Aspect Medical Systems and Datascope Announce Licensing Agreement for BIS Technology.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 5, 2003

-Agreement Represents First BIS Solution for Configured Patient Monitoring Systems-

Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPM) has entered into a multi-year, worldwide licensing agreement with Datascope Corp (NASDAQ: DSCP) to integrate BIS(R) technology into Datascope's fully configured patient monitoring systems, the companies announced today. The companies expect Datascope's BIS solution will be commercially available in the first half of 2004.

Datascope is a world leader in sales of multi-parameter configured patient monitoring systems with an installed base of approximately 50,000 systems worldwide. Under the terms of the agreement, future Datascope Passport 2(R) and Spectrum(TM) monitoring systems will be enabled to provide BIS information for measuring depth of consciousness during anesthesia and sedation. Aspect's BIS technology will be the sole parameter for depth of consciousness offered in Datascope systems.

"The agreement with Datascope is particularly significant for Aspect because of Datascope's broad range of configured monitoring solutions," said Joan Rubin, director of global partnerships of Aspect Medical Systems. "Once the development work is complete, Datascope will provide BIS compatibility in all new Spectrum and Passport2 monitoring systems." She continued, "This is a significant opportunity for Aspect to expand our portfolio of partnerships with leading patient monitoring manufacturers, and broaden the reach of BIS technology in hospital and outpatient settings."

Datascope's patient monitoring systems are used widely throughout hospitals in operating rooms, emergency rooms, critical care units, post anesthesia care units, labor and delivery rooms and magnetic resonance imaging units. Market research indicates that the configured monitoring market is growing approximately 4% per year, largely as a result of the increasing number of procedures being performed in outpatient settings.

Commenting on the agreement, Nassib Chamoun, president and CEO of Aspect stated, "The agreement with Datascope is consistent with Aspect's strategy to expand our presence in the lower acuity space. Datascope's leadership in the configured monitoring market provides a significant opportunity to expand use of BIS technology, improve the quality of patient care, and strengthen our leadership in brain monitoring."

About Aspect Medical Systems, Inc.

Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPM) is a global market leader in brain monitoring technology. Aspect's Bispectral Index(TM) (BIS(TM)) technology directly measures the effects of anesthetics and sedatives on the brain and has been used to assess more than 7 million patients. BIS is currently in use in the operating rooms and intensive care units of more than 55 percent of the best-ranked hospitals in the U.S. (based on a U.S. News & World Report ranking) and has been the subject of approximately 1,250 published articles and abstracts. BIS is available in more than 160 countries with a worldwide installed base of monitors and BIS modules of approximately 17,800. Aspect has secured OEM agreements with seven leading manufacturers of patient monitoring systems. Based in Newton, Mass., Aspect employs approximately 200 people worldwide. For more information, visit Aspect's web site at http://www.aspectmedical.com.

About Datascope Corporation

Datascope Corp, established in 1964, is a diversified medical device company that manufactures and markets proprietary products for clinical health care markets in interventional cardiology and radiology, cardiovascular and vascular surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine and critical care. For more information, visit Datascope's web site at http://www.datascope.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking and may involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the expected launch of Datascope products that integrate Aspect's BIS technology, Aspect's ability to expand the use of BIS, improve patient care and strengthen its leadership position through its partnership with Datascope, and statements about Aspect's ability to grow the market for its products worldwide and build value for its shareholders. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. For example, Aspect may 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 including third-party anesthesia monitoring products approved by the FDA. Aspect also faces competitive and regulatory risks relating to its ability to successfully develop and introduce enhancements and new products. In addition, the Company has limited sales and marketing experience both in the U.S. and internationally and if it is unable to develop and implement a successful sales and marketing strategy, including with respect to its own sales force, domestic and international distributors, original equipment manufacturers and other direct and indirect sales channels, it will not be able to generate meaningful product revenue. Aspect's ability to become and remain profitable will depend upon its ability to promote frequent use of the BIS system so that sales of its BIS sensors increase. Aspect will not be profitable if hospitals and anesthesia providers do not buy and use its BIS systems in sufficient quantities. Cases of surgical awareness during monitoring with the BIS system and significant product liability claims are among the factors that could limit market acceptance. 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 "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" in Aspect's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 29, 2003, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Aspect's views only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing Aspect's views as of any subsequent date. While Aspect 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 Aspect's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Bispectral Index and BIS are registered trademarks of Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. A-2000 is a trademark of Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks and company names are the property of their respective owners.