevent access to the Building during the continuance 
of the same by closing the doors or otherwise for the safety of the tenants, 
and protection of the Building and property in the Building.

     20.    Landlord has the right to evacuate the Building in event of 
emergency or catastrophe.

     21.    Landlord reserves the right to exclude or expel from the


                                      C-4
<PAGE>

Building any person who, in the judgement of Landlord, is intoxicated or 
under the influence of liquor or drugs, or is or may be disruptive or cause 
an inconvenience to Landlord or other tenants, or who shall in any manner do 
any act in violation of any of the rules of the Building.

     22.    Tenant will refer all contractors, contractor's representatives 
and installation technicians rendering any service for Tenant, to Landlord 
for Landlord's supervision and/or approval before performance of any such 
contractual services. This requirement shall apply to all work performed in 
the Building including, but not limited to, installation of telephones, 
telegraph equipment, electrical devices and attachments, and installations of 
any and every nature affecting floors, walls, woodwork, trim, window, 
ceilings, electrical wiring, equipment or any other physical portion of the 
Building. None of this work will be done by Tenant without Landlord's prior 
written approval.

     23.    Tenant shall not make or permit any excessive noises cause 
disturbance or vibrations, or use or operate any musical, electrical or 
electronic devices that emit loud sounds or airwaves which may disturb, annoy 
or otherwise interfere in any way with other tenants, or persons having 
businesses with them.

     24.    No equipment of any kind shall be operated on the Premises that 
could in any way annoy other tenant in the Building.

     25.    Business machines and mechanical equipment belonging to any 
tenant which cause noise and/or vibration that may be transmitted to the 
structure of the Building or to any leased space so as to be objectionable to 
Landlord or any other tenants in the Building shall be placed and maintained 
by such tenants, as such tenant's expense, in settings of cork, rubber, or 
spring type noise and/or vibration eliminators sufficient to eliminate 
vibration and/or noise.

     26.    Tenant shall not create any odors which may be offensive to other 
tenants or occupants of the Building.

     27.    Landlord has provided electrical outlets for use by the Tenant in 
the operation of Tenant's typewriters, adding machines, and such other office 
machines requiring 110 voltage and all other uses of electricity are 
prohibited unless otherwise authorized by Landlord, and Tenant shall be 
responsible for any and all damage caused by the prohibited use of 
electricity. Any use of electrical extension cords will comply with 
requirements of the City in which the Building is situated and other 
applicable Building Code Regulations with respect to length and type of 
service. Power demand from any one Building Standard duplex outlet 
receptacles will not exceed 20 amps.

     28.    Tenant shall not waste electricity, water or air-


                                      C-5
<PAGE>

conditioning, and shall cooperate fully with Landlord to assure the most 
effective operation of the Building's heating and air-conditioning. Tenant 
shall not adjust any control other than room thermostats installed for 
Tenant's use.

     29.    Tenant shall ascertain from Landlord the maximum amount of 
electrical current which can safely be used in the Premises, taking into 
account the capacity of the electric wiring in the Building and the Premises 
and the needs of other tenants, and shall not use more than such safe 
capacity. Landlord's consent to the installation of electric equipment shall 
not relieve Tenant from the obligation not to use more electricity than such 
safe capacity.

     30.    The exterior of windows may be cleaned at any time. Tenant shall 
provide adequate waste and rubbish receptacles, cabinets, bookcases, etc., 
necessary to prevent unreasonable hardship to Landlord in discharging its 
obligation regarding cleaning service.

     31.    No Tenant or occupant shall employ any janitor or other person to 
take care of premises occupied by them other than the regular cleaning 
personnel of the Building, except by prior notification of the Landlord or 
its authorized agents.

     32.    Tenant will be responsible for any damage to carpeting and 
flooring as a result of negligence or acts of Tenant of rust or corrosion of 
Tenant's file cabinets, potholders, roller chairs and other metal objects.

     33.    Tenant shall not in any manner deface or damage the Building.

     34.    DELETED

     35.    Each tenant shall cooperate with Building employees in keeping 
the Premises neat and clean and operating efficiently.

     36.    Where applicable, Tenant, Tenant's agent or employees must 
observe strict care not to leave windows open when it rains or snows; and 
from any default or carelessness in these respects, or any of them, shall 
make good all injury sustained by other tenants, and to the Landlord for 
damage to paint, plastering or other parts of the Building, resulting from 
such default or carelessness.

     37.    All entrance doors to the Premises shall be left locked and all 
windows shall be left closed by Tenant when the Premises are not in use. 
Corridor doors shall not be left open at any time.

     38.    Tenant assumes full responsibility for protecting the Premises 
from theft, robbery and pilferage. Except during Tenant's normal business 
hours, Tenant shall keep all doors to the Premises locked and other means of 
entry to the Premises closed and secured.


                                      C-6
<PAGE>

Landlord will not be responsible for any lost or stolen personal property, 
equipment, money, or jewelry from Tenant's Premises or public rooms 
regardless of whether such loss occurs when the area is locked against entry 
or not.

     39.  Personal property left on the Premises at the expiration of the 
Agreement may be stored or removed from the Premises by Landlord at the full 
risk, cost and expense of the Tenant. The Landlord shall in no event be 
responsible for the value preservation or safekeeping thereof. Any time after 
ten (10) days from their termination of this Agreement, the Landlord may 
dispose of such personal property in any way that it deems proper. If the 
Landlord shall sell any such personal property, it shall be entitled to 
retain from the proceeds the amount of rent due, together with cost of 
storage and the expense of the sale.

     40.  No additional locks or similar devices shall be attached to any 
door and no locks shall be changed except by Landlord. Upon termination of 
this Agreement or of Tenant's possession of the Premises, Tenant shall 
surrender all keys for door locks and other locks in or about the Premises 
and shall make known to Landlord the combination of all locks, safes, 
cabinets and vaults which are not removed by Tenant.

     41.  No birds, animals (except those for the handicap), bicycles or 
motorized vehicles shall be brought into or kept in or about the Building.

     42.  Except for Tenant's private vending machines, no food, soft drink 
or other vending machines will be installed within the Premises without first 
obtaining the written consent of Landlord, which consent Landlord may 
withhold or grant, in its sole and arbitrary discretion.

     43.  No food shall be prepared or cooked in the Premises, and the 
Premises shall not be used for housing, lodging, sleeping, or for any immoral 
or illegal purpose. Nothing contained in this clause, however, shall be 
constructed to prohibit to Tenant's operation of an employee coffee lounge 
facilities in the Premises.

     44.  The requirements of the tenants will attended to only upon 
application at the office of the Building. Employees of Landlord shall not 
perform any work or do anything outside of their regular duties unless under 
special instructions from Landlord.

     45.  Landlord reserves the right to rescind any of these rules and make 
other and further rules and regulations as in the judgement of Landlord shall 
from time to time be needed for the safety, protection, care and cleanliness of 
the Building, the operation thereof, the preservation of good order therein,
and the protection and comfort of its tenants, their agents, employees and 
invitee, which rules when made and notice thereof given to a Tenant 


                                     C-7
<PAGE>

shall be binding upon him in a like manner as if originally herein 
prescribed. In the event of any conflict, inconsistency, or other difference 
between the terms and provisions of these Rules and Regulations, as now or 
hereafter in effect and the terms and provisions of any lease now or 
hereafter in effect between Landlord and any tenant in the Building, Landlord 
shall have the right to rely on the term or provision in either such lease of 
such Rules and Regulations which is most restrictive on such tenant and most 
favorable to Landlord. All changes to rules and regulations will apply to all 
tenants equally, except parking issues.

CAVEAT: Any failure by Landlord to enforce any of the aforesaid Rules and 
Regulations now or hereafter in effect, either against Tenant or any other 
tenant in the building, shall not constitute a waiver of any such Rules and 
Regulations, and Landlord shall not be responsible to Tenant for the failure 
or refusal by any other tenant, guest, invitee, visitor, licensee or 
occupancy of the building to observe or comply with any of the Rules and 
Regulations.

                               PARKING REGULATIONS

1.   There will be no parking in any area of the property other than those 
     areas clearly marked and defined for parking.

2.   Parking for authorized employees will be on the basis of 
     first-come-first served.

3.   Tenant, its employees, agents, customers and guests will be expected to 
     park their cars in an orderly manner within the marked stalls provided.

4.   It is recommended that cars be left in a "brakes on, doors locked" 
     condition at all times.

5.   No car will be allowed to park in any driveway area or in any manner 
     which will interfere with the normal flow of traffic.

6.   Cars parked illegally will be towed at the car owner's expense.

7.   Tenant agrees that all its servants, clients, customers, employees, 
     agents, visitors, invitee and licensees have been or will be fully 
     informed as to the content of these regulations.

8.   Landlord or Landlord's officers, agents and employees shall not be 
     liable for and Tenant waives all claims for damage to person or 
     property sustained by Tenant or any person claiming through Tenant 
     resulting from any accident or occurrence in 


                                     C-8
<PAGE>

     and upon the parking areas.

9.   Tenant shall have four (4) designated parking spaces reserved 
     exclusively for Tenant adjacent to their manufacturing area, more 
     precisely described as Exhibit "B-2".

CAVEAT: Any failure by Landlord to enforce any of the aforesaid parking       
        regulations now or hereafter in effect, either against Tenant or      
        any other tenant in the Building, shall not constitute a waiver of    
        any such regulations, and Landlord shall not be responsible to Tenant 
        for the failure or refusal by any other tenant, guest, invitee,       
        visitor, licensee or occupant of the Building to observe or comply    
        with any of the regulations.


                                     C-9
<PAGE>

                                EXHIBIT "D"

                            SPECIAL PROVISIONS

1.   BUILDOUT RENT

     Tenant agrees to pay through August 27, 1995, the buildout rent in the 
amount of $856.43 per month as Additional Rent. This charge was for the 
original amortization of the clean room and began on the Original 
Commencement Date to amortize $38,500.00 of special Tenant buildout over the 
Lease Term at 12% per annum in equal monthly installments of principal and 
interest.

2.   REFUSAL RIGHT

     Subject to the conditions set forth in this Exhibit, and provided Tenant 
is not in default under this lease either at the time Tenant exercises the 
Refusal Right or at the time the Refusal Space is delivered to Tenant, 
Landlord hereby grants to Tenant a right of first refusal on all space in the 
building excluding the rights of existing tenants and renewals of existing 
tenants.

EXERCISE OF REFUSAL RIGHT.     In the event all or any portion of (the 
"Refusal Space") becomes available for lease, and Landlord has received a 
bona fide offer to lease all or any portion of such Refusal Space from an 
independent third party ("Third Party") which Landlord desires to accept, 
Landlord or Landlord's agent shall notify in writing Tenant of the 
availability for lease of such Refusal Space and shall include in such notice 
Base Rent and Additional Rent (and expense stop, or base year) for such 
Refusal Space, and any concessions (in the nature of "free" rent, buildout 
allowance, moving allowance, or the like) with respect to the lease of such 
Refusal Space which Landlord would agree to grant to a third party. Tenant 
shall have ten (10) days after the receipt of Landlord's notice of the 
availability of any Refusal Space for lease in which to notify Landlord or 
Landlord's agent in writing of the exercise by Tenant of Tenant's acceptance 
of the Refusal Right with respect to the Refusal Space described in 
Landlord's notice to Tenant. In the event that Tenant fails to notify 
Landlord within such ten (10) day period that Tenant elects to exercise 
Tenant's Refusal Right with respect to the Refusal Space, Tenant shall be 
deemed to have waived Tenant's Refusal Right with respect to such Refusal 
Space only; and Landlord shall have the right to enter into a lease with any 
party, including Third Party, with respect to that Refusal Space on 
substantially the same terms and conditions specified in Landlord's notice to 
Tenant of the availability for lease of such Refusal Space for a period of 
sixty (60) days after Tenant has waived their Refusal Right.


                                     D-1
<PAGE>

                    FIRST ADDENDUM TO LEASE AGREEMENT


This First Addendum to Lease Agreement ("First Addendum") is entered into as 
of April 18, 1996 (the "Effective Date") between Salitex II, LTD ("Landlord") 
and Cyberonics, Inc. ("Tenant").

                                RECITALS

     A.    Landlord and Tenant entered into that certain Lease Agreement 
dated as of the 3rd Day of November, 1994 (the "Lease"), covering 
approximately 16,591 square feet of net rentable square feet on the first 
floor of the building known as the Clear Lake One office building located at 
17448 Highway Three, Webster, Texas.

     B.    Landlord and Tenant desire to amend the Lease to add and 
additional 2,555 square feet of net rentable area to the Premises and as 
otherwise hereinafter provided.

                                AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual obligations 
hereinafter set forth and other food and valuable consideration, the receipt 
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and confessed, Landlord and 
Tenant hereby agree as follows:

     1.    DEFINITIONS.    The capitalized terms used in this First Addendum 
that are not defined herein shall be the same meaning ascribed thereto in the 
Lease.

     2.    ADDITIONAL SPACE.    Subject to and upon the terms, provisions and 
conditions set forth in the Lease, as amended by this First Addendum, 
Landlord hereby leases and demises to Tenant and Tenant hereby leases from 
Landlord approximately 2,555 square feet of net rentable area (as defined in 
the Lease) on the first floor of the Clear Lake One office building, as shown 
on Exhibit "A-1" hereto (the "Additional Space").

     3.    COMMENCEMENT DATE.    The Commencement date for the additional 
space will be May 1, 1996. (referred to hereafter in this First Addendum as 
the "Commencement Date").

     4.    ADDITIONAL BASE RENT.    Subject to and upon the term, provisions 
and conditions set forth in the Lease, as amended by this First Addendum, 
Tenant hereby agrees to pay in additional Minimum Rent the amount of 
$2,555.00 per month commencing on the Commencement Date through the end of 
the Term of Lease (October 31, 1997). Total Minimum Monthly Rent shall be 
$19,146.00.


                                page 1 of 2
<PAGE>

     5.    ADDITIONAL RENT CHARGES.    In addition to the new additional base 
Rent, Tenant will pay commencing on the Commencement Date based on the 
additional premises, 2,555 net rentable square feet, Additional Charges as 
set forth in the body of the Lease, under section 6, Additional Rental.

     6.    CONSTRUCTION RIDER, EXHIBIT "B".    Subject to the conditions set 
forth in the original Lease and the attached construction rider (Exhibit "B") 
Landlord will provide $5,110.00 to buildout the "Additional Space".

Tenant and Landlord represent that they have dealt only with the Landlord's 
representative, Realsource Services, for this First Addendum, and shall hold 
each party harmless from any outside claims for brokerage commissions.

This Amendment is intended to amend the provisions of the Lease only to the 
extent expressly set forth herein. All of the terms, covenants and provisions 
set forth in the Lease are hereby ratified and confirmed except as expressly 
amended hereby, and Landlord and Tenant hereby agree that the Lease shall 
continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, as amended 
hereby. Landlord and Tenant further agree that the termination date of the 
additional space shall be the same as the Lease Agreement dated November 3, 
1994 and shall be subject to the same obligations and privileges of the 
original Lease Agreement.

Executed effective as the date first set forth above although actually 
executed on the dates set forth opposite the name of the signature of the 
parties.

DATE:     4/23/96                      LANDLORD:
      ----------------------           SALITEX II, LTD.

                                       by:  /s/    BENJAMIN CHENG
                                           ------------------------------------
                                       name:       Benjamin Cheng
                                             ----------------------------------
                                       Title:      V.P.
                                              ---------------------------------

DATE:     4/18/96                      TENANT:
      -----------------------          CYBERONICS, INC.

                                       by:  /s/    JOHN BAKEWELL
                                           ------------------------------------
                                       name:       John Bakewell
                                             ----------------------------------
                                       Title: VP, Finance & Administration/CFO
                                              ---------------------------------



                              page 2 of 2
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT "A"


                                  FIRST FLOOR

                                  [FLOOR PLAN]

                                      A-1
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT "B"

                               CONSTRUCTION RIDER

TENANT:   CYBERONICS, INC.

LANDLORD: SALITEX II, LTD.

LOCATION: 17448 HIGHWAY 3, WEBSTER, Texas 77598

DATE:     April 15, 1996

     Subject to Landlord's prior written approval of Tenant's plans and 
specifications, general contractor(s), and all sub-contractors, which 
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, in compliance with 
all applicable ordinances, rules and regulations applicable thereto, at 
Tenant's sole risk, cost, and expense, Tenant shall construct, in a good and 
workmanlike manner, improvements in the Leased Premises, and upon completion 
of such construction be Tenant and compliance by Tenant with the following 
requirements, Landlord shall reimburse Tenant for the actual cost of such 
construction (including architectural fees) or $5,110.00, whichever is less; 
provided, Tenant must furnish Landlord each and all of the following:

     1.  Copy of contractor's contract and all amendments and change orders,

     2.  Evidence of contractor insurance including fire and extended 
         coverage, public liability and fire legal,

     3.  Notice to Landlord that Tenant has actually opened for business      
         stating date opened and execution of lease commencement letter. 
         (Lease acceptance letter)

     4.  Certificate of Occupancy or other evidence of final inspection city  
         and fire authorities that the Leased Premises is ready for occupancy, 
         and

Payment by Landlord shall be made within fifteen (15) days after Tenant has 
delivered to Landlord the documents and items set forth above.

     Landlord and Tenant agree that during all phases of construction of the 
Lease Premises, Tenant and Tenant's contractors shall have reasonable use of 
the utilities and shall use the rear door and rear stairways to the second 
floor, and Landlord agrees to otherwise accommodate Tenant and Tenant's 
contractors as may be necessary in Landlord's position as Landlord, to permit 
the orderly and timely completion of Tenant's Work, however, Tenant shall not


                                  EXHIBIT "B"
                               Page 1 of 3 pages
<PAGE>

interfere with other tenant's use of the Building during construction. Tenant 
and Tenant's contractors will be permitted access to the elevator through 
the lobby and elevator in such a way to minimize interference and disruption 
of other tenants in the Building.

     Landlord shall deliver to Tenant such information and building plans as 
are required to enable Tenant to prepare the Tenant Working Drawings (defined 
below) for any and all leasehold improvements (the "Leasehold Improvements") 
desired by Tenant in the Leased Premises (said plan and other information and 
instructions being called the "Landlord Building Plan" and "Site Plan").

     Tenant shall cause drawings (hereinafter called "Tenant Working 
Drawings") of the Leasehold Improvements to be prepared at Tenant's expense. 
The Tenant Working Drawings shall consist of the complete sets of plans and 
specifications in the form of working drawings or construction drawings, for 
all the Leasehold Improvements. In addition, Landlord will provide HVAC 
services to the Leased Premises based upon Tenant's Working Drawings.

Tenant may use its own contractor and architect in completing its Leasehold 
Improvements. Landlord hereby approves _______________________ as the 
architect and _______________________ as the general contractor for such 
work. Any other architect or general contractor must be approved by Landlord 
which approval will not be unreasonably withheld. Landlord agrees to provide 
Tenant with $2.00 per square foot of net rentable area of the Leased Premises 
as an improvement allowance such amount being $5,110.00 to be used by Tenant 
toward the cost of such work payable within fifteen (15) business days of 
receipt of appropriate evidence and certificates of completion as well as 
waivers and releases from all contractors and materialmen.

     Upon Landlord's approval of the Tenant Working Drawings, Tenant agrees 
to commence construction of the Leasehold Improvements and diligently and in 
good faith pursue such construction to its conclusion.

     The phrases "substantial completion" or "substantially complete" shall 
mean the construction of the Leasehold Improvements has been completed in 
accordance with the Tenant Working Drawings except as noted on any Punch List 
of items remaining incomplete, all construction debris has been removed from 
the Leased Premises and the Leased Premises are clean, the Leased Premises 
may reasonably be used and occupied for he purposes intended by the Tenant 
and the progress of the construction of the Leasehold


                                  EXHIBIT "B"
                               Page 2 of 3 pages
<PAGE>

Improvements to date is such that final completion of the Leasehold 
Improvements can occur within a reasonable period of time and without undue 
interference to the Tenant's use of the Leased Premises and all required 
certificates of occupancy have been issued.

     EXECUTED in multiple counterparts, each of which shall have the force 
and effect of an original, on the 24th day of April, 1996.

                                       SALITEX II, LTD

                                       BY:

                                          By:        /s/ BENJAMIN CHENG
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Name:      Benjamin Cheng
                                                    ---------------------------
                                              Title:   V.P.
                                                     --------------------------
                                                             "Landlord"


                                          CYBERONICS, INC.
ATTEST:

                                          By:         /s/ JOHN BAKEWELL
- -----------------------------                 ---------------------------------
                                              Name:       John Bakewell

                                              Title:    VP, Finance &
                                                      Administration/CFO
                                                     --------------------------
                                                              "Tenant"


                                  EXHIBIT "B"
                               Page 3 of 3 pages
<PAGE>

                 SECOND ADDENDUM TO LEASE AGREEMENT

This Second Addendum to Lease Agreement ("Second Addendum") is entered into 
as of April 30, 1997 (the "Effective Date") between Salitex II, LTD as 
("Landlord") and Cyberonics, Inc. as ("Tenant").

                             RECITALS

A.   Landlord and Tenant entered into that certain Lease Agreement dated as 
     of the 3rd day of November, 1994 (the "Lease"), and then modified under 
     the First Addendum on April 18, 1996 covering approximately 19,146 square 
     feet of net rentable square feet on the first floor of the building known 
     as Clear Lake One office building located at 17448 Highway Three, Webster, 
     Harris County, Texas.

B.   Landlord and Tenant desire to amend the Lease to add an additional 5,889 
     square feet of net rentable area to the Premises and as otherwise 
     hereinafter provided.

                             AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual obligations 
hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt 
and sufficiency of which hereby acknowledged and confessed, Landlord and 
Tenant hereby agree as follows:

     1.   DEFINITIONS.    The capitalized terms used in this Second 
          Addendum that are not defined herein shall be the same meaning 
          ascribed thereto in the Lease.

     2.   ADDITIONAL SPACE.    Subject to and upon the terms, provisions 
          and conditions set forth in the Lease, as amended by this Second 
          Addendum, Landlord hereby leases and demises to Tenant and Tenant 
          hereby leases from Landlord approximately 2,439 square feet of net 
          rentable area (as defined in the Lease) on the first floor (Exhibit 
          A-1, A-2) and approximately 3,450 square feet of net rentable area 
          (as defined in the Lease) on the second floor (Exhibit B-1, B-2) of 
          the Clear Lake One office building, as shown on the exhibits hereto 
          ("Additional Space")

     3.   COMMENCEMENT DATE.    The Commencement date for the additional 
          space will be May 1, 1997. (referred to hereafter in this Second 
          Addendum as the "Commencement Date")


<PAGE>

     4.   ADDITIONAL BASE RENT.    Subject to and upon the terms, provisions 
          and conditions set forth in the Lease, as amended by this Second 
          Addendum, Tenant hereby agrees to pay in Additional Minimum Rent 
          the amount of $5,889.00 per month commencing on the Commencement 
          Date through the end of the Term of the Lease (November 3, 1997). 
          Total Minimum Monthly Rent shall be $25,035.00.

     5.   ADDITIONAL RENT CHARGE.    In addition to the new additional base 
          rent, Tenant will pay commencing on the Commencement Date based on 
          the additional premises, 5,889 net rentable square feet, Additional 
          Charges as set forth in the body of the Lease, under section 6, 
          Additional Rental.

     6.   CONSTRUCTION.    Tenant leases additional space in its present and 
          AS-IS condition and Landlord will provide no funds for Tenant 
          modifications.

Tenant and Landlord represent that they have dealt only with the Landlord's 
representative, Realsource Services, for the Second Addendum, and shall hold 
each party harmless from any outside claims for brokerage commissions.

This Addendum is intended to amend provisions of the Lease only to the extent 
expressly set forth herein. All of the terms, covenants and provisions set 
forth in the Lease are hereby ratified and confirmed except as expressly 
amended hereby, and Landlord and Tenant hereby agree that the Lease shall 
continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, as amended 
hereby. Landlord and Tenant further agree that the termination date of the 
additional space shall be the same as the Lease Agreement dated November 3, 
1997 and shall be subject to the same obligations and privileges of the 
original Lease Agreement.

Executed effective as the date first set forth above although actually 
executed on the dates set forth opposite the name of the signature of the 
parties.

DATE:                                  LANDLORD:
     -------------------               SALITEX II, LTD

                                       By:     /s/ BENJAMIN CHENG
                                          -------------------------------------
                                       Name:       Benjamin Cheng
                                            -----------------------------------
                                       Title:  V.P., Salitex Corp., G.P.
                                             ----------------------------------


DATE:   5/1/97                         TENANT:
     -------------------               CYBERONICS, INC.

                                       By:     /s/ JOHN BAKEWELL
                                          -------------------------------------
                                       Name:       John Bakewell
                                            -----------------------------------
                                       Title:  VP, Finance & Administration/CFO
                                             ----------------------------------


<PAGE>


                                EXHIBIT "A-1"

                                 FIRST FLOOR

                                    [MAP]



                                    A-1
<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT "A-2"

                                     [MAP]




                                    A-2
<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT "B-1"

                                    [MAP]



                                    B-1
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT "B-2"

                                     [MAP]


                                     B-2

<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.10
 
                            STOCKHOLDERS' AGREEMENT
                           DATED AS OF APRIL 8, 1996
                                    BETWEEN
                                CYBERONICS, INC
                                      AND
                             ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
<PAGE>
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                 PAGE
                                                                                                                 -----
<S>        <C>                                                                                                <C>
SECTION 1--Definitions......................................................................................           1
 
  1.1      Certain Definitions..............................................................................           1
 
SECTION 2--Restrictions on Transfer; Right of First Refusal.................................................           2
 
  2.1      Restrictions on Transferability..................................................................           2
  2.2      Right of First Refusal...........................................................................           3
  2.3      Restrictive Legends..............................................................................           4
 
SECTION 3--Registration Rights..............................................................................           4
 
  3.1      Requested Registration...........................................................................           4
  3.2      Piggy-Back Registration..........................................................................           6
  3.3      Registration Procedures..........................................................................           7
  3.4      Indemnification..................................................................................           7
  3.5      Information by Holders...........................................................................          10
  3.6      Rule 144 Reporting...............................................................................          10
  3.7      Transfer of Registration Rights..................................................................          10
  3.8      Termination of Registration Rights...............................................................          10
 
SECTION 4--Covenants of St. Jude............................................................................          10
 
  4.1      Limitation on Ownership of CYBX Common Stock.....................................................          10
  4.2      Voting...........................................................................................          11
  4.3      Voting Trust, etc................................................................................          11
  4.4      Solicitation of Proxies..........................................................................          11
  4.5      Acts in Concert with Others......................................................................          12
 
SECTION 5--Other Agreements.................................................................................          12
 
  5.1      Board Observer Rights............................................................................          12
  5.2      Confidential Information.........................................................................          12
 
SECTION 6--Miscellaneous....................................................................................          12
 
  6.1      Termination......................................................................................          12
  6.2      Governing Law....................................................................................          12
  6.3      Successors and Assigns...........................................................................          12
  6.4      Entire Agreement; Amendment......................................................................          12
  6.5      Notices and Dates................................................................................          13
  6.6      Severability.....................................................................................          13
  6.7      Costs and Expenses...............................................................................          13
  6.8      No Third Party Rights............................................................................          13
</TABLE>
 
                                       i
<PAGE>
                            STOCKHOLDERS' AGREEMENT
 
    THIS STOCKHOLDERS' AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of this 8th day
of April, 1996, between Cyberonics, Inc, a Delaware corporation ("CYBX"), and
St. Jude Medical, Inc., a Minnesota corporation ("St. Jude").
 
    A.  Concurrent with the execution hereof, the parties have executed and
delivered an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") providing for
the acquisition of CYBX by St. Jude under the terms and conditions set forth
therein;
 
    B.  Concurrent with the execution hereof, the parties have also executed and
delivered a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") pursuant
to which St. Jude may acquire 2,181,818 shares of CYBX Common Stock (the
"Shares");
 
    C.  As a condition to the obligation of St. Jude to purchase and CYBX to
sell the Shares, the parties have agreed to the additional rights and
obligations with respect to the Shares and certain other matters as set forth in
this Agreement;
 
    NOW, THEREFORE, The parties hereby agree as follows:
 
                                   SECTION 1
                                  DEFINITIONS
 
    1.1  CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.  As used in this Agreement:
 
        (a) "COMMISSION" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
    Commission or any other federal agency at the time administering the
    Securities Act.
 
        (b) "CONTROLLED CORPORATION" shall mean a corporation of which 100% of
    the stock entitled to participate in the election of directors is owned by
    St. Jude.
 
        (c) "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
    amended.
 
        (d) "GROUP" shall have the meaning comprehended by Section 13(d)(3) of
    the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
    regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
        (e) "HOLDER" shall mean the St. Jude, any Controlled Corporation holding
    Restricted Stock and any transferee of Restricted Stock to whom any rights
    hereunder have been transferred as provided herein.
 
        (f) "NEGOTIATED PURCHASE" means a transaction between CYBX and any
    person or group pursuant to which such person or group acquires from CYBX
    (or has the right to acquire from CYBX) CYBX Common Stock or any securities
    convertible into or exchangeable for voting stock or any other right to
    acquire voting stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Negotiated
    Purchase" shall not include (i) any agreement between CYBX and any
    underwriter(s) in connection with a public offering, (ii) any agreement with
    any third party(ies) pursuant to which CYBX shares are being issued to
    acquire the third party or its business or assets where the number of shares
    of CYBX Common Stock to be issued by CYBX represents no more than the then
    effective Ownership Ceiling (if the issuance in an acquisition exceeds the
    then effective Ownership Ceiling, such issuance shall constitute a
    "Negotiated Purchase"), or (iii) issuances of CYBX Common Stock pursuant to
    any present or future compensatory stock or option plan or other
    compensatory issuances to employees and/or consultants.
 
        (g) "PERSON" shall mean any person, individual, corporation,
    partnership, trust or other nongovernmental entity or any governmental
    agency, court, authority or other body (whether foreign, federal, state,
    local or otherwise).
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
        (h) The terms" REGISTER," "REGISTERED" and "REGISTRATION" refer to a
    registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in
    compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of the
    effectiveness of such registration statement.
 
        (i) "REGISTRATION EXPENSES" shall mean all expenses, other than Selling
    Expenses (as defined below), incurred by CYBX in complying with Section 3
    hereof, including, without limitation, all registration, qualification and
    filing fees, printing expenses, escrow fees, fees and disbursements of
    counsel for CYBX, blue sky fees and expenses, the expense of any special
    audits incident to or required by any such registration (but excluding the
    compensation of regular employees of CYBX which shall be paid in any event
    by CYBX).
 
        (j) "RESTRICTED STOCK" shall mean the Shares, any other shares of CYBX
    Common Stock acquired by any Holder, including, without limitation, shares
    acquired as the result of a stock split, stock dividend or the like.
 
        (k) "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
        (l) "SELLING EXPENSES" shall mean all underwriting discounts selling
    commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the St. Jude's securities
    registered pursuant to this Agreement.
 
        (m) "CYBX COMMON STOCK" shall mean the Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of
    CYBX.
 
        (n) "TOTAL VOTING POWER OF CYBX" means the total number of votes which
    may be cast in the election of directors of CYBX at any meeting of
    stockholders of CYBX if all securities entitled to vote in the election of
    directors of CYBX were present and voted at such meeting (other than votes
    that may be cast only upon the happening of a contingency).
 
                                   SECTION 2
                RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER; RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
 
    2.1  RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY.
 
        (a)  COVENANT OF HOLDERS RE: TRANSFERS.  Holders agree that they shall
    not sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of any
    Restricted Stock now owned or hereafter acquired by them except as otherwise
    permitted by this Agreement. Transfers by a Holder of Restricted Stock shall
    be subject to CYBX's Right of First Refusal as described in Section 2.2
    below. In addition, a Holder shall not, without the prior written consent of
    CYBX, directly or indirectly, sell or transfer any Restricted Stock except:
 
            (i) to CYBX or any person or group approved by CYBX; or
 
            (ii) to a Controlled Corporation, so long as such Controlled
       Corporation agrees to hold such Restricted Stock subject to all the
       provisions of this Agreement, including this Section 2.1, and agrees to
       transfer such Restricted Stock to St. Jude or another Controlled
       Corporation of St. Jude if it ceases to be a Controlled Corporation of
       St. Jude; or
 
           (iii) pursuant to a bona fide public offering registered under the
       Securities Act, including without limitation a registration pursuant to
       Section 3 hereof; or
 
            (iv) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or
 
            (v) in transactions not otherwise described herein so long as such
       transactions do not, directly or indirectly, result, to the best
       knowledge of a Holder, after reasonable inquiry, in any single person or
       group owning or having the right to acquire Restricted Stock with
       aggregate Voting Power of 5% or more of the Total Voting Power of CYBX
       then in effect; or
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
            (vi) in response to an offer to purchase or exchange for cash or
       other consideration (a) which is made by or on behalf of CYBX, or (b)
       which is made by another person or group and is supported or not opposed
       by the Board of Directors of CYBX within the time such Board is required,
       pursuant to regulations under the Exchange Act, to advise CYBX's
       stockholders of such Board's position on such offer; or
 
           (vii) in the event of a merger or consolidation in which the holders
       of CYBX Common Stock prior to the merger or consolidation cease to hold,
       solely as a result of their ownership of CYBX Common Stock, at least 51%
       of the voting stock of the surviving entity, or pursuant to a plan of
       liquidation of CYBX.
 
        (b)  NOTICES OF PROPOSED TRANSFERS.  If a Holder wishes to sell
    Restricted Stock (other than in a registered offering pursuant to Section 3
    hereof as to which the notice provisions thereof shall apply), it shall give
    notice (the "Transfer Notice") to CYBX in writing of such intention
    specifying the approximate number of the proposed purchasers or transferees,
    the amount of Restricted Stock proposed to be sold or transferred (the
    "Transfer Stock"), the proposed price per share therefor (the "Transfer
    Price"), which may be stated as "the market" price or a price tied to market
    price by a stated formula (e.g., "at a 10% discount from market price") and
    the other material terms upon which such disposition is proposed to be made.
    In addition, unless there is in effect a registration statement under the
    Securities Act covering the proposed transfer, the Holder shall provide
    CYBX, at Holder's expense with either (i) a written opinion of legal counsel
    who shall be, and whose legal opinion shall be, reasonably satisfactory to
    CYBX, addressed to CYBX, to the effect that the proposed transfer of the
    Transfer Stock may be effected without registration under the Securities
    Act, or (ii) a "no action" letter from the Commission to the effect that the
    transfer of the Transfer Stock without registration will not result in a
    recommendation by the staff of the Commission that action be taken with
    respect thereto.
 
    2.2  RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.  In the event of any proposed transfer of
Restricted Stock (other than transfers specified in Section 2.1(a)(i), (ii),
(iii), (iv), (vi) and (vii) above), CYBX shall have the right to purchase the
Transfer Stock on the terms set forth in this Section 2.2.
 
        (a)  EXERCISE OF RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.  Within 30 calendar days after
    receipt of such Transfer Notice, CYBX shall give written notice to the
    Holder which gave the Transfer Notice of CYBX's intention to exercise its
    right of first refusal. CYBX's notice shall constitute an offer to purchase
    all but not part (unless otherwise agreed) of the Transfer Stock for cash
    per share equal to the Transfer Price, PROVIDED, that within such 30 day
    period CYBX shall also provide such Holder with evidence satisfactory to
    such Holder (by written commitment letter subject only to customary
    representations, diligence and documentation, letter of credit or otherwise)
    of its ability to finance such purchase.
 
        (b)  CLOSING OF PURCHASE BY CYBX.  If CYBX exercises its right of first
    refusal hereunder, the closing of the purchase of the Restricted Stock with
    respect to which such right has been exercised shall take place within 45
    calendar days after receipt by CYBX of the Transfer Notice, which period of
    time shall be extended in order to comply with applicable securities laws
    and regulations. Upon exercise of its right of first refusal, CYBX and the
    selling Holder shall be legally obligated to consummate the purchase
    contemplated thereby and shall use their best efforts to secure any
    approvals required in connection therewith.
 
        (c)  HOLDER'S RIGHT TO CONSUMMATE TRANSFER.  If CYBX does not exercise
    its right of first refusal hereunder within the time specified for such
    exercise, the Holder shall be free, during the period of 90 calendar days
    following the expiration of such time for exercise, to sell the Transfer
    Stock on terms no less favorable to Holder than the terms specified in such
    Transfer Notice.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
        (d)  ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS.  In the event that CYBX elects to exercise a
    right of first refusal under this Section 2.2, CYBX may specify prior to
    closing such purchase another person as its designee to purchase the
    Transfer Stock. The designee selected by CYBX shall be one as to whom the
    transfer of the Transfer Stock may be effected without violation of the
    Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws; otherwise such
    attempted designation shall be void, and CYBX shall effect the purchase. If
    CYBX shall designate another person as the purchaser pursuant to this
    Section 2.2, the giving of notice of acceptance of the right of first
    refusal by CYBX shall constitute a legally binding obligation of CYBX to
    complete such purchase if such person shall fail to do so.
 
    2.3  RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS.  Each certificate representing Restricted Stock
shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with legends substantially in the
following form (in addition any legend required under applicable state
securities laws):
 
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND
HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. SUCH SHARES MAY NOT
BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE COMPANY
RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO IT STATING THAT SUCH
SALE OR TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY
REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT.
 
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON
TRANSFER, INCLUDING ANY SALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER HYPOTHECATION, RIGHTS OF FIRST
REFUSAL AND VOTING OBLIGATIONS SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT DATED APRIL   , 1996
BETWEEN THE ISSUER AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE, A COPY OF
WHICH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER
OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER AT ISSUER'S
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES.
 
    Holders consent to CYBX making a notation on its records and giving
instructions to any transfer agent of the Common Stock in order to implement the
restrictions on transfer established in this Agreement.
 
                                   SECTION 3
                              REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
    3.1  REQUESTED REGISTRATION.  The Holders shall have the right to request
registration pursuant to this Section 3.1. This shall be in addition to the
Holder's rights under Section 3.2. Any registration requested hereunder shall be
structured to distribute such shares through an underwriter or otherwise in such
a manner as should not result in a sale or sales of CYBX Common Stock with
aggregate Voting Power of 5% or more of the Total Voting Power of CYBX then in
effect being transferred to a single person or group.
 
        (a)  REGISTRATION.  In case CYBX shall receive from Holder(s) a written
    request that CYBX effect any registration, qualification or compliance with
    respect to Restricted Stock which represents no less than the lesser of
    (A)15% of CYBX Common Stock outstanding as of the date of the request (for
    purposes of determining the number of outstanding shares of CYBX Common
    Stock, a Holder may rely upon the number disclosed in CYBX's latest report
    filed under the Exchange Act), or (B) 80% of the Shares. CYBX will, as soon
    as practicable, use its best lawful efforts to effect such registration,
    qualification or compliance (including, without limitation, appropriate
    qualification under applicable blue sky or other state securities law and
    appropriate compliance with applicable regulations issued under the
    Securities Act and any other governmental requirements or regulations) as
    may be necessary or appropriate to permit or facilitate the sale and
    distribution of all of such Restricted Stock as are specified in such
    request; provided, however, that CYBX shall not be
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
    obligated to take any action to effect any such registration, qualification
    or compliance pursuant to this Section 3.1:
 
            (i) Prior to the earlier of (A) February 14, 1997 or (B) the date
       CYBX files its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
       December 31, 1996;
 
            (ii) In any particular jurisdiction in which CYBX would be required
       to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such
       registration, qualification or compliance unless CYBX is already subject
       to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the
       Securities Act;
 
           (iii) During the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior
       to CYBX's estimated date of filing of, and ending on the date three (3)
       months immediately following the effective date of, any registration
       statement pertaining to securities of CYBX (other than a registration of
       securities in a Rule 145 transaction or with respect to an employee
       benefit plan), providing that CYBX is actively employing in good faith
       all reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become
       effective (and provided, further, that CYBX cannot pursuant to this
       Section 3.1(a)(iii) delay imple-mentation of a demand for registration
       more than once in any 24-month period);or
 
            (iv) If CYBX shall furnish to such Holders a certificate signed by
       the President of CYBX stating that in the good faith judgment of the
       Board of Directors it would be seriously detrimental to CYBX or its
       stockholders for a registration statement to be filed in the near future,
       then CYBX's obligation to use its best lawful efforts to register,
       qualify or comply under this Section 3.1 shall be deferred once (with
       respect to any demand for registration hereunder) for a period not to
       exceed ninety (90) days from the date of receipt of written request from
       St. Jude.
 
        Subject to the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv), CYBX shall file a
    registration statement covering the Restricted Stock so requested to be
    registered as soon as practicable, after receipt of the request of the
    Holder(s).
 
        (b)  UNDERWRITING.
 
            (i) In the event that either CYBX or the selling Holder(s) request
       that a registration be effected pursuant to an underwritten offering, the
       right of a Holder to registration pursuant to this Section 3.1 shall be
       conditioned upon such Holder's participation in the underwriting
       arrangements. CYBX shall (together with all Holders and other holders
       proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting) enter
       into an underwriting agreement in customary form with a nationally
       respected investment banking firm selected by CYBX and reasonably
       acceptable to the selling Holder(s).
 
            (ii) If any Holder disapproves of the terms of the underwriting,
       such person may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to CYBX and
       the managing underwriter. The Restricted Stock so withdrawn shall also be
       withdrawn from registration, and such Restricted Stock shall not be
       transferred in a public distribution prior to 180 days after the
       effective date of such registration, or such other shorter period of time
       as the underwriters may require.
 
        (c)  INCLUSION OF OTHER SHARES OF CYBX COMMON STOCK.  In connection with
    any registration pursuant to this Section 3.1, CYBX and other holders of
    CYBX Common Stock may include shares in such registration; provided,
    however, that if, in connection with an underwritten offering, the managing
    underwriter determines that marketing conditions require a limitation on the
    number of shares to be sold, then shares shall be included in the following
    priority and order:
 
            (i) The Restricted Stock requested to be sold by Holder(s) shall
       first be included;
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
            (ii) If marketing conditions permit additional shares to be
       included, then capacity shall be allocated among the other holders of
       CYBX Common Stock pro rata based upon the number of shares requested to
       be included in the registration (to facilitate the allocation of shares
       in accordance with the above provisions, CYBX or the underwriters may
       round the number of shares allocated to any holder to the nearest 100
       shares);
 
           (iii) If marketing conditions permit additional shares to be
       included, then such remaining capacity shall be allocated to CYBX.
 
        (d)  EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.  Registration Expenses incurred in
    connection with the registration pursuant to this Section 3.1 shall be borne
    as follows:
 
            (i) If the registration relates solely to Restricted Stock being
       registered on behalf of Holder(s), CYBX on the one hand and selling
       Holder(s) on the other shall bear all of such expenses on a 50%/50% basis
       as to the first such registration pursuant to this Section 3.1(a) and
       selling Holder(s) shall bear all of such expenses in connection with any
       subsequent registration(s) pursuant to this Section 3.1;
 
            (ii) If the registration includes Restricted Stock being registered
       on behalf of Holder(s) and stock being sold for the account of other
       holders or the account of CYBX, then such Holder(s) shall bear a pro rata
       portion of all of such expenses based upon the total number of shares
       included in the registration.
 
    All Selling Expenses relating to securities registered on behalf of
Holder(s) registering securities shall be borne by such Holder(s) pro rata on
the basis of the number of shares so registered regardless of whether any other
shares are included in the registration.
 
    3.2  PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATION.
 
        (a)  NOTICE OF REGISTRATION.  If at any time or from time to time CYBX
    shall determine to register any of its securities, either for its own
    account or the account of a security holder or holders, other than (i) a
    registration relating solely to employee benefit plans, or (ii) a
    registration relating solely to a Commission Rule 145 transaction, CYBX
    will:
 
            (i) promptly give to each Holder written notice thereof; and
 
            (ii) include in such registration (and any related qualification
       under blue sky laws or other compliance), and in any underwriting
       involved therein, all the Restricted Stock specified in a written request
       or requests, made within 20 days after receipt of such written notice
       from CYBX, by any Holder.
 
        (b)  UNDERWRITING.
 
            (i) If the registration of which CYBX gives notice is for a
       registered public offering involving an underwriting, CYBX shall so
       advise the Holders as a part of the written notice given pursuant to
       Section 3.2(a). In such event the right of any Holder to registration
       pursuant to Section 3.2 shall be conditioned upon such Holder's
       participation in such underwriting, and the inclusion of Restricted Stock
       in the underwriting shall be limited to the extent provided herein. All
       Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such
       underwriting shall (together with CYBX and the other holders distributing
       their securities through such underwriting) enter into an underwriting
       agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter selected for
       such underwriting by CYBX. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
       Section 3.2, if the managing underwriter determines that marketing
       factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten,
       the managing underwriter may exclude some or all Restricted Stock from
       such registration. In the event that the number of shares of Restricted
       Stock to be included in a registration shall be limited pursuant to the
       foregoing, CYBX shall so advise all Holders, and the
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
       number of shares of Restricted Stock that may be included in the
       registration and underwriting shall be allocated among all Holder(s)
       thereof (and other holders of CYBX Common Stock who are contractually
       entitled to register their shares of CYBX Common Stock) in proportion, as
       nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of securities then held
       by Holders and such other holders requesting to have shares included in
       such registration. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance
       with the above provisions, CYBX may round the number of shares allocated
       to any Holder to the nearest 100 shares.
 
            (ii) If any Holder disapproves of the terms of the underwriting,
       such person may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to CYBX and
       the managing underwriter. The Restricted Stock so withdrawn shall also be
       withdrawn from registration, and such Restricted Stock shall not be
       transferred in a public distribution prior to 180 days (or such shorter
       period of time as the underwriters may require) after the effective date
       of such registration; provided, however, that the restriction provided
       herein shall not exceed the duration of any similar restrictions required
       of other CYBX stockholders.
 
        (c)  RIGHT TO TERMINATE REGISTRATION.  CYBX shall have the right to
    terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section
    3.2 prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not any
    Holder has elected to include securities in such registration.
 
        (d)  EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.  All Registration Expenses incurred in
    connection with a registration pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall be borne
    by CYBX. All Selling Expenses relating to securities registered on behalf of
    the Holders or other holders registering securities shall be borne by the
    Holders or holders of such securities pro rata on the basis of the number of
    shares so registered.
 
    3.3  REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.  In the case of each registration,
qualification or compliance effected by CYBX pursuant to this Agreement, CYBX
agrees as follows:
 
        (a)  INFORM HOLDER(S).  CYBX will keep each Holder advised in writing as
    to the initiation of each registration, qualification and compliance and as
    to the completion thereof.
 
        (b)  PREPARE AND FILE REGISTRATION STATEMENT.  CYBX will prepare and
    file with the Commission a registration statement with respect to such
    securities and use its best lawful efforts to cause such registration
    statement to become and remain effective for one hundred and twenty (120)
    days or, if earlier, until the distribution described in the Registration
    Statement has been completed;
 
        (c)  FURNISH PROSPECTUSES.  CYBX will furnish to each underwriter such
    number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in
    conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other
    documents as such underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate
    the public sale of the shares by such underwriter, and promptly furnish to
    each underwriter and Holder notice of any stop-order or similar notice
    issued by the Commission or any state agency charged with the regulation of
    securities, and notice of any NASDAQ listing;
 
        (d)  COMFORT LETTER.  CYBX will furnish to each prospective seller a
    signed "comfort" letters signed by the independent public accountants who
    have certified CYBX's financial statements included in the registration
    statement, covering substantially the same matters with respect to the
    registration statement (and the prospectus included therein) and (in the
    case of the "comfort" letter) with respect to events subsequent to the date
    of the financial statements, as are customarily covered (at the time of such
    registration) in opinions of issuers' counsel and in "comfort" letters
    delivered to the underwriters in underwritten public offerings of
    securities.
 
    3.4  INDEMNIFICATION.
 
        (a)  INDEMNIFICATION BY CYBX.  To the extent permitted by law, CYBX will
    indemnify each Holder participating in a registration pursuant to this
    Agreement, each of its officers and directors and partners, and each person
    controlling such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
Securities Act, with respect to which registration, qualification or compliance
has been effected pursuant to this Agreement, and each underwriter, if any, and
each person who controls any underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act, against all expenses, claims, losses, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof), including any of the foregoing incurred in
settlement of any litigation, commenced or threatened, arising out of or based
on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact
contained in any registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or other
document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, incident to any such
registration, qualification or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged
omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which
they were made, not misleading, or any violation by CYBX of the Securities Act
or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act applicable to
CYBX in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance, and
CYBX will reimburse each such Holder, each of its officers and directors, and
each person controlling such Holder, each such underwriter and each person who
controls any such underwriter, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such
claim, loss, damage, liability or action, provided that CYBX will not be liable
in any such case to the extent that any such claim, loss, damage, liability or
expense arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission, made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to CYBX by such Holder, controlling person or
underwriter specifically for use therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, insofar
as the foregoing indemnity relates to any such untrue statement (or alleged
untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) made in the preliminary
prospectus but eliminated or remedied in the amended prospectus on file with the
Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective or in the
final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the
Commission, the indemnity agreement herein shall not inure to the benefit of any
underwriter or (if there is no underwriter) any Holder if a copy of the final
prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) was not furnished to the person or
entity asserting the loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the time
such furnishing is required by the Securities Act.
 
        (b)  INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDERS.  To the extent permitted by law, each
    Holder will, if Restricted Stock held by such Holder is included in the
    securities as to which such registration, qualification or compliance is
    being effected, indemnify CYBX, each of its directors and officers, each
    underwriter, if any, of CYBX's securities covered by such a registration
    statement, each person who controls CYBX or such underwriter within the
    meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, and each other such Holder or
    holder, each of its officers and directors and each person controlling such
    other Holder or holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
    Act, against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in
    respect thereof) arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged
    untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any such registration
    statement, prospectus, offering circular or other document, or any omission
    (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated
    therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will
    reimburse CYBX, such Holders or holders, such directors, officers, persons,
    underwriters or control persons for any legal or any other expenses
    reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such
    claim, loss, damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but
    only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement)
    or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such registration statement,
    prospectus, offering circular or other document in reliance upon and in
    conformity with written information furnished to CYBX by such Holder
    specifically for use therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the liability
    of each Holder under this subsection (b) shall be limited in an amount equal
    to the net proceeds from the sale of the shares sold by such Holder, unless
    such liability arises out of or is based on willful conduct by such Holder.
    In addition, insofar as the foregoing indemnity relates to any such untrue
    statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission)
    made in the preliminary prospectus but eliminated or remedied in the amended
    prospectus on file with the Commission at the time the registration
    statement becomes effective or in the final prospectus filed pursuant to
    Rule 424(b) of the Commission, the indemnity agreement herein shall not
    inure to the benefit of CYBX, any underwriter or (if there is no
    underwriter) any Holder if a
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
    copy of the final prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) was not furnished
    to the person or entity asserting the loss, liability, claim or damage at or
    prior to the time such furnishing is required by the Securities Act.
 
        (c)  NOTICE OF INDEMNIFICATION CLAIMS.  Each party entitled to
    indemnification under this Section 3.4 (the "Indemnified Party") shall give
    notice to the party required to provide indemnification (the "Indemnifying
    Party") promptly after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any
    claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying
    Party to assume the defense of any such claim or any litigation resulting
    therefrom, provided that counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall
    conduct the defense of such claim or litigation, shall be approved by the
    Indemnified Party (whose approval shall not unreasonably be withheld), and
    the Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at such party's
    expense, and provided further that the failure of any Indemnified Party to
    give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of
    its obligations under this Agreement unless the failure to give such notice
    is materially prejudicial to an Indemnifying Party's ability to defend such
    action and provided further, that the Indemnifying Party shall not assume
    the defense for matters as to which there is a conflict of interest or
    separate or different defenses in which event the Indemnified Party/Parties
    shall be entitled to engage a single separate counsel to represent them in
    such matter and the Indemnifying Party shall reimburse the Indemnified
    Party/Parties for the reasonable attorneys fees and expenses incurred in
    connection with such defense. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any
    such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each Indemnified
    Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which
    does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant
    or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in
    respect to such claim or litigation. No Indemnified Party shall consent to
    entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement without the consent of
    each Indemnifying Party.
 
        (d)  CONTRIBUTION.  If the indemnification provided for in this Section
    3.4 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,
    damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party, in
    lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount
    paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
    claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
    reflect the relative benefits received by CYBX on the one hand and all
    stockholders offering securities in the offering (the "Selling
    Stockholders") on the other from the offering of CYBX securities, or (ii) if
    the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable
    law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
    benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of CYBX
    on the one hand and the Selling Stockholders on the other in connection with
    the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages
    or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
    relative benefits received by CYBX on the one hand and the Selling
    Stockholders on the other shall be the net proceeds from the offering
    (before deducting expenses) received by CYBX on the one hand and the Selling
    Stockholders on the other. The relative fault of CYBX on the one hand and
    the Selling Stockholders on the other shall be determined by reference to,
    among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of
    material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
    relates to information supplied by CYBX or by the Selling Stockholders and
    the parties' relevant intent, knowledge, access to information and
    opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. CYBX and the
    Selling Stockholders agree that it would not be just and equitable if
    contribution pursuant to this Section 3.4(d) were based solely upon the
    number of entities from whom contribution was requested or by any other
    method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
    considerations referred to above in this Section 3.4(d). The amount paid or
    payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages
    and liabilities referred to above in this Section 3.4(d) shall be deemed to
    include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
    party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or
    claim, subject to the provisions of Section 3.4(c) hereof. Notwithstanding
    the provisions of this Section 3.4(d), no Selling Stockholder shall be
    required to contribute any amount or make any other payments under
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
    this Agreement which in the aggregate exceed the proceeds received by such
    Selling Stockholder. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation shall
    be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
    fraudulent misrepresentation.
 
    3.5  INFORMATION BY HOLDERS.  The Holder(s) of Restricted Stock included in
any registration shall furnish to CYBX such information regarding such
Holder(s), the Restricted Stock and the distribution proposed by such Holder(s)
as CYBX may request and as shall be required in connection with any
registration, qualification or compliance referred to in Section 3. In the event
that a Holder fails to provide the information required by this Section,
Restricted Stock held by such Holder shall be excluded from such registration
and such Holder shall be deemed to have forever waived and terminated its rights
to registration under this Agreement.
 
    3.6  RULE 144 REPORTING.  So long as a Holder owns any Restricted Stock,
CYBX agrees to furnish to such Holder forthwith upon request a written statement
by CYBX as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of said Rule 144
and of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a copy of the
most recent annual or quarterly report of CYBX, and such other reports and
documents of CYBX and other information in the possession of or reasonably
obtainable by CYBX as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any
rule or regulation of the Commission allowing such Holder to sell any such
securities without registration.
 
    3.7  TRANSFER OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  The rights granted to St. Jude under
Section 3 may be assigned to a Controlled Corporation or to any other transferee
acquiring shares of Restricted Stock in a transaction which has been effected in
compliance with Section 2 hereof in connection with any transfer or assignment
of Restricted Stock provided that transferee agrees in writing to be bound by
the provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no registration
rights will transfer in connection with a transfer of Restricted Stock pursuant
to Rule 144 or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act.
 
    3.8  TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  The registration rights granted in
this Section 3 shall terminate as to any shares of Restricted Stock at the
earlier of (i) the time such shares are transferred in a registered offering or
pursuant to Rule 144, (ii) at such time as the Holder thereof may legally sell
all Restricted Stock held by it in any single three month period or (iii) five
years from the date St. Jude first acquired the Shares.
 
                                   SECTION 4
                             COVENANTS OF ST. JUDE
 
    4.1  LIMITATION ON OWNERSHIP OF CYBX COMMON STOCK.
 
        (a) Unless CYBX otherwise agrees in writing, Holder(s) shall not (and
    shall not permit any subsidiary to directly or indirectly) acquire
    beneficial ownership of any CYBX Common Stock, any securities convertible
    into or exchangeable for CYBX Common Stock, or any other right to acquire
    CYBX Common Stock or authorize or make a tender, exchange or other offer,
    except (i) by way of stock dividends or other distributions or offerings
    made available to holders of any CYBX Common Stock generally or (ii)
    pursuant to the Merger Agreement, if the effect of such acquisition would be
    to increase the Voting Power of all CYBX Common Stock then owned by Holders
    or which they have a right to acquire to more than the percentage of the
    Total Voting Power of CYBX which Holders, in the aggregate, are entitled to
    hold at such time as provided in this Section 4.1 (the "Ownership Ceiling").
    The Ownership Ceiling shall initially be nineteen percent (19%), subject to
    adjustment as provided in Section 4.1(b).
 
        (b) Holders may acquire CYBX Common Stock without regard to the
    limitations in this Section 4.1 if: (i) a tender offer is made (as evidenced
    by the filing with the Commission of a Schedule 14D-1 (or any successor
    schedule or form promulgated or adopted for such purpose by the
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    Commission) and the actual dissemination of tender offer materials to
    security holders) by another person or group to purchase or exchange for
    cash or other consideration any CYBX Common Stock which, if successful,
    would result in such person or group owning or having the right to acquire
    shares of CYBX Common Stock with aggregate Voting Power of at least a
    majority of the Total Voting Power of CYBX then in effect; PROVIDED, this
    clause (i) shall not be effective until such time as St. Jude, in the
    exercise of the reasonable judgment of its Board of Directors shall
    reasonably conclude that such tender offeror can finance such tender offer;
    or (ii) another entity or group (other than an entity or group not required
    to file a Schedule 13D pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Securities
    Exchange Act of 1934) acquires CYBX Common Stock with aggregate Voting Power
    of at least 25% of the then Total Voting Power of CYBX, other than pursuant
    to a Negotiated Purchase.
 
        (c) If Holder(s) sell any CYBX Common Stock (other than a sale or other
    transfer to a Controlled Corporation), the percentage ownership in the Total
    Voting Power of CYBX which Holders are entitled to own as provided in this
    Section 4.1 shall be reduced by the percentage amount of such sale; and
 
        (d) Holders will not be obligated to dispose of any shares of CYBX
    Common Stock if the aggregate percentage ownership of Holders is increased
    as a result of a recapitalization of CYBX or a repurchase of securities by
    CYBX or any other action taken by CYBX or its affiliates, but Holders shall
    not acquire any additional CYBX Common Stock unless such acquisition would
    otherwise be permitted under this Agreement. If, after Holders have acquired
    CYBX Common Stock in response to the acquisition of CYBX Common Stock by
    another person or group, as permitted by Section 4.1(b), then Holders shall
    not be obligated to dispose of any shares of CYBX Common Stock, but will
    continue to be bound by the restrictions on acquiring additional shares of
    CYBX Common Stock.
 
    4.2  VOTING.
 
        (a) Holders shall take such action as may be required so that all shares
    of CYBX Common Stock owned by Holders are voted for nominees to the Board of
    Directors of CYBX in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of
    Directors. The provisions of this Section 4.2(a) shall terminate on July 1,
    1998; provided, however, that the provisions of Section 4.4 shall remain in
    effect for so long as any Holder continues to hold CYBX Common Stock.
 
        (b) Unless CYBX otherwise consents in writing, Holders shall take such
    action as may be required so that all shares of CYBX Common Stock owned by
    Holders are voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of
    Directors on all other matters to be voted on by holders of CYBX Common
    Stock, or, if a Holder objects to the recommendation of CYBX's Board of
    Directors, then such Holder shall vote its shares of CYBX Common Stock in
    the same proportion as the stockholders (other than the other objecting
    Holders) have voted on the matter. The provisions of this Section 4.2(b)
    shall remain in effect for so long as any Holder continues to hold CYBX
    Common Stock.
 
        (c) Holders, as the holders of shares of CYBX Common Stock, shall be
    present, in person or by proxy, at all meetings of stockholders of CYBX so
    that all shares of CYBX Common Stock beneficially owned by them may be
    counted for the purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at such
    meetings and to vote such CYBX Common Stock as provided herein.
 
    4.3  VOTING TRUST, ETC.  Holders shall not deposit any shares of CYBX Common
Stock in a voting trust or, except as otherwise provided herein, subject any
CYBX Common Stock to any proxy, arrangement or agreement with respect to the
voting of such CYBX Common Stock other than a proxy granted to the proxy
holder(s) designated by CYBX's Board of Directors.
 
    4.4  SOLICITATION OF PROXIES.  Without CYBX's prior written consent, Holders
shall not solicit proxies with respect to any CYBX Common Stock, nor shall it
become a "participant" in any "election contest" (as such terms are used in Rule
14a-11 of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act) relating to the election of
directors of CYBX).
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
    4.5  ACTS IN CONCERT WITH OTHERS.  Except as contemplated herein with regard
to the assignment of rights to Controlled Corporations, Holders shall not join a
partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other group, or otherwise act in
concert with any third person, for the purpose of acquiring, holding, or
disposing of CYBX Common Stock.
 
                                   SECTION 5
                                OTHER AGREEMENTS
 
    5.1  BOARD OBSERVER RIGHTS.  For so long as Holders hold Common Stock
representing at least 10% of the Total Voting Power of CYBX, St. Jude shall have
the right to have one representative observe all meetings of CYBX's Board of
Directors. St. Jude shall designate its representative who shall be reasonably
acceptable to CYBX. Except where the designated representative has left the
employ of St. Jude, St. Jude may not change its representative more than once in
any 12 month period. CYBX shall provide to the representative notice of meetings
of the Board, and copies of such materials as are provided to directors, at the
same time as given to directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, in the
reasonable judgment of CYBX, a conflict may exist between CYBX and St. Jude with
respect to a matter to be considered by CYBX Board of Directors, CYBX may (i)
exclude St. Jude's representative from the portion(s) of any meeting at which
such matter(s) are to be discussed and (ii) omit from materials sent to the
representative any materials relating to such matter(s). St. Jude acknowledges
that, as a result of its participation in board meetings and receipt of board
materials, it will regularly have material nonpublic information about CYBX, and
thereby agrees that it will, and will cause any St. Jude personnel who have
access to such information, to adhere to CYBX's Insider Trading Policy, copies
of which have been provided to St. Jude and to comply with all applicable state
and federal securities laws relating to insider trading.
 
    5.2  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.  CYBX may from time to time pursuant to this
Agreement disclose to St. Jude certain confidential information. St. Jude agrees
that the provisions of those certain confidentiality agreements between CYBX and
St. Jude dated as of June 6, 1995 and October 17, 1995 shall govern the use and
disclosure of confidential information received hereunder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that, notwithstanding the terms of such agreements, such agreements shall be
deemed to remain in effect for so long as St. Jude shall have a right to receive
information hereunder. St. Jude's obligation to hold confidential information in
confidence expires on the seventh anniversary of the date of disclosure.
 
                                   SECTION 6
                                 MISCELLANEOUS
 
    6.1  TERMINATION.  This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon that
date which is one year after the later of: (i) termination of the Merger
Agreement; (ii) termination of the Purchase Agreement; or (iii) assuming that
St. Jude has purchased shares of CYBX Common Stock pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement, the date on which all Holders may sell all shares of Restricted Stock
held by them in a single three month period. The restrictions in this Agreement
shall not apply to any purchaser of Restricted Stock (other than a Controlled
Corporation or other affiliate of St. Jude or of any Controlled Corporation) to
whom none of the rights of a Holder are transferred as provided herein.
 
    6.2  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ALL RESPECTS BY THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO SOLELY
BETWEEN RESIDENTS OF, AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN, SUCH STATE.
 
    6.3  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned by a party without the prior written
consent of the other party PROVIDED, without the consent of CYBX, St. Jude may
assign this Agreement as provided herein to any Controlled Corporation.
 
    6.4  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT.  This Agreement and the other documents
delivered pursuant hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and
agreement between the parties with regard to the
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof. Neither
this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged or
terminated other than by a written instrument signed by the party against which
enforcement of any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.
 
    6.5  NOTICES AND DATES.  Any notice or other communication given under this
Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and sent by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to a party at its address set
forth below (or at such other address as shall be designated for such purpose by
such party in a written notice to the other party hereto):
 
       (a) if to CYBX, to it at:
 
           Cyberonics, Inc.
 
           17448 Highway 3, Suite 100
 
           Webster, TX 77598-4138
 
           Attention: President
 
           with a copy to:
 
           Kenneth M. Siegel
 
           Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati
 
           650 Page Mill Road
 
           Palo Alto, CA 94304
 
       (b) if to St. Jude, to it at:
 
           St. Jude Medical, Inc.
 
           One Lillehei Plaza
 
           St. Paul, MN 55117
 
           Attention: President
 
    with a copy addressed as set forth above but to the attention of: General
Counsel.
 
    All such notices and communications shall be effective when received by the
addressee. In the event that any date provided for in this Agreement falls on a
Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, such date shall be deemed extended to the
next business day.
 
    6.6  SEVERABILITY.  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restriction
of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated.
 
    6.7  COSTS AND EXPENSES.  Except as provided with respect to Registration
Expenses, each party hereto shall pay its own costs and expenses incurred in
connection herewith, including the fees of its counsel, auditors and other
representatives, whether or not the transactions contemplated herein are
consummated.
 
    6.8  NO THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.  Nothing in this Agreement shall create or be
deemed to create any rights in any person or entity not a party to this
Agreement.
 
                  (REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date aforesaid.
 
                                          CYBERONICS, INC.
 
                                          By: /s/ ROBERT P. CUMMINS
                                             -----------------------------------
 
                                                      Robert P. Cummins
                                                PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                                                         OFFICER
 
                                          ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
 
                                          By: /s/ RONALD A. MATRICARIA
                                             -----------------------------------
 
                                          Name: Ronald A. Matricaria
                                               ---------------------------------
 
                                          Title: President and Chief Executive
                                          Officer
                                               ---------------------------------
 
                                       14

<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.11


                                CYBERONICS, INC.



                                       March 28, 1997


The Clark Estates
Attn:  Kevin Moore
30 Wall Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY  10005

         Re:      Designation of Board Member

Dear Kevin:

         By a Common  Stock  Purchase  Agreement  dated the date of this letter,
certain  persons and  entities  whose  business  affairs are managed by or under
common  management  with The Clark Estates (the "Clark Group") are purchasing an
aggregate  of  901,408  shares of the  Common  Stock of  Cyberonics,  Inc.  (the
"Company").  In consideration of such investment,  Cyberonics hereby agrees with
The Clark Estates as follows:

         1. Concurrent with the closing of the securities  purchase  referred to
in the preceding  paragraph,  The Clark  Estates,  on behalf of the Clark Group,
shall  have the right to  designate  one  person  reasonably  acceptable  to the
Company to serve on the Company's Board of Directors. Upon such designation, the
Company  shall  take such  actions  as may be  necessary  to  appoint  The Clark
Estates' designee to the Company's Board of Directors.

         2. For so long as the Clark Group  continues  to own an aggregate of at
least 600,000 of the shares of Common Stock  referred to in the first  paragraph
of this  letter,  the  Company  will  cause one person  designated  by The Clark
Estates to be nominated for election to the Company's Board of Directors at each
meeting of Company stockholders at which directors are being elected.

         3.  If the  person  designated  to  serve  on the  Company's  Board  of
Directors by The Clark  Estates dies or otherwise  becomes  incapacitated  while
serving as a director,  or resigns from the Cyberonics Board, The Clark Estates,
on behalf of the Clark  Group shall have the right to  designate  a  replacement
reasonably acceptable to the Company.  Upon such designation,  the Company shall
take such actions as may be necessary to appoint The Clark Estates'  replacement
designee to the Company's Board of Directors.


<PAGE>

The Clark Estates
c/o Mr. Kevin Moore
Page 2

         4. Failure to exercise the right granted under this letter agreement to
designate a member to serve on the Company's Board of Directors shall not result
in forfeiture of such right.


                                       Very truly yours,

                                       CYBERONICS, INC.



                                       By:/s/ Robert P. Cummins
                                          ----------------------------
                                          Name:  Robert P. Cummins
                                          Title:  Chief Executive Officer



<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT 21.1
                    LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES OF CYBERONICS, INC.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         JURISDICTION OF
                NAME OF SUBSIDIARY                        INCORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------  --------------------------
 
<S>                                                 <C>
Cyberonics of Europe, S.A.                                   Belgium
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT 23.1
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
    As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference of our report dated August 7, 1997 included in this Form 10-K and into
the Company's previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-8.
 
                                          /s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
                                          ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Houston, Texas
 
August 15, 1997

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                               0
<SECURITIES>                                     7,342
<RECEIVABLES>                                      549
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                      1,005
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 9,592
<PP&E>                                             362
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (1,664)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  10,250
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            1,828
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           133
<OTHER-SE>                                       8,288
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    10,250
<SALES>                                          1,372
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 1,372
<CGS>                                              372
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      372
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                12,483
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 437
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (11,245)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (11,245)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (11,245)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.93)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        

</TABLE>


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