CLINICAL RESEARCH AND R&D Aspect is committed to maintaining our leadership in the consciousness monitoring market by introducing a steady stream of product-line enhancements and extensions. This strategy is made possible by ongoing investments in research and development and our ability to attract and retain what we believe is a world-class team of scientists, clinicians, and engineers. During the past year, their efforts have contributed directly to the introduction of the following new products and applications for our technology:
The BIS module kit for integration into patient monitoring systems manufactured by our OEM partners.
 Three new sensors that extend and enhance BIS monitoring performance - the Pediatric Sensor, Sensor Plus, and Sensor XP.
With the effectiveness of BIS monitoring in the operating room well established, our R&D priorities are now increasingly focused on bringing the benefits of BIS technology to other settings where anesthetics and sedatives are administered, including critical care units, emergency rooms, and the physician's office. R&D efforts have also begun to focus on further extensions of Aspect's neuro-monitoring platform such as early detection of Alzheimer's disease.

SALES, MARKETING AND CLINICAL SUPPORT BIS monitoring systems are now available in many countries a round the world. In the U.S., 69 sales and clinical representatives have one mission - to bring BIS technology to the market and ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction. This team works closely with customers to introduce the technology and provide comprehensive training and clinical support that we believe is unparalleled in the industry. Ongoing communication provides customers with the resources they need to adopt BIS monitoring. Moreover, it provides Aspect with direct feedback to shape future enhancements in our technology and refine our marketing tools.
Aspect's sales and clinical support team works in conjunction with an independent dealer network to enhance market coverage in a cost-effective manner.
 Aspect's international headquarters in Leiden, The Netherlands employs a sales management and clinical support group of 13 who manage international distributors in more than 25 countries. Working with leading distributors throughout the world, Aspect is making significant strides in its goal of reaching the international market for consciousness monitoring technology. For example, in September, Aspect entered into an agreement with Datex-Ohmeda, one of the world's leading patient monitoring and anesthesia equipment companies, to become the primary distributor of our A-2000 BIS monitor outside North America, Japan, and Australia.
In addition, Nihon Kohden, our exclusive distribution partner in Japan, completed a very successful launch of our first-generation A-1050 BIS monitor and BIS sensors into that market. In 2001, they plan to launch the A-2000 BIS monitor as well.

MANUFACTURING In April 2000, Aspect moved into a 61,000 square-foot corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in Newton, Massachusetts. The new facility nearly triples manufacturing capacity and enables us to meet growing product demand while maintaining high quality standards. Today, we design, assemble and test our BIS monitors, modules, and disposable sensors in this customized facility.
As the growth in our installed base of monitors has driven increased demand for BIS sensors, we have been able to scale-up production through our new facility's automated BIS sensor production line. The new sensor line is expected to also accommodate production of future sensor products being designed for specialty patient populations and environments, such as pediatrics and critical care. The new location will meet projected corporate, R&D, and manufacturing needs for the near future.