Aspect Medical battles standard practice loyalty to sell monitoring device. (Aspect Medical Systems Inc.; Bispectral Index)

Aspect Medical Systems Inc. is setting its sights on what might be the toughest competitor around in its efforts to sell its Bispectral Index (BIS). The newly cleared device provides anesthesiologists with a noninvasive, direct means of quantitatively measuring the effects of anesthetics on the brain. Natick, Mass.-based Aspect says there are currently no devices on the market today that perform those same functions. Instead, Aspect will have to contend with long-time standard practices among anesthesiologists who use heart rate, blood measuring and other vital signs equipment - along with their experience and skill - to monitor the functions that the BIS records electronically. …