Northstar Neuroscience Announces Management Promotion

SEATTLE--(Business Wire)--
Northstar Neuroscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSTR) announced today that
Deborah Sheffield has been promoted to Vice President, Clinical and
Regulatory Affairs. The Company also announced that Nawzer Mehta, Vice
President, Clinical Affairs, has tendered his resignation effective
September 30, 2008 to pursue another opportunity.

Ms. Sheffield has served as Northstar's Director of Regulatory
Affairs, leading the Company's regulatory strategy and execution for
Northstar's program evaluating cortical stimulation for depression. In
her expanded role, she will add leadership of Northstar's clinical
efforts. During her more than 20 year career, Ms. Sheffield has held
various clinical, regulatory and quality leadership positions at
leading medical technology companies, including the Ethicon
Endo-Surgery, Indigo Medical, and Lifescan divisions of Johnson &
Johnson. Prior to joining Northstar, Ms. Sheffield led regulatory,
clinical and quality systems at Class III medical device companies
Co-Aptus Medical Corporation and Therus Corporation. Ms. Sheffield
received a B.S. in engineering from Kettering University and an M.S.
in applied statistics from Oakland University, and holds a certificate
in clinical research from the University of Cincinnati.

"Debbie Sheffield has been an important leader at Northstar and we
are excited to expand her role and capitalize on her extensive
experience with both early stage and larger, commercial medical device
companies as we pursue evaluation of our cortical stimulation therapy
for depression," said John Bowers, Northstar's President and Chief
Executive Officer. "We are fortunate to have someone with Debbie's
background and experience with Class III devices and related PMA
trials from both a regulatory and clinical standpoint. I also want to
thank Nawzer Mehta for all he has done as our head of Clinical
Affairs, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors."

About Northstar Neuroscience

Northstar Neuroscience, Inc. is a medical device company focused
on developing and commercializing innovative neuromodulation therapies
to restore function and quality of life for people suffering from
neurological diseases and disorders. For more information, visit
www.northstarneuro.com.

Investors:
Northstar Neuroscience, Inc.
Ray Calvert, 206-902-1930
Vice President, Finance/CFO
ir@northstarneuro.com
or
Westwicke Partners
Mark Klausner, 410-321-9651
mark.klausner@westwickepartners.com
or
Media:
Schwartz Communications
Wendy Ryan, 781-684-0770
northstar@schwartz-pr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008