EXHIBIT 99.1


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                               18 U.S.C. ss.1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Quarterly Report of Vascular Solutions, Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 31, 2002, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I,
Howard Root, Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss.1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

         1.       The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
                  13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         2.       The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Company.


                                        /s/ Howard Root
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Howard Root
                                        Chief Executive Officer and
                                        Acting Chief Financial Officer
                                        October 18, 2002