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Exhibit 10.17

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

        THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT TO RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of
December 23, 2002 (this "Amendment"), is by and among Edwards Lifesciences
Financing LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Seller"), Edwards
Lifesciences LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Servicer"), Blue Ridge
Asset Funding Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Blue Ridge"), the liquidity
banks from time to time party to the Liquidity Agreement (the "Liquidity Banks;"
together with Blue Ridge, the "Purchasers") and Wachovia Bank, National
Association, as agent for the Purchasers (the "Agent"), and pertains to the
Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of December 21, 2000 amongst the parties
hereto (as heretofore and hereby amended, the "Purchase Agreement"). Unless
otherwise defined in this Amendment capitalized terms used herein shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

        WHEREAS, the Seller wishes to make certain amendments to the Purchase
Agreement; and

        WHEREAS, the Agent and the Purchasers are willing to agree to such
amendments.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the
mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

        1.     Amendments.

        (a)   The definition of "Dilution Horizon Ratio" set forth in Exhibit I
to the Purchase Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read
as follows:

"Dilution Horizon Ratio" means, as of any Cut-off Date, a ratio (expressed as a
decimal), computed by dividing (i) the aggregate sales generated by the
Originator during the most recent Settlement Period ending on such Cut-off Date
(ii) the Net Pool Balance as of such Cut-off Date.

        (b)   The last sentence of the definition of "Eligible Receivable" set
forth in Exhibit I to the Purchase Agreement is hereby amended and restated in
its entirety to read as follows:

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, 50% of the sales generated by
the Distributor Division as shown in the Monthly Report shall be deemed
ineligible. The Agent reserves the right, in its reasonable discretion, to
adjust such percentage based on information provided to the Agent pursuant to
this Agreement.

        (c)   Section 9.1(h) is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to
read as follows:

         (h)  As at the end of any Calculation Period:

          (i)  the three-month rolling average Delinquency Ratio shall exceed
4.50%,

         (ii)  the three-month rolling average Default Trigger Ratio shall
exceed 8.75%, or

        (iii)  the three-month rolling average Dilution Ratio shall exceed
2.00%..

        2.     Representations and Warranties. In order to induce Blue Ridge and
the Agent, on behalf of the other Purchasers, to enter into this Amendment, each
of the Seller Parties hereby represents and warrants to Blue Ridge and the
Agent, on behalf of the other Purchasers, as follows:

        (a)   The execution and delivery by such party of this Amendment, and
the performance of its obligations under the Purchase Agreement as amended
hereby, are within such party's organizational powers and authority and have
been duly authorized by all necessary organizational action on its part;

        (b)   This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such party,
and the Purchase Agreement, as amended hereby, constitutes such party's legal,
valid and binding obligation,

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enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
or other similar laws relating to or limiting creditors' rights generally and by
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
proceeding in equity or at law), and

        (c)   As of the date hereof, no event has occurred and is continuing
that will constitute an Amortization Event or an Unmatured Amortization Event.

        3.     Conditions Precedent. This Amendment shall become effective as of
the date first above written upon:

        (a)   execution and delivery to the Agent of a counterpart hereof by
each of the parties hereto,

        (b)   execution and delivery to the Agent of a counterpart of an amended
and restated Fee Letter by each of the parties thereto, and

        4.     Miscellaneous.

        (a)   CHOICE OF LAW. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND NOT THE LAW OF CONFLICTS) OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.

        (b)   Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

        (c)   Ratification of Purchase Agreement. Except as expressly amended
hereby, the Purchase Agreement remains unaltered and in full force and effect
and is hereby ratified and confirmed.

2

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date hereof.

    EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES FINANCING LLC
 
 
By:
/s/  BRUCE J. BENTCOVER      

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    Name: Bruce J. Bentcover
Title: Chief Financial Officer
 
 
EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES LLC
 
 
By:
/s/  BRUCE J. BENTCOVER      

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    Name: Bruce J. Bentcover
Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Edwards Signature Page to Third Amendment to Edwards RPA]

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    BLUE RIDGE ASSET FUNDING CORPORATION
 
 
By: Wachovia Bank, National Association,
its attorney in fact
 
 
By:
/s/  DOUGLAS R. WILSON, SR.      

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    Name: Douglas R. Wilson, Sr.
Title: Vice President
 
 
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Liquidity Bank and as Agent
 
 
By:
/s/  GARY G. FLEMING, JR.      

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    Name: Gary G. Fleming, Jr.
Title: Director

[Blue Ridge/Wachovia Signature Page to Third Amendment to Edwards RPA]

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FOURTH AMENDMENT TO RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT