Aspect Medical Systems Inc. (Newton, MA) and Boston Scientific Corp. (Natick, MA) have announced the formation of a strategic alliance to advance the development of brain monitoring technology for diagnosing and treating depression, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurological disorders. Under the terms of the agreement, Boston Scientific will provide Aspect Medical with $25 million to fund the research and development activities.

Aspect Medical is a market leader in brain monitoring technology. The company reports that its Bispectral Index, or BIS, technology was “the first clinically proven and commercially available direct measure of the effects of anesthetics and sedatives on the brain.” BIS, which enables medical professionals to reliably gauge the precise amount of drug required by each patient, is installed in approximately 38% of U.S. operating rooms and is available in 160 countries around the world. Aspect also licenses the technology to seven manufacturers of patient-monitoring systems.

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The BIS device is a type of electroencephalograph, or EEG. It includes a disposable strip that adheres to the patient's forehead and contains electrodes for transmitting brain-wave information to an external monitor. According to Aspect, use of the device in antidepressant therapy provides an early indication of whether a particular drug is working or whether the dosage should be increased or the patient switched to another medication. Since it takes up to four weeks to see clinical signs of mood improvement, BIS technology can often save the patient the time and expense of remaining on a drug or dosage that is likely ineffective.