Document:

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[NOVACEPT LOGO]

HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                                              August 20, 1996

Russel M. Sampson
271 Diablo Avenue
Mountain View, Ca 94043

Dear Russel:

         We are pleased that you share our excitement for the prospect of
Novacept and we would like to offer you the position of Sr. Project Leader in
our R&D organization. You would report to directly to the V.P. of R&D Csaba
Truckai and be expected to provide the leadership in directing the development
of the Endometrial Ablation Device.

         Your annual salary for this position would be 90,000 per year. You will
be given an opportunity to purchase one percent (1%) of the outstanding equity
of the company based on the shares outstanding after closing the present
financing. These shares would be common stock valued at $.10 per share and 1/8th
of the stock will west immediately following completion of your first six months
of employment by Novacept. Thereafter, the remaining shares will continue to
vest over the following 42 months at the rate of 1/42nd per month for each
additional month you are employed by Novacept.

         Performance reviews will be given annually with the first one due
within one year from your official start date. Two weeks of paid vacation will
be provided annually during the first two years of employment, increasing to
three weeks during the third year, and four weeks during the fifth year of your
employment. You will also be allowed up to two weeks of paid sick leave per
year.

         Russel, I believe this is an ideal opportunity for you to move to the
next step in your career. You will be in the position to influence the company
culture, and can greatly contribute to the success of Novacept. I think you will
find this Novacept an exciting and worthwhile venture.

Sincerely,   /s/ Csaba Truckai          Accepted: /s/ Russel Sampson
             --------------------                ------------------------
             Csaba Truckai               Date: 08.22.96
              V.P. of R&D

1047 ELWELL COURT
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94303
TEL: 415.428.0300
FAX: 415.328.3620<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                                    NOVACEPT

                     CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

         This Change of Control Severance Agreement (the "Agreement") is made
and entered into effective as of March 13, 2002 (the "Effective Date"), by and
between Russ Sampson (the "Employee") and Novacept, a California corporation
(the "Company"). Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in
Section 1 below.

                                 R E C I T A L S

         A.       It is expected that the Company from time to time will
consider the possibility of a Change of Control. The Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Board") recognizes that such consideration can be a distraction to
the Employee and can cause the Employee to consider alternative employment
opportunities.

         B.       The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders to provide the Employee with an incentive to
continue his employment and to maximize the value of the Company upon a Change
of Control for the benefit of its shareholders.

         C.       In order to provide the Employee with enhanced financial
security and sufficient encouragement to remain with the Company notwithstanding
the possibility of a Change of Control, the Board believes that it is imperative
to provide the Employee with certain severance benefits upon the Employee's
termination of employment following a Change of Control.

                                    AGREEMENT

         In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained and the
continued employment of Employee by the Company, the parties agree as follows:

         1.       Definition of Terms. The following terms referred to in this
Agreement shall have the following meanings:

                  (a)      Cause. "Cause" shall mean (i) any act of personal
dishonesty taken by the Employee in connection with his responsibilities as an
employee which is intended to result in substantial personal enrichment of the
Employee, (ii) Employee's conviction of a felony which the Board reasonably
believes has had or will have a material detrimental effect on the Company's
reputation or business, or (iii) a willful act by the Employee which constitutes
misconduct and is injurious to the Company.

                  (b)      Change of Control. "Change of Control" shall mean the
occurrence of any of the following events:

                           (i)      the approval by shareholders of the Company
of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other
than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of
the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto

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continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of
the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or
such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation;

                           (ii)     any approval by the shareholders of the
Company of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the
sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's
assets;

                           (iii)    any "person" (as such term is used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
becoming the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of
the total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding voting
securities.

                  (c)      Compensation Continuation Period. "Compensation
Continuation Period" shall mean the period of time commencing with termination
of the Employee's employment as a result of Involuntary Termination at any time
after a Change of Control and ending with the date six (6) months following the
date of the Employee's termination in such manner.

                  (d)      Involuntary Termination. "Involuntary Termination"
shall mean (i) without the Employee's express written consent, a significant
reduction of the Employee's duties, position or responsibilities relative to the
Employee's duties, position or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to
such reduction, or the removal of the Employee from such position, duties and
responsibilities, unless the Employee is provided with comparable duties,
position and responsibilities; (ii) a reduction by the Company of the Employee's
base salary or target bonus as in effect immediately prior to such reduction;
(iii) a material reduction by the Company in the kind or level of employee
benefits to which the Employee is entitled immediately prior to such reduction
with the result that the Employee's overall benefits package is significantly
reduced; (iv) without the Employee's express written consent, the relocation of
the Employee to a facility or a location more than twenty-five (25) miles from
his current employment location; (v) any purported termination of the Employee
by the Company which is not effected for Cause or for which the grounds relied
upon are not valid; or (vi) the failure of the Company to obtain the assumption
of this Agreement by any successors contemplated in Section 6 below.

         2.       Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate upon the
date that all obligations of the parties hereto under this Agreement have been
satisfied.

         3.       At-Will Employment. The Company and the Employee acknowledge
that the Employee's employment is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined
under applicable law. If the Employee's employment terminates for any reason,
the Employee shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, awards or
compensation other than as provided by this Agreement, or as may otherwise be
established under the Company's then existing employee benefit plans or policies
at the time of termination.

         4.       Continuation of Employment Upon Change of Control. In the
event that any successor to the Company by reason of Change of Control
("Successor") shall deem it to be in the best interests of the Company or the
Successor to continue Employee's employment following a

                                      -2-

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Change of Control in order to facilitate a transition or for other legitimate
business reasons, Employee agrees to remain employed by the Company for a
reasonable period of time, not to exceed one year, following the Change of
Control. Such period of time to be mutually agreed upon between the Company and
the Employee.

         5.       Change of Control and Severance Benefits.

                  (a)      Termination Following A Change of Control.

                           (i)      Severance Payments. If the Employee's
employment with the Company terminates as a result of an Involuntary Termination
at any time after a Change of Control, then the Employee shall be entitled to
receive continuing payments of severance pay during the Compensation
Continuation Period at a rate equal to one hundred (100)% of the Employee's base
salary and target bonus (as in effect immediately prior to the Change of
Control). Such severance payments shall be paid in accordance with the Company's
normal payroll practices. In addition, during the Compensation Continuation
Period, the Company shall continue to make available to the Employee and
Employee's spouse and dependents covered under any group health plans or life
insurance plans of the Company on the date of such termination of employment,
all group health, life and other similar insurance plans in which Employee or
such Covered Dependents participate on the date of the Employee's termination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee will not be entitled to receive any
severance payments pursuant to this paragraph 5(a)(i) unless the Employee
executes, contemporaneous with termination of his employment, an express written
release (in customary form) of liability in favor of the Company or the
Successor (as the case may be) in relation to any and all claims related to the
Employee's employment with the Company, other than claims arising under this
Agreement.

                           (ii)     Option Acceleration. Upon a Change of
Control, each option granted to the Employee by the Company (the "Options")
shall immediately become vested and exercisable in full.

                           (iii)    Other Termination. If the Employee's
employment with the Company terminates other than as a result of an Involuntary
Termination at any time after a Change of Control, then the Employee shall not
be entitled to receive severance or other benefits hereunder, but may be
eligible for those benefits (if any) as may then be established under the
Company's then existing severance and benefits plans and policies at the time of
such termination.

                  (b)      Termination Apart from a Change of Control. Except as
expressly set forth in paragraph 5(c) hereof, no provision within this Agreement
shall confer any benefit upon the Employee in the event of the Employee's
termination for any reason other than in connection with or following a Change
of Control.

                  (c)      Accrued Wages and Vacation; Expenses. Without regard
to the reason for, or the timing of, Employee's termination of employment: (i)
the Company shall pay the Employee any unpaid base salary due for periods prior
to the date of termination; (ii) the Company shall pay the Employee all of the
Employee's accrued and unused vacation through the date of termination in
accordance with the Company's vacation policies; and (iii) following submission
of proper expense reports by the Employee, the Company shall reimburse the
Employee for all expenses reasonably

                                      -3-

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and necessarily incurred by the Employee in connection with the business of the
Company prior to the date of termination. These payments shall be made promptly
upon termination and within the period of time mandated by law.

         6.       Successors.

                  (a)      Company's Successors. Any successor to the Company
(whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger,
consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the
Company's business and/or assets shall assume the Company's obligations under
this Agreement and agree expressly to perform the Company's obligations under
this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be
required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession. For all
purposes under this Agreement, the term "Company" shall include any successor to
the Company's business and/or assets which executes and delivers the assumption
agreement described in this subsection (a) or which becomes bound by the terms
of this Agreement by operation of law.

                  (b)      Employee's Successors. Without the written consent of
the Company, Employee shall not assign or transfer this Agreement or any right
or obligation under this Agreement to any other person or entity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms of this Agreement and all rights of
Employee hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by,
Employee's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

         7.       Notices.

                  (a)      General. Notices and all other communications
contemplated by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when personally delivered or when mailed by U.S. registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid. In the case of the
Employee, mailed notices shall be addressed to him at the home address that he
most recently communicated to the Company in writing. In the case of the
Company, mailed notices shall be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and
all notices shall be directed to the attention of its Secretary.

                  (b)      Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company
for Cause or by the Employee as a result of a voluntary resignation or an
Involuntary Termination shall be communicated by a notice of termination to the
other party hereto given in accordance with this Section. Such notice shall
indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, shall
set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for termination under the provision so indicated. The failure by the
Employee to include in the notice any fact or circumstance which contributes to
a showing of Involuntary Termination shall not waive any right of the Employee
hereunder or preclude the Employee from asserting such fact or circumstance in
enforcing his rights hereunder.

         8.       Miscellaneous Provisions.

                  (a)      No Duty to Mitigate. The Employee shall not be
required to mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement,
nor shall any such payment be reduced by any earnings that the Employee may
receive from any other source.

                                      -4-

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                  (b)      Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be
modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is
agreed to in writing and signed by the Employee and by an authorized officer of
the Company (other than the Employee). No waiver by either party of any breach
of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the
other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or
of the same condition or provision at another time.

                  (c)      Integration. This Agreement and the stock option
agreements representing the Options represent the entire agreement and
understanding between the parties as to the subject matter herein and supersede
all prior or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral.

                  (d)      Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation,
construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal
substantive laws, but not the conflicts of law rules, of the State of
California.

                  (e)      Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of
any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force
and effect.

                  (f)      Employment Taxes. All payments made pursuant to this
Agreement shall be subject to withholding of applicable income and employment
taxes.

                  (g)      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereby executes this Agreement,
in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and
year first above written.

COMPANY:                             NOVACEPT
                                     By: /s/ David M. Clapper
                                        ----------------------------

                                     Title: President & CEO

EMPLOYEE:                            /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
                                     -------------------------------
                                     Signature

                                     Russ Sampson
                                     -------------------------------
                                     Print Name

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