PLEASANTON, Calif., Oct. 5 -- Nellcor has been granted an exclusive worldwide licensing and distribution agreement for Optical Sensors Inc.'s CapnoProbe product and technology. The agreement, under which Optical Sensors will receive royalties on future sales and certain milestone payments, is effective immediately. Specific financial terms were not disclosed. The CapnoProbe system is a handheld device with an optical carbon dioxide (CO2) probe that is slipped under the tongue like a thermometer. The CapnoProbe non-invasively measures the carbon dioxide tissue of the mouth's mucous membrane. This measurement can assist physicians in diagnosing systemic hypoperfusion, which is an early indicator of impending or actual circulation collapse. The CapnoProbe system is designed to be used by qualified medical personnel to diagnose and monitor hospital patients during surgery, in the ICU, or in the emergency setting.