AtriCure (ATRC) 8-K Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Exhibit 99.1

Contacts:

AtriCure, Inc. Thomas Etergino Chief Financial Officer 513-755-4561 tetergino@atricure.com The Ruth Group Stephanie Carrington / Nick Laudico (investors) (646) 536-7017 / 7030 scarrington@theruthgroup.com nlaudico@theruthgroup.com   Jason Rando (media) (646) 536-7025 jrando@theruthgroup.com

Press Release

AtriCure Reports First Quarter 2006 Financial Results

- Provides 2006 Financial Guidance -

WEST CHESTER, Ohio – May 4, 2006 – AtriCure, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATRC), a medical device company focused on developing, manufacturing and selling innovative surgical devices, announced today financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006.

First quarter 2006 consolidated revenue was $8.6 million, compared to $7.5 million for the first quarter 2005 and $8.6 million for the fourth quarter 2005. First quarter 2006 revenue from domestic open-heart products was $5.5 million, revenue from domestic minimally invasive sole-therapy products was $2.3 million, and international revenue was $0.8 million.

Gross profit for the first quarter 2006 was $7.0 million with gross margins of 81.5%, compared to $5.6 million with gross margins of 74.4% in the same period last year.

Research and development expenses were $2.9 million for the first quarter 2006, compared with $1.7 million for the first quarter 2005 and $2.8 million for the fourth quarter 2005. The increased research and development expenses were attributable primarily to the expansion of product development initiatives and clinical trials.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $7.5 million for the first quarter 2006, compared with $5.2 million for the first quarter 2005 and $7.9 million for the fourth quarter 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased year over year primarily due to the expansion of the Company’s sales and marketing organization and higher general corporate expenditures as a result of being a public company.

Net loss available to common shareholders for the first quarter 2006 totaled $3.1 million or $0.26 per share, including the after-tax effect of approximately $0.2 million of stock-based compensation related to SFAS 123(R) and other non-cash-based compensation. Excluding the impact of non-cash-based compensation, adjusted net loss available to common shareholders totaled $2.9 million or $0.24 per share for the first quarter 2006.

Cash, cash equivalents and investments at March 31, 2006 were $29.8 million.

David Drachman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our first quarter performance reflects strong continuing support from our customers and the successful execution by AtriCure in meeting the market challenges. Our entire organization has demonstrated significant resolve and commitment to preserving and improving human life through the expansion of treatment options for patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation.”

Financial Guidance

For the full year 2006, the Company expects total revenue to be between $36.0 million and $38.0 million and loss per share to be between $1.30 and $1.50. The Company’s full year loss per share guidance includes the estimated impact of $0.08 to $0.10 per share of after-tax, stock-based compensation related to SFAS 123(R) and other non-cash-based compensation.

For the second quarter 2006, the Company expects total revenue to be between $8.9 million and $9.4 million.

Conference Call

AtriCure will host a Web cast and conference call at 5:30 pm ET on May 4, 2006 to discuss first quarter 2006 results. A live Web cast of the conference call will be available online from the investor relations page of AtriCure’s corporate Web site atwww.atricure.com. The dial-in numbers are (866) 831-6270 for domestic callers and (617) 213-8858 for international callers. The reservation number for both is 66542359. A recording of the conference call will remain available on AtriCure’s Web site through August 2, 2006. A telephonic replay of the call will be available until June 5, 2006. The replay dial-in numbers are (888) 286-8010 for domestic callers and (617) 801-6888 for international callers. Please use reservation code 68239897.

About AtriCure, Inc.

AtriCure, Inc. is a medical device company focused on developing, manufacturing and selling innovative surgical devices to create precise lesions, or scars, in soft and cardiac tissues. Medical journals have described the adoption by leading cardiothoracic surgeons of the AtriCure bipolar ablation system as a standard treatment alternative during open-heart surgical procedures to safely, rapidly and reliably create lesions in cardiac, or heart, tissue to block the abnormal electrical impulses that cause atrial fibrillation, a rapid, irregular quivering of the upper chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation affects more than 2.4 million people in the U.S. and predisposes them to a five fold increased risk of stroke.

The FDA has cleared the AtriCure bipolar ablation system for the ablation, or destruction, of soft tissues in general and non-cardiac related surgical procedures but to date has not cleared or approved the system for cardiac use or for the treatment of AF.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements that address activities, events or developments that AtriCure expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as earnings estimates, other predictions of financial performance, launches by AtriCure of new products and market acceptance of AtriCure’s products. Forward-looking statements are based on AtriCure’s experience and perception of current conditions, trends, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond AtriCure’s control. These risks and uncertainties include the rate and degree of market acceptance of AtriCure’s products, AtriCure’s ability to develop and market new and enhanced products, the timing of and ability to obtain and maintain regulatory clearances and approvals for its products, the timing of and ability to obtain reimbursement of procedures utilizing AtriCure’s products, competition from existing and new products and procedures or AtriCure’s ability to effectively react to other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in AtriCure’s SEC filings, such as fluctuation of quarterly financial results, reliance on third party manufacturers and suppliers, litigation or other proceedings, government regulation and stock price volatility. AtriCure does not guarantee any forward-looking statement, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. AtriCure undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ATRICURE, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2006			2005
Revenues	$	8,636,808		$	7,497,759
Cost of revenues (a)		1,599,741			1,919,512
Gross profit		7,037,067			5,578,247
Operating expenses:
Research and development expenses (a)		2,910,493			1,736,836
Selling, general and administrative expenses		7,496,098			5,228,598
Total operating expenses		10,406,591			6,965,434
Loss from operations		(3,369,524	)		(1,387,187	)
Preferred stock interest expense		—			(976,292	)
Interest income, net		279,753			20,801
Loss before income taxes		(3,089,771	)		(2,342,678	)
Income tax expense		—			23,500
Net loss available to common shareholders	$	(3,089,771	)	$	(2,366,178	)
Basic and diluted loss per share	$	(0.26	)	$	(1.26	)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted		12,096,200			1,881,542
________ (a)    Includes the following expenses resulting from transactions with Enable Medical Corporation prior to the acquisition as of August 10, 2005:
Cost of revenues	$	—		$	1,621,470
Research and development expenses	$	—		$	382,635

ATRICURE, INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

	March 31, 2006			December 31, 2005
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	23,058,275		$	27,432,948
Short-term investments		4,920,257			6,369,234
Accounts receivable, net		5,490,512			4,865,065
Inventories, net		2,708,529			2,135,143
Other current assets		726,148			845,330
Total current assets		36,903,721			41,647,720
Property and equipment, net		3,272,995			3,359,549
Long-term investments		1,788,680			—
Intangible assets		933,278			986,778
Goodwill		3,840,837			3,840,837
Other assets		233,029			205,531
Total assets	$	46,972,540		$	50,040,415
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	5,301,570		$	5,374,998
Current maturities of capital lease obligation and long-term debt		373,711			369,835
Total current liabilities		5,675,281			5,744,833
Capital lease obligation		32,737			38,855
Long-term debt		956,332			1,045,150
Other liabilities		42,187			28,125
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock		12,117			12,086
Additional paid-in capital		85,687,317			86,107,520
Unearned compensation		—			(599,591	)
Other comprehensive income		(6,270	)		826
Accumulated deficit		(45,427,161	)		(42,337,389	)
Total shareholders’ equity		40,266,003			43,183,452
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	46,972,540		$	50,040,415

ATRICURE, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2006			2005
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(3,089,771	)	$	(2,366,178	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		426,556			298,650
Gain on disposal of equipment		(20,000	)		—
Stock compensation		197,377			169,451
Preferred stock interest		—			976,292
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisition:
Accounts receivable		(605,449	)		(876,226	)
Inventory		(573,386	)		37,045
Other current assets		119,181			(88,419	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(250,824	)		676,763
Other non-current assets and liabilities		30,870			(605,741	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(3,765,446	)		(1,778,363	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property & equipment		(193,389	)		(450,072	)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities		(353,929	)		—
Advance payments for acquisition of company		—			(500,000	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(547,318	)		(950,072	)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt		(82,010	)		—
Payments on capital lease obligations		(9,049	)		—
Proceeds from stock option exercises and warrants		29,150			4,850
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(61,909	)		4,850
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(4,374,673	)		(2,723,585	)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period		27,432,948			5,175,177
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$	23,058,275		$	2,451,592