HOUSTON, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cyberonics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYBX) today announced that Milton M. Morris, Ph.D., joined Cyberonics as Vice President, Research and Development, effective on January 12, 2009. Dr. Morris will lead all of the company's development programs.

Dr. Morris joins Cyberonics from InnerPulse Corporation, a privately held cardiology-focused medical technology company in North Carolina, where he has served as Director, Program Management and Operations since November 2007. Prior to InnerPulse, Dr. Morris was employed in several different positions with Guidant Corporation and its successor, Boston Scientific Corporation, over a period of 11 years, including Senior Research Engineer; Manager, Research and Development; Director, Research and Development; Field Clinical Representative; and Director, Marketing. Dr. Morris is named as an inventor in 15 issued U.S. Patents and has 19 publications, abstracts and scientific presentations.

"Milton brings substantial expertise in algorithm development that will be helpful in our seizure detection and prediction programs," said Dan Moore, Cyberonics' President and Chief Executive Officer. "He has extensive experience in designing, running clinical trials for and launching active implantable devices and is the ideal person to lead our R&D efforts as we focus on a number of key long-term growth drivers, including stimulation parameters and telemedicine. We are pleased to have Milton joining our team."

Dr. Morris received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from The University of Michigan, with specialization in signal processing and biosystems. He also was awarded a Masters of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Minnesota for seven years.

About Cyberonics, Inc. and VNS Therapy(TM)

Cyberonics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CYBX) is a medical technology company with core expertise in neuromodulation. The company developed and markets the Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy(TM) System, which is FDA-approved for the treatments of refractory epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression. The VNS Therapy System uses a surgically implanted medical device that delivers pulsed electrical signals to the vagus nerve. Cyberonics markets the VNS Therapy System in selected markets worldwide.

Additional information on Cyberonics, Inc. and VNS Therapy(TM) is available at www.cyberonics.com and www.vnstherapy.com.

Safe harbor statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including "may," "believe," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "intend," and "forecast," or other similar words. Statements contained in this press release are based upon information presently available to us and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. We are not assuming any duty to update this information should those facts change or should we no longer believe the assumptions to be reasonable. Investors are cautioned that all such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, statements concerning successfully completing the company's seizure detection and prediction programs and launching new implantable devices. Our actual results may differ materially. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to: continued market acceptance of VNS Therapy and sales of our product; the development and satisfactory completion of clinical trials and/or market test and/or regulatory approval of VNS Therapy for the treatment of other indications; satisfactory completion of post-market studies required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a condition of approval for the treatment-resistant depression indication; adverse changes in coverage or reimbursement amounts by third-parties; intellectual property protection and potential infringement claims; maintaining compliance with government regulations and obtaining necessary government approvals for new indications; product liability claims and potential litigation; reliance on single suppliers and manufacturers for certain components; the accuracy of management's estimates of future expenses and sales; the results of the previously disclosed governmental inquiries; the potential identification of material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting; risks and costs associated with such governmental inquiries and any litigation relating thereto or to our stock option grants, procedures, and practices (including the previously disclosed private litigation); uncertainties associated with stockholder litigation; and other risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For a detailed discussion of these and other cautionary statements, please refer to our most recent filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 25, 2008 and our Quarterly Reports of Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended July 25, 2008 and October 24, 2008.

    Contact information
    Greg Browne, CFO
    Cyberonics, Inc.
    100 Cyberonics Blvd.
    Houston, TX 77058
    Main:  (281) 228-7262
    Fax:  (281) 218-9332
    ir@cyberonics.com

SOURCE Cyberonics, Inc.