--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

               Patients and Physicians Targeted Audience

Physicians who treat--and patients who suffer from--severe chronic heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can log onto www.endocinch.com for an upcoming webcast about the Bard(R) EndoCinch(TM) system, a treatment option that helps patients avoid the cost and inconvenience of pills and the intrusion of invasive surgery.

With Bard's EndoCinch system, a flexible endoscope with a miniature sewing machine-like device inside the tip is passed down the throat of a mildly sedated patient. At the junction of the esophagus and stomach, sutures are placed on both sides of the esophagus, and the ends of the suturing material are tied together to create a pleat - which helps prevent acid from flowing back up the esophagus. Patients treated with the EndoCinch system can go home within hours and resume most normal activities the next day, with minimal side effects.

Led by two of the leading physicians in the field, the one-hour web cast will showcase a live procedure with the EndoCinch system, and include a Power Point presentation. It can be accessed through a link on www.endocinch.com and uses Real Player format, which can be downloaded at no cost directly from www.endocinch.com.

    Webcast schedule:

    Wednesday May 7th - 4pm EST

    Host: Brigham & Woman's Hospital, Boston, MA
    Physicians: David Carr-Locke, MD; Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Richard Rothstein, MD; Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Participants are advised to log onto the website before the live web cast to register, validate and/or download Real Player if necessary. Once registered, participants can prompt the site to send an email reminder of the event. For more information, contact Michael Porro at (978) 262-4956, or go to www.endocinch.com.

The EndoCinch system is manufactured by Bard Endoscopic Technologies, a division of C. R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE-BCR) (www.crbard.com). C. R. Bard, Inc., headquartered in Murray Hill, New Jersey, is a leading multinational developer, manufacturer, and marketer of healthcare products in the fields of vascular, urology, oncology and surgical specialty products. Bard Endoscopic Technologies, headquartered in Billerica, MA, specializes in the field of gastroenterology. For more than ten years, Bard Endoscopic Technologies (formerly Bard Interventional Products) has been developing minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic products used in conjunction with procedures requiring flexible endoscopy.

NOTE: To arrange interviews with the physicians or patient, or to inquire about covering the live event, contact Holly Glass (703) 754-2848 or Jodie Klein (703) 528-3333.

    CONTACT: C. R. Bard, Inc.
             Media Relations:
             Holly P. Glass, 703/754-2848
             Jodie Klein, 703/528-3333

    SOURCE: C. R. Bard, Inc.