Aspect Medical Systems (Newton, Massachusetts) reported that it has amended its product development agreement with Boston Scientific (Natick, Massachusetts) to provide a two-year extension to the period during which Boston Scientific may exercise an option to distribute sedation management technology for interventional and specialty medical procedure suites. The agreement between Boston Scientific and Aspect, originally established in August 2002, supports Aspect's development of BIS monitoring solutions for sedation management during less-invasive procedures, and provides Boston Scientific with the option to distribute these products. This amendment extends until the end of 2006 Boston Scientific's right to exercise its option and until the end of 2014 the term of its distribution rights.

Cardiac Science (Irvine, California), a manufacturer of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), said it has been selected as the exclusive provider of AEDs and comprehensive AED/CPR training and AED program management services for a citywide public access defibrillator (PAD) program launched by the city of St. Louis. To initiate the program, about 90 Powerheart AED G3s were purchased from Cardiac Science. St. Louis's new PAD program makes it the latest major U.S. city to partner with Cardiac Science, joining San Diego, Minneapolis, Miami and Nashville, Tennessee. The PAD program is being coordinated by the St. Louis Fire Department, which in addition to planning the deployment of AEDs is reaching out to private citizens and organizations through a public awareness campaign on the importance of defibrillation therapy and the use of AEDs to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

Stereotaxis (St. Louis) reported entering into an agreement with Lake Region Manufacturing for the development and production of magnetically enabled guidewires for use with the Stereotaxis System, a cardiology instrument control system that is manufactured by Stereotaxis. The agreement provides Stereotaxis with the ability to increase both the availability and the technological sophistication of its guidewires to better meet customer needs, the company said. Financial terms were not disclosed.