Aspect Medical Systems Features Anesthesia Outcomes Research, New Products at American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Annual Meeting will feature 62 scientific presentations that reference BIS® monitoring when it convenes on October 17-21, 2009 in New Orleans. BIS-related research will cover a broad range of applications for BIS monitoring, including initial results from studies conducted as part of a comparative effectiveness research collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic as well as findings from a study evaluating use of a Composite Variability Index (CVI) that is based on BIS parameters. Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPM) will also present a complete family of BIS monitoring technologies, enhanced BIS education and simulation technology and the new LiDCOrapid advanced hemodynamic monitoring system.

“A significant amount of research related to the importance of assessing both brain and cardiovascular response to anesthesia is being presented and discussed this year at the ASA meeting,” said Scott Kelley, MD, vice president of medical affairs for Aspect Medical Systems. “We are pleased that innovative technologies and individualized approaches to optimizing anesthesia care continue to be an area of broad clinical interest.”

Outcomes research highlights

Eight abstracts presenting preliminary results from Aspect’s comparative effectiveness research collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic will be presented this week. This includes research that focuses on identification of specific intraoperative events and interventions that are associated with adverse patient outcomes. A key finding from this research suggests that a “triple low” of low blood pressure, BIS values and minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of inhalational anesthesia is associated with poorer postoperative recovery and increased risk of mortality at 30 days and at one year. Furthermore, early intervention with vasopressors appears to reduce much of this harm in retrospective analysis.

“This research reinforces the important role that anesthetic management decisions play in enabling better patient outcomes,” said Kelley. “We believe that this presents a significant opportunity to further define interventions and decision support systems that will lead to additional improvements in clinical practice and patient outcomes.”

Other research related to the Cleveland Clinic collaboration evaluates use of objective “risk stratification” methodologies to compare patient records from more than 85,000 surgical patients treated at Cleveland Clinic with a baseline risk assessment system derived from 34 million patient records obtained from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Results indicate that the risk stratification methodologies provide an objective method for hospitals to compare individual results on a risk- and case-adjusted basis using readily available billing and demographic data. The risk stratification indices also performed well in predicting in-hospital mortality and length of stay.

“In the current healthcare environment, hospitals are increasingly required to publicly report surgical outcomes. However, these reports can only be interpreted in the context of the underlying risk of a hospital’s patient population,” said Daniel I. Sessler, MD, professor and chair, Department of Outcomes Research at Cleveland Clinic. “The preliminary data from these studies suggests that we have found a way to quantify the risk of a surgical patient in a given hospital and compare this risk with observed outcomes. For example, our patient population was considerably sicker than a matched Medicare population, but also significantly less likely to experience complications or die — either in the hospital or in the days and months following surgery. The ability to accurately risk-stratify surgical patients is critical given the growing emphasis on quality and performance measures in healthcare.”

Other Aspect-supported research being presented at ASA includes four abstracts that address how variability in EEG parameters may be useful in assessing patient nervous system response to surgical stimulation during anesthesia. This research is part of a development program for a Composite Variability Index (CVI) that provides an indicator of analgesic adequacy. Results from this prospective, multicenter study (the ADVANCE study) show that CVI was able to detect the likelihood of a somatic event, such as patient movement in response to surgical stimulation, earlier than cardiovascular measures. Study results also show that CVI performed well with both inhalational and intravenous anesthetic techniques.

Products and education programs designed to help optimize outcomes

In addition to presenting the complete family of BIS monitors, sensors and modular solutions, Aspect will introduce the new LiDCOrapid monitoring system, a minimally invasive cardiac output monitor designed for use in the operating room to provide clinicians with accurate and immediate feedback on the patient's fluid and hemodynamic status. The LiDCOrapid system, comprised of a monitor and single-use disposable, provides flow-based hemodynamic monitoring information that is ideally suited for high risk patients and procedures or when optimal fluid management requires more information than can be obtained from standard blood pressure data alone.

“A growing body of research, including research from our collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic, suggests that measuring both brain and cardiovascular responses is necessary to optimize patient management and achieve the best patient outcomes,” said Kelley. “We believe that the BIS and LiDCO technologies are highly complementary and we are pleased to introduce this new offering to our customers.”

Aspect will also present a complete suite of BIS education resources including an enhanced “BIS Titration SimulatOR” that allows clinicians to practice titrating anesthetic agents to achieve a target BIS range while maintaining stable hemodynamics.

About BIS Monitoring: Using a sensor placed on the patient’s forehead, BIS monitoring translates information from the EEG into a single number that represents each patient’s level of consciousness. This number – the BIS value – ranges from 100 (indicating an awake patient) to zero (indicating the absence of brain activity). Using the BIS value to guide administration of anesthetic medication, in conjunction with other vital signs, allows clinicians to make better-informed decisions to achieve optimal anesthesia.

About LiDCOrapid: LiDCOrapid is a minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring system designed specifically for use in the operating room. The system acquires continuous blood pressure data from an existing arterial line, which is placed today in approximately 15% of surgical patients, and uses a proprietary “PulseCO” algorithm to calculate parameters related to functioning of the patients’ circulatory system. Anesthesia professionals use these parameters to help guide intraoperative management of the patient and ensure the patient is receiving optimal fluid volume in the bloodstream. Aspect sells the LiDCOrapid monitoring system in the U.S. pursuant to its exclusive distribution and licensing agreement with LiDCO Group plc. More information about the LiDCOrapid can be found at http://www.aspectmedical.com.

About Aspect Medical Systems, Inc.

Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPM) is a global market leader in brain monitoring technology. To date, the Company's Bispectral Index (BIS) technology has been used to assess approximately 34 million patients and has been the subject of more than 3,300 published articles and abstracts. BIS technology is installed in approximately 78 percent of hospitals listed in the July 2009 U.S. News and World Report ranking of America's Best Hospitals and in approximately 74 percent of all U.S. operating rooms. In the last twelve months BIS technology was used in approximately 19 percent of all U.S. surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia or deep sedation. Aspect Medical Systems has OEM agreements with nine leading manufacturers of patient monitoring systems. For more information, visit Aspect's Web site at http://www.aspectmedical.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and may involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include the Company’s expectations that the findings from its comparative effectiveness research with and the Cleveland Clinic could lead to additional improvements in clinical practice and patient outcomes. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. For example, the Company and Cleveland Clinic may not generate beneficial data from their ongoing comparative effectiveness research program, and favorable data in preliminary results may not be replicated in later findings. The Company may also not be able to achieve widespread market acceptance of its BIS monitoring technology, or to compete with new products or alternative techniques that may be developed by others. The Company also faces competitive and regulatory risks relating to its ability to successfully develop and introduce enhancements and new products, such the LiDCOrapid monitoring system that it recently began selling in the U.S. In addition, the Company’s ability to remain profitable will depend upon its ability to promote frequent use of the BIS system so that sales of its BIS sensors increase. The Company will not remain profitable if hospitals and anesthesia providers do not buy and use its BIS systems in sufficient quantities. Cases of awareness with recall during monitoring with the BIS system and significant product liability claims are among the factors that could limit market acceptance. The Company may not be able to control expenses or grow its sales force as planned. There are other factors that could cause Aspect’s actual results to vary from its forward-looking statements, including without limitation those set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in Aspect’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and Aspect’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 4, 2009, and other filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent the Company’s views only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if its expectations change. Therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Aspect, BIS and BISx are trademarks of Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. and are registered in the USA, EU and other countries. BIS VISTA and BIS VIEW are trademarks of Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. LiDCO is a registered trademark of LiDCO Limited. All other trademarks, service marks and company names are the property of their respective owners.