EXHIBIT 4.1


THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INVESTMENT AND MASTER
STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER 9, 1997 BETWEEN THE ISSUER
AND SYNTHELABO AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE
THEREWITH. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE OFFICE OF THE CORPORATE
SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER. THIS SECURITY WAS SOLD IN A PRIVATE PLACEMENT, WITHOUT
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND MAY BE OFFERED OR SOLD ONLY
IF REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR IF AN EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.

                                 March 12, 1999

                               ANGEION CORPORATION

                          COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

                                9,090,171 Shares

      Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Common Stock
Purchase Warrant (this "Warrant") shall have the respective meanings assigned to
them in the Investment and Master Strategic Relationship Agreement dated as of
the 9th day of October, 1997, between Angeion Corporation, a Minnesota
corporation having its executive offices and principal place of business at 7601
Northland Drive, Suite 170, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55428 (the "Company"), and
Synthelabo, a French societe anonyme (the "Holder"), as the same may be
supplemented, modified, amended, renewed or restated from time to time (the
"Purchase Agreement").

      The Company does hereby certify and agree that, for value received, the
Holder, its successors and assigns, hereby is entitled to purchase from the
Company 9,090,171 duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of the
Company (the "Exercise Quantity") upon the terms and subject to the provisions
of this Warrant.

Section 1. Price and Exercise of Warrant.

      1.1 Term of Warrant. This Warrant shall be exercisable for the period
commencing on the date hereof and ending at 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on
the tenth anniversary of the date hereof (the "Expiration Date").

      1.2 Exercise Price. The price per share at which the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant (the "Warrant Shares") shall be
$0.01 per share (the "Warrant Price").

      1.3 Exercise of Warrant. (a) This Warrant may be exercised, in whole or in
part, upon surrender to the Company at its offices at 7601 Northland Drive,
Suite 170, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55428 of the certificate or certificates
evidencing this Warrant to


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be exercised, together with the form of election to exercise attached hereto as
Exhibit A duly completed and executed, and upon payment to the Company of the
Warrant Price for the number of Warrant Shares in respect of which this Warrant
is then being exercised. Payment of the aggregate Warrant Price may be made in
cash, by certified or bank check or by wire transfer.

            (b) Subject to Section 2 hereof, upon such surrender of this
Warrant, and the duly completed and executed form of election to exercise, and
payment of the Warrant Price as aforesaid, the Company shall cause to be issued
and delivered with all reasonable dispatch (and in any event within five
business days thereafter) to the Holder or such other person as the Holder may
designate in writing a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares
of Common Stock so purchased upon the exercise of this Warrant. Such certificate
or certificates shall be deemed to have been issued and any person so designated
to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such
shares of Common Stock as of the date of the surrender of this Warrant, and the
duly completed and executed form of election to exercise, and payment of the
Warrant Price, as aforesaid; provided, however, that if, at the date of
surrender of this Warrant and payment of the Warrant Price, the transfer books
for the shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant
shall be closed, the certificates for the shares of Common Stock shall be
issuable as of the date on which such books shall next be opened (whether before
or after the Expiration Date), and, until such date, the Company shall be under
no duty to cause to be delivered any certificate for such shares of Common Stock
or for shares of such other class of stock. If this Warrant is exercised in
part, a new Warrant certificate of the same tenor and for the number of Warrant
Shares not exercised shall be executed by the Company.

            (c) The Company will take such actions as shall be reasonably
requested by the Holder with respect to any filing which Holder shall be
required to make upon any exercise of the Warrant under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

      1.4 Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares of Common Stock on the exercise of this Warrant. If any
fraction of a share of Common Stock would be issuable upon the exercise of this
Warrant (or any portion thereof), the Company shall purchase such fraction for
an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the last reported sale price of
the Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market System or any other national
securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed.

Section 2. Exchange and Transfer of Warrant.

            (a) This Warrant may be exchanged for two or more Warrants entitling
the Holder thereof to purchase the same aggregate Exercise Quantity at the
Warrant Price per share and otherwise having the same terms and provisions as
this Warrant. The Holder may request such an exchange by surrender of this
Warrant to the Company, together with a written exchange request specifying the
desired number of Warrants and allocation of the


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<PAGE>


Exercise Quantity purchasable under the existing Warrant. Within two business
days after the Company's receipt of this Warrant and such an exchange request,
the Company will issue and deliver such new Warrants to the Holder in the
amounts and with the allocations requested.

            (b) Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4.2(d) of the
Purchase Agreement, this Warrant from time to time may be transferred, in whole
or in part, by the Holder or any duly authorized representative of the Holder. A
transfer may be registered with the Company by submission to it of this Warrant,
together with the annexed Assignment Form attached hereto as Exhibit B duly
completed and executed. Within two business days after the satisfaction by the
Holder of the conditions to such transfer set forth in such Section 4.2(d) and
the Company's receipt of this Warrant and the Assignment Form so completed and
executed, the Company will issue and deliver to the transferee a new Warrant
representing the portion of the Exercise Quantity transferred at the same
Warrant Price per share and otherwise having the same terms and provisions as
this Warrant, which the Company will register in the new holder's name. In the
event of a partial transfer of this Warrant, the Company shall concurrently
issue and deliver to the transferring holder a new Warrant that entitles the
transferring holder to purchase the balance of the Exercise Quantity not so
transferred and that otherwise is upon the same terms and conditions as this
Warrant. Upon the due delivery of this Warrant for transfer, the transferee
holder shall be deemed for all purposes to have become the holder of the new
Warrant issued respecting the Exercise Quantity transferred, effective
immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such delivery,
irrespective of the date of actual delivery of the new Warrant representing the
Exercise Quantity transferred.

            (c) In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of this Warrant,
the Company shall execute and deliver an identical new Warrant to the Holder in
substitution therefor upon the Company's receipt of (i) evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Company of such event and (ii) if requested by the Company,
an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
Company. In the event of the mutilation of or other damage to this Warrant, the
Company shall execute and deliver an identical new Warrant to the Holder in
substitution therefor upon the Company's receipt of the mutilated or damaged
Warrant.

            (d) The Company shall pay all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the exercise, exchange, transfer or replacement of this Warrant,
including, without limitation, the costs of preparation, execution and delivery
of a new Warrant and of stock certificates representing all Warrant Shares;
provided, however, that the Holder shall pay all stamp and other transfer taxes
payable in connection with the transfer or replacement of this Warrant.

Section 3. Certain Covenants.

            (a) The Company shall at all times reserve for issuance and keep
available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for
the purpose


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<PAGE>


of providing for the exercise of this Warrant, such number of shares of Common
Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient therefor.

            (b) The Company will not, by amendment of its articles of
incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation,
merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action,
avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this
Warrant. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company (i) will not increase the
par value of any shares of capital stock receivable upon the exercise of this
Warrant above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise, and (ii) will take
all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may
validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of capital stock
upon the exercise of this Warrant.

Section 4. Adjustment of Warrant Price and Number of Warrant Shares.

      The Warrant Price in effect at any time and the number and kind of
securities purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time upon the occurrence of certain events, as
hereinafter provided.

            (a) In case the Company shall hereafter (i) pay a dividend or make a
distribution on its Common Stock in shares of its Common Stock, (ii) subdivide
its outstanding Common Stock, (iii) combine its outstanding Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, or (iv) issue any shares by reclassification of its
Common Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation), the
Warrant Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or
distribution or the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that the Holder, upon
exercise of this Warrant after such date, shall be entitled to receive the
aggregate number and kind of shares of Common Stock which, if this Warrant had
been exercised immediately prior to such record date, it would have owned upon
such exercise and been entitled to receive upon such dividend, distribution,
subdivision, combination or reclassification.

            (b) In case the Company shall hereafter distribute to all holders of
its Common Stock shares of stock other than Common Stock, evidences of its
indebtedness or assets (excluding cash dividends or distributions out of
retained earnings and dividends or distributions referred to in paragraph (a)
above), or any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares
of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, exercisable for or exchangeable
for shares of Common Stock ), then in each such case the Warrant Price in effect
thereafter shall be determined by multiplying the Warrant Price in effect
immediately prior to the date of such issuance by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock multiplied
by the Fair Market Value Price (as defined in below), less the then fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Company's board of directors) of said
shares of stock, assets or evidences of indebtedness so distributed or of such
rights or warrants, and the denominator of which shall be the total number of
outstanding shares of Common Stock multiplied by the Fair


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<PAGE>


Market Value Price. Such adjustments shall be made whenever any such
distribution is made and shall become effective immediately after the record
date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such
distribution.

            (c) Whenever the Warrant Price payable upon exercise of this Warrant
is adjusted pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the number of Warrant
Shares purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant shall simultaneously be
adjusted by multiplying the number of Warrant Shares initially issuable upon
exercise of this Warrant by the Warrant Price in effect as of the date of this
Warrant and dividing the product so obtained by the Warrant Price, as adjusted.

            (d) No adjustment in the Warrant Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least five cents ($0.05)
in such price; provided, however, that any adjustments not required to be made
shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.
All calculations under this Section 4 shall be made to the nearest cent or to
the nearest one-thousandth of a share, as the case may be.

            (e) Anything in this Section 4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled, but shall not be required, to make such changes in
the Warrant Price, in addition to those required by this Section 4, as it in its
discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any dividend or
distribution in shares of Common Stock, subdivision, reclassification or
combination of shares of Common Stock, issuance of rights or warrants to
purchase Common Stock or distribution of shares of stock other than Common
Stock, evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than distributions in cash out
of retained earnings) referred to hereinabove in this Section 4, hereafter made
by the Company to the holders of its Common Stock shall not be taxable to them.

            (f) Whenever the Warrant Price is adjusted, as herein provided, the
Company shall promptly cause a notice setting forth the adjusted Warrant Price
and adjusted number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant to be
mailed to the Holder. The certificate setting forth the computation shall be
signed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

            (g) In the event that at any time, as a result of any adjustment
made pursuant to paragraph (a) above, the holder of this Warrant thereafter
shall become entitled to receive any shares of the Company, other than Common
Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of
this Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on
terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the
Common Stock contained in paragraphs (a) to (d) inclusive, above.


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Section 5. Rights and Obligations of the Warrant Holder.

      This Warrant shall not entitle the Holder to any rights of a stockholder
in the Company.

Section 6. Restrictive Stock Legend.

      This Warrant and the Warrant Shares have not been registered under any
securities laws. Accordingly, until such time as the securities represented
thereby are no longer subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4.2 of
the Purchase Agreement and there is delivered to the Company an opinion of
counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such legend is
no longer required, any stock certificates issued pursuant to the exercise of
this Warrant shall bear the following legend:

           THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INVESTMENT AND
           MASTER STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER 9, 1997
           BETWEEN THE ISSUER AND SYNTHELABO AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED
           EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT IS ON FILE
           AT THE OFFICE OF THE CORPORATE SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER. THIS SECURITY
           WAS SOLD IN A PRIVATE PLACEMENT, WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER THE
           SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND MAY BE OFFERED OR SOLD ONLY IF REGISTERED
           UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR IF AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION
           IS AVAILABLE.

Section 7. Notices.

      Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given here
shall be in writing and shall be effective (a) upon hand delivery or delivery by
telex (with correct answerback received), telecopy or facsimile at the address
or number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal
business hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day
following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal
business hours where such notice is to be received) or (b) on the third business
day following the date of mailing by express courier service, fully prepaid,
addressed to such address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever
shall first occur. The addresses for such communication shall be:

      If to the Company:

      Angeion Corporation
      7601 Northland Drive, Suite 170
      Brooklyn Park, MN 55428
      Telephone:  (612) 315-2000
      Telecopier: (612) 315-2059


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<PAGE>


      Attention: Chief Financial Officer

      With a copy to:
      Morrison & Foerster LLP
      425 Market Street
      San Francisco, CA 94105
      Telephone:  (415) 268-7000
      Telecopier: (415) 268-7522
      Attention:  Gavin B. Grover, Esq.

      If to the Holder:

      Synthelabo
      22 Avenue Galilee
      92350 Le Plessis Robinson
      France
      Telephone:  (33)(1)45.37.56.67
      Telecopier: (33)(1)45.37.58.04
      Attention:  General Counsel

      With copies to:

      ELA Medical
      Centre d'Affaires la Boursidiere
      92357 Le Plessis Robinson
      France
      Telephone:  (33)(1)46.01.33.01
      Telecopier: (33)(1)46.01.33.15
      Attention:  President

                  and

      Coudert Brothers
      1114 Avenue of the Americas
      New York, NY 10036-7703
      Telephone:  (212) 626-4400
      Telecopier: (212) 626-4120
      Attention:  James C. Colihan, Esq.

Each party hereto may from time to time change its address for notices under
this Section 7 by giving at least 10 days' notice of such changes address to the
other party hereto.

Section 8. Amendments and Waivers.


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<PAGE>


      This Warrant and any term hereof may be changed, waived, discharged or
terminated only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which
enforcement of such change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.

Section 9. Applicable Law.

      This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance
with the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the principles
of conflict of laws.

Section 10. Definitions.

      As used in this Warrant, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

      "Fair Market Value Price" shall mean the average Quoted Price for the five
business days prior to the closing of the applicable sale.

      "Quoted Price" of the Common Stock shall mean: the last sale price regular
way or, in the case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices regular way, in wither case on the NASDAQ National
Market System as reported by NASDAQ, or, if the Common Stock is not authorized
for quotation on the NASDAQ National Market System, on the New York Stock
Exchange Composite Tape (the "Composite Tape"), or, if the Common Stock is not
listed or admitted to trading on such exchange, on the national securities
exchange in or nearest the City of New York on which the Common Stock is listed
or admitted to trading, or if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, the last sale price regular way or,
in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the highest
reported bid and lowest reported asked prices as furnished by the National
Association of Securities Dealers Inc. through NASDAQ or a similar organization
if NASDAQ is no longer reporting such information, or if on any such trading day
the Common Stock is not quoted by any such organization, the fair value of a
share of Common Stock on such day, as determined in good faith by the board of
directors of the Company.


                                      -8-
<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly
executed on the day and year first above written.



                                       ANGEION CORPORATION



                                       By:  /s/ James B. Hickey, Jr.
                                            ------------------------------------
                                       Title:  President and Chief Executive
                                               Officer


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