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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.23
                                MICROHELIX, INC.

CASH ADVANCE AGREEMENT WITH PAULSON INVESTMENT COMPANY

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this document is to commit to writing the verbal agreement
reached between Chet Paulson and Terry Rixford regarding a short term $200,000
advance to microHelix, Inc. hereafter referred to as the "Company". The proceeds
from this advance will be used entirely to help the Company make a principal
payment of $400,000 due on March 31, 2003 to Dick Sass. The Company had planned
to fund the entire principal from normal operations but the temporary
interruption of business operations with Jomed, Inc., the Company's leading
customer, has caused a shortfall in the 1st quarter cash receipts. The Company
has worked out a payment plan with Jorned, Inc. that is attached as an exhibit
to this document. Regardless of the Jomed, Inc. cash receipts the Company has
committed to pay Paulson Investment Company, hereafter referred to as "Paulson",
on a regular basis that will be described in the terms of the agreement.

TERMS

1.    The total advance required is $200,000.

2.    The amount will be wired transferred to the Company's West Coast Bank
      account [* CTR]

3.    The requested transfer date is Monday, March 31st .

4.    The advance will be paid down in a series of 10 consecutive weekly
      payments of $20,000 each with the first payment to be made on Friday, May
      9th . These payments will be wired transferred to Paulson Investment
      Company [*CTR]

5.    The last payment will be made on Friday, July 11th . The last payment will
      be in the amount of $23,000 to allow for a $3000 interest payment for the
      use of the funds.

GENERAL

In our cash forecasting during the period May 1st through mid July we are not
planning to use any of the Jorned, Inc. receipts for operations but rather as a
source of funds to pay down the advance during this period of time. If you like,
we can send you a separate statement that will report the actual cash receipts
from Jorned, Inc. During the planned payoff period Jomed, Inc. is sending their
checks by Fedex every Friday for arrival at our office on Monday morning. Please
let me know if you would like to receive this report on a weekly basis until the
advance is

* CTR - CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
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paid down. If for any reason Jomed, Inc. pays the amount due sooner than
anticipated we will, likewise, pay your advance down on an accelerated basis as
well.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Paulson Investment Company for their
continued support of microHelix. We are deeply appreciative of your trust in the
Board and the management of the company.

AGREED:

          /s/    Terrence A. Rixford                           3/28/03
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       Terrence A. Rixford                                       Date
Senior Vice-President Finance &
                 Treasurer


          /s/    Chester L.F. Paulson                          3/28/03
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       Chester L.F. Paulson                                      Date
                 Chairman
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                                MICROHELIX, INC.

                    AMENDMENT TO PAULSON INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this document is to amend the original cash advance agreement
dated March 28, 2003. 1 have enclosed a copy for your convenience. The only
change to the original agreement is the loan repayment schedule that is outlined
below.

REVISED REPAYMENT SCHEDULE

There are six payments remaining of $20,000 each and a last payment due of
$23,000. These payments will be made by wire transfer as described in the
original loan agreement. The first wire transfer should be made on Monday, July
7th and the final $23,000 wire transfer should be made on Monday, August 18th.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Paulson Investment Company for agreeing
to extend the repayment schedule.

AGREED:

                  /s/    Terrence A. Rixford                      6/13/03
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        Terrence A. Rixford                                        Date
 Senior Vice-President Finance &
                  Treasurer


                  /s/    Chester L.F. Paulson                     6/17/03
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        Chester L.F. Paulson                                       Date