• Accelr8 Technology (Denver) reported that Becton Dickinson (BD; Franklin Lakes, New Jersey) purchased an exclusive right to negotiate for a relationship to develop Accelr8's BACcel rapid diagnostic platform. BD will pay Accelr8 $100,000 for this right. The right grants BD an exclusive discussion period through March 31, 2008, for the companies to explore a product development relationship that may include licensing, equity investment, joint development or other development and commercialization program.

• Wound care products maker AcryMed (Portland) is being acquired by I-Flow (Lake Forest, California) in a $25 million deal. I-Flow sells drug delivery technology, including a line of compact, portable infusion pumps, catheters and pain kits and a line of disposable infusion pumps used to administer chemotherapies, antibiotics and other medications. As an I-Flow subsidiary, AcryMed will manufacture a line of silver transparent wound dressings and conduct R&D for commercialization of new wound care technologies. The deal is set for completion in early 2008.

• Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine, California) said that it will sell the assets of its LifeStent peripheral vascular product linie to C.R. Bard (Murray Hill, New Jersey) for up to $140 million. The transaction is expected to close in January, pending regulatory approvals. The deal includes cash payments of about $74 million upon closing and up to another $65 million in potential milestones, including FDA approval of LifeStent products for a superficial femoral artery indication and the transfer of LifeStent device manufacturing. Bard's Peripheral Vascular division in Tempe, Arizona, will assume marketing responsibility for the product.

• Orthopedic device maker Exactech (Gainesville, Florida) said it will exercise its 2003 investment option to acquire the stock and assets of Altiva (Charlotte, North Carolina), a company making spinal implants and related products. The pre-determined $25 million purchase valuation of Altiva is based on Exactech's sales multiple and Altiva's trailing 12 months revenue. Exactech's final payment of $7 million will consist of cash and Exactech common stoc, funded from its current financing facilities. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Exactech, Altiva will continue to operate from its Charlotte headquarters. Exactech expects to close the transaction this quarter.

• NeuroMetrix (Waltham, Massachusetts), a developer of products used to diagnose and treat diseases of the nervous system, neurovascular disorders and pain, reported that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of EyeTel Imaging (Columbia, Maryland), including certain liabilities. The price consisted of 1,050,295 newly issued shares of common stock of NeuroMetrix, with a value of about $9.9 million as of the closing of the acquisition, and $175,000 in cash. NeuroMetrix originally obtained an exclusive license to sell EyeTel's DigiScope to the physician office market in October 2006 and has been marketing the product since early 2007. NeuroMetrix will own all EyeTel intellectual property, including an exclusive worldwide license with Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore) for the DigiScope. The acquisition secures all commercialization rights to the DigiScope, including the physician office market and an expanded opportunity in the eye specialist market.

• Symmetry Medical (Warsaw, Indiana), a provider of products to the orthopedic device industry and other medical markets, said it will purchase an orthopedic instrument manufacturing facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts, from DePuy Orthopaedics (Warsaw) for $45 million in cash. Symmetry and DePuy will enter into a supply agreement, which will require DePuy to make minimum purchases from the New Bedford facility for a four-year period following the close of the acquisition. Symmetry said it has entered into an amended agreement to its amended and restated credit agreement with Wachovia Bank for the required funding of the acquisition.

• Volcano (San Diego) completed its $25 million acquisition of CardioSpectra (San Antonio). The deal was first disclosed earlier this month. Volcano paid $25 million in cash at closing to CardioSpectra's shareholders and warrant holders. In addition, Volcano may make additional payments upon the achievement of certain product development, regulatory and revenue milestones. Any future payment may be made in cash or stock, or a combination of both at Volcano's discretion, the company said. CardioSpectra is a private company developing optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology. Volcano said that CardioSpectra's IOCT imaging system is expected to complement its own existing product offerings and further enhance Volcano's position in the field of interventional medicine. Volcano provides intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and functional measurement products designed to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of vascular and structural heart disease.