EXHIBIT 99.1

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NEWS RELEASE

For Release: Thursday, October 14, 2004, 3:05 pm Central Time

Contact: Howard Root, CEO

James Hennen, CFO

Vascular Solutions, Inc.

(763) 656-4300





# VASCULAR SOLUTIONS
ANNOUNCES RECORD FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

Net sales increase 95% from Q4 of
2003 to record $6.7 million;Net loss before thrombin expenses decreases 82% from
Q4 of 2004 to $363,000.

MINNEAPOLIS,
Minnesota  Vascular Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:VASC) today announced record quarterly
net sales in its results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2004.

Net
sales during the fourth quarter were $6,650,000, an increase of 95% from net sales of
$3,403,000 in the fourth quarter of 2003. The primary contributor to the 95% increase in
sales was the D-Stat Dry hemostatic bandage, which the company launched in September 2003
for the topical control of bleeding in interventional procedures. Growth in fourth quarter
sales also benefited from increasing sales of both the Pronto extraction catheter, which
the company launched in January 2004 for the intra-arterial removal of thrombus, and the
Vari-Lase endovenous laser console, which the company launched in January 2004 for the
treatment of varicose veins. In total, over 74% of net sales in the fourth quarter came
from sales of five new products that Vascular Solutions has launched in the U.S. since
2003.

The
companys net loss for the fourth quarter was $573,000 or $0.04 per share, improving
from a net loss of $1,963,000 or $0.15 per share in the fourth quarter of 2003. During the
fourth quarter the company began to incur expenses related to the development and
qualification of a new supply of thrombin, a primary component of its hemostatic products.
Expenses related to the thrombin project in the fourth quarter were $210,000. Net loss for
the fourth quarter of 2004 excluding the thrombin expenses was $363,000 or $0.03 per
share, decreasing by 82% from a net loss of $1,963,000 or $0.15 per share in the fourth
quarter of 2003.

2004
was an excellent year for Vascular Solutions, as we set a new sales record each quarter of
the year, commented Howard Root, Chief Executive Officer of Vascular Solutions.
Following record sales in each of the first, second and third quarters, our direct
sales force increased sales sequentially by 12% in the fourth quarter to achieve another
new sales record. For the year, we increased our net sales by 89% and decreased our net
loss before the thrombin expenses by 66% over 2003. During the fourth quarter we also
launched another new product, the Langston catheter, with an excellent market reception
and $132,000 in early sales. Looking into 2005, with three new products and several
product line improvements and extensions planned for launch, we expect to continue to set
new quarterly sales records each quarter for the foreseeable future.

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Net
sales of the D-Stat Dry product line were $2,612,000 during the fourth quarter, with a
gross margin in excess of 80%. A total of 378 accounts in the U.S. purchased the D-Stat
Dry in the fourth quarter, with a re-order rate of 74%. We have firmly established
the position of the D-Stat Dry as the superior topical patch for the interventional
market, commented Mr. Root. We expect to continue to maintain and grow this
position during 2005.

The
3x3 version of the D-Stat Dry, which is designed for use in trauma indications, continues
to proceed through clinical evaluations and discussions with potential corporate
distribution partners. We believe the 3x3 version of the D-Stat Dry is an excellent
trauma bandage with no mixing or special storage requirements that can be quickly applied
to even severely bleeding wounds, commented Mr. Root. During the fourth
quarter we had several clinical sites report excellent clinical results in their
evaluation of the 3x3 for trauma indications. We also have advanced discussions with two
potential corporate partners that have expressed an interest in branding and distributing
this product for us on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis, pending further due diligence
and negotiations.

Net
sales of the Pronto extraction catheter totaled $1,090,000 in the fourth quarter, an
increase of 25% sequentially from the third quarter. The reports we hear from the
field on the clinical uses of the Pronto have been excellent, commented Mr. Root.
We also have finalized the design of a next generation version of the Pronto, which
we believe will be launched in the third quarter of 2005 and will be a substantial driver
of sales growth in this $100 million annual thrombus extraction market opportunity. We
also have a version of the Pronto in development for the treatment of hemodialysis grafts
that should launch during 2005.

Net
sales of the Vari-Lase endovenous laser product line increased to $1,097,000 in the fourth
quarter, an increase of 44% sequentially from the third quarter. Impressively, the
number of Vari-Lase laser consoles sold in the fourth quarter essentially doubled from the
number sold in the third quarter, commented Mr. Root. With Vascular Solutions
having the largest direct sales force in the endovenous laser market and with
reimbursement under Medicare and Medicaid being firmly established starting in January
2005, we expect to see both increased market share and market growth with our Vari-Lase
product line throughout 2005.

Net
sales of the Duett sealing device product line totaled $1,260,000 in the fourth quarter of
2004. We continue to support and harvest our Duett product line, and our
direct sales force has maintained the majority of our long-time Duett customers, with a
13% sequential decline in Duett net sales from the third quarter, commented Mr.
Root.

Net
sales of the D-Stat Flowable hemostat increased to $389,000 in the fourth quarter of 2004,
a new quarterly sales record and an increase from $350,000 in the third quarter.

Overall
gross margin across all products was 70% in the fourth quarter, benefiting from the higher
gross margins of the D-Stat Dry and Pronto product lines, but limited during the fourth
quarter by the increased sales of Vari-Lase laser consoles which generally have a lower
gross margin.

The
company also provided an update on its progress in the development of new interventional
medical devices. In January we launched the Max-Support retraction belt, an
internally-designed product used to assist in gaining femoral access in obese patients,
which we believe represents a potential $1 million annual market, commented Mr.
Root. During the third quarter of 2005, we expect to launch two specialty catheters
for Interventional Cardiology procedures, both with potential annual sales in excess of $1
million, and a resorbable version of our D-Stat Dry which can ultimately be used in
surgical procedures. We also have product line

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extensions of our Vari-Lase disposable
components, our Pronto extraction catheter and our Langston catheter, each of which we
expect to launch during 2005.

During
the fourth quarter, the company incurred $210,000 of expenses related to the development
and qualification of a new source of thrombin for use in its D-Stat Dry, D-Stat Flowable,
Duett and other hemostatic products. We remain on plan to qualify and receive
approval for our new thrombin by the end of 2006 which should allow us to participate
directly in the $200 million annual market for thrombin and thrombin-based surgical
hemostats starting in 2007, Mr. Root commented.

Finally,
the company reiterated its revenue guidance for 2005. With the continued growth in sales
of new products and the expected continued pace of new product launches, the company
expects to achieve net sales of between $35 million and $40 million in 2005. Net sales by
quarter are expected to increase sequentially by approximately $500,000 in the first
quarter, and by at least $1 million in both of the second and third quarters. The fourth
quarter of 2005 is expected to represent a more substantial revenue increase, benefiting
from the new product launches and the launch of the next generation of the Pronto
extraction catheter. This estimate does not include any forecasted revenue from the D-Stat
Dry 3x3 trauma bandage since a distribution agreement has not yet been completed. Due to
the rapid growth of the companys business and the uncertainty of timing of
regulatory approvals, estimates of 2005 sales are necessarily difficult to provide with
precision.

# Conference Call &
Webcast Information

Vascular
Solutions will host a live webcast starting at 3:30 p.m., Central Time today to discuss
the information contained in this press release. The live web cast may be accessed on the
investor relations portion of our web site at www.vascularsolutions.com. Web
participants are encouraged to go to the web site at least 15 minutes prior to the start
of the call to download and install any necessary audio software. An audio replay of the
call will be available until Thursday, February 10th by dialing 1-800-642-1687
and entering conference ID # 3202338. A recording of the call will also be archived on the
investor relations portion of the Companys web site,
www.vascularsolutions.com until Thursday, February 10th. During the
conference call the Company may answer one or more questions concerning business and
financial developments and trends, the Companys view on earnings forecasts and new
product development and financial matters affecting the Company, some of the responses to
which may contain information that has not been previously disclosed.

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VASCULAR SOLUTIONS, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

|(In thousands,
except per share data)                         | Three Months Ended
December 31, 2004
(unaudited)  |  | Three Months Ended
December 31, 2003
(unaudited) 
|------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |  | -------------------------------------------------
|                                                              |                                                   |  |                                                  
|
|                                                             
|Net sales                                                     |                                                   |  | $                                                
|Cost of goods sold                                            |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Gross profit                                                  |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Operating expenses:                                           |                                                   | 
|Research and development                                      |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Clinical and regulatory                                       |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Sales and marketing                                           |                                                   |  |                                                  
|General and administrative                                    |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Thrombin qualification                                        |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Amortization of purchased technology                          |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Operating loss                                                |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Interest income                                               |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Net loss                                                      |                                                   |  | $                                                
|Basic and diluted net loss per share                          |                                                   |  | $                                                
|Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share |                                                   |  |                                                  
|                                                              |                                                  
|                                                             
|                                                             
|                                                              | Twelve Months Ended
December 31, 2004
(unaudited) |  | Twelve Months Ended
December 31, 2003
(unaudited)
|                                                              |                                                   |  |                                                  
|
|                                                             
|Net sales                                                     |                                                   |  | $                                                
|Cost of goods sold                                            |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Gross profit                                                  |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Operating expenses:                                           |                                                   | 
|Research and development                                      |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Clinical and regulatory                                       |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Sales and marketing                                           |                                                   |  |                                                  
|General and administrative                                    |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Thrombin qualification                                        |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Amortization of purchased technology                          |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Operating loss                                                |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Interest income                                               |                                                   |  |                                                  
|Net loss                                                      |                                                   |  | $                                                
|Basic and diluted net loss per share                          |                                                   |  | $                                                
|Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share |                                                   |  |                                                  

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VASCULAR SOLUTIONS, INC.
                                             CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

|                                           | December 31,
2004
(unaudited) |  | December 31,
2003
(Note 2)
|------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------- |  | --------------------------
|ASSETS                                     |                               |  |                           
|Current assets:                            |                               | 
|Cash and cash equivalents                  |                               |  | $                         
|Available-for-sale securities              |                               |  |                           
|Accounts receivable, net                   |                               |  |                           
|Inventories                                |                               |  |                           
|Prepaid expenses                           |                               |  |                           
|                                           |                               | 
|Total current assets                       |                               |  |                           
|Property and equipment, net                |                               |  |                           
|Intangible assets                          |                               |  |                           
|                                           |                               | 
|Total assets                               |                               |  | $                         
|                                           |                               | 
|LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY       |                               | 
|Current liabilities:                       |                               | 
|Total current liabilities                  |                               |  | $                         
|Shareholders' equity:                      |                               | 
|Total shareholders' equity                 |                               |  |                           
|                                           |                               | 
|Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |                               |  | $                         
|                                           |                               | 

Note 1: Special charges consist of
expenses related to the qualification of the Companys new supply of thrombin. On
October 18, 2004, the Company entered into a supply agreement with Sigma-Aldrich Fine
Chemicals for the development, manufacture and supply of bulk thrombin for use in the
Companys hemostatic products. The Company estimates that the development and
qualification of this new supply of thrombin will take approximately two years to
complete, with estimated expenditures through 2006 expected to be approximately $3.3
million in operating expenses, $2.5 million in inventory purchases and $0.3 million in
capital equipment purchases.

Note 2: Derived from the audited
balance sheet at that date.

# About Vascular Solutions

Vascular
Solutions, Inc. is a medical device company that focuses on developing unique solutions
for unmet clinical opportunities within Interventional Radiology and Interventional
Cardiology. New products introduced since the second half of 2003 include the
Vari-Lase® endovenous laser product line for the treatment of varicose veins, the
D-Stat Dry hemostatic bandage for the rapid control of topical bleeding and the
Pronto extraction catheter for the mechanical extraction of soft thrombus. The
Companys other products include the Duett sealing device to rapidly seal the
puncture site following catheterization procedures, the D-Stat® Flowable hemostat for
the local management of active bleeding, and the Acolysis® intravascular therapeutic
ultrasound product which is sold in international markets for the treatment of peripheral
occlusive arterial disease.

The
Company discloses non-GAAP or pro forma measures that exclude certain charges. Non-GAAP
measures may exclude such items as charges related to one-time research and development
projects. Management uses these measures to establish operational goals, and believes that
non-GAAP measures may assist investors in analyzing the underlying trends in the
Companys business over time. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures in
addition to, not as a substitute for, or as superior to, financial reporting measures
prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The
information in this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in
these

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forward-looking statements. Important factors that may cause such differences
include those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2003 and other recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The risks and
uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with our limited operating
history, need for adoption of our new products, lack of profitability, exposure to
possible intellectual property claims, dependence on key vendors, exposure to possible
product liability claims, the development of new products by others, doing business in
international markets, limited manufacturing experience, the availability of third party
reimbursement, and actions by the FDA.

For
further information, connect to www.vascularsolutions.com.
# # #

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