Document:

Exhibit 10.17

                              [Thermo Fibertek Inc. Letterhead]

                                                           February 12, 2001

Thermo Fibergen Inc.
8 Alfred Circle
Bedford, Massachusetts  01730
Attn: Dr. Yiannis A. Monovoukas,
President and Chief Executive Officer

Re: Agreement to make a loan of up to $5,000,000

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        Reference is hereby made to those certain Redemption Rights issued by
Thermo Fibergen Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Thermo Fibergen"), in its public
offering of Units consisting of one share of Thermo Fibergen's Common Stock and
one Redemption Right pursuant to and as more fully described in that certain
Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July
3, 1996, as amended (the "Registration Statement"). Thermo Fibergen is a
publicly-traded subsidiary of Thermo Fibertek Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Thermo Fibertek"), which is a publicly-traded subsidiary of Thermo Electron
Corporation, a Delaware corporation. Capitalized terms used herein without
definition shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Registration
Statement.

        WHEREAS, Each Redemption Right entitles the holder to sell one share of
Thermo Fibergen's Common Stock to Thermo Fibergen during September 2000 (the
"Initial Redemption") and September 2001 (the "Final Redemption"), for an amount
of cash equal to the initial public offering price per unit;

        WHEREAS, Thermo Fibergen used available working capital to fund the
Initial Redemption and intends to use available working capital to fund the
Final Redemption in September 2001; and

        WHEREAS, In the event that Thermo Fibergen's working capital is
insufficient to fund the Final Redemption and to meet its other working capital
needs, Thermo Fibergen desires to have Thermo Fibertek agree to make, and Thermo
Fibertek is willing to agree to make, a loan to Thermo Fibergen to satisfy the
Final Redemption obligation and other working capital needs.

        NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto (the "Parties") hereby agree that in
the event that Thermo Fibergen's working capital is insufficient to fund the
Final Redemption and to meet its other working capital needs, upon reasonable
request by Thermo Fibergen on or before December 31, 2001 and subject to and
upon commercially reasonable terms and conditions mutually satisfactory to the
Parties, Thermo Fibertek shall make a loan to Thermo Fibergen of up to FIVE
MILLION DOLLARS ($5,000,000) in original principal amount (the "Loan") bearing
interest at a commercially reasonable rate for the Final Redemption obligations
and other working capital needs of Thermo Fibergen. Thermo Fibergen's obligation
to repay the principal of and interest on such Loan shall be evidenced by a
promissory note in form and substance mutually satisfactory to the Parties;
provided, however, that Thermo Fibergen's obligation to make any specific
payment of principal of and/or interest on the Loan shall be conditioned on the
ability of Thermo Fibergen to meet reasonable cash flow requirements at the time
of such specified payment, which cash flow requirements shall be mutually
satisfactory to the Parties.

                         [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

<PAGE>

        Please indicate your acceptance of the foregoing by signing and
returning to the undersigned an original counterpart of this letter.

                                Very truly yours,

                                THERMO FIBERTEK INC.

                                By:      __________________________________
                                Name:    Jonathan W. Painter
                                Title:   Executive Vice President, Operations

Accepted, acknowledged and agreed by the undersigned as of the date first above
written:

THERMO FIBERGEN INC.

By:    __________________________________
Name:  Yiannis A. Monovoukas
Title: President<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                           Data Critical Corporation
                      19820 North Creek Parkway, Suite 100
                               Bothell, WA  98011

                                 March 1, 2001

Richard L. Earnest
2194 San Dieguito Drive
Del Mar, CA  92014

Dear Richard:

     It is my pleasure to offer you the following terms and conditions in
consideration of your acceptance of our offer of the position of interim Chief
Executive Officer of Data Critical Corporation (the "Company").  References to
"you" and "Executive" mean Richard L. Earnest.

     1.   Position and Duties.  Executive's position shall be the interim Chief
Executive Officer for the Company. You will be reporting directly to the
Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"). Your duties will be focused on all
aspects of the Company's business, including overseeing operations, finance,
human resources, and research and development.

     2.   Compensation and Benefits. As interim Chief Executive Officer, your
compensation shall consist of the following:

     .  A salary of $8,333.33 per month over a period of six months, subject to
        customary withholding.

     .  You shall receive a grant of options to purchase 50,000 shares of the
        Company's common stock on March 1, 2001, 1/6 of which shall vest at the
        end of each month for a period of six months ending August 31, 2001 so
        long as you remain employed by the Company (each such grant, an "Option"
        and collectively, the "Options"). Each Option shall be granted on the
        standard terms and conditions of the Company's 1999 Stock Option Plan,
        except that each Option will vest immediately upon grant. In addition,
        the Options will be exercisable for five years after your termination of
        employment with the Company for any reason, notwithstanding the standard
        terms and conditions applicable to stock options granted under the
        Company's 1999 Stock Option Plan.

     .  You shall receive an allowance of $15.00 per hour, 40 hours per week,
        towards the actual cost incurred of an administrative assistant.

     You will be eligible to participate in our employee benefits program. Data
Critical currently pays all premiums for its employees and their dependents'
medical, dental, vision, prescription drug card coverage and employee assistance
program through group plans. In addition, Data Critical pays for basic life,
accidental death and dismemberment and long-term disability insurance for its
employees. Pursuant to our current plan, you will be eligible for these group
benefits beginning with the first day of the month following your start date.
All group insurance benefits are subject to change.
<PAGE>

     The Company offers a 401(k) plan to all eligible employees. This is an
employee-contribution-only plan provided as a retirement vehicle and as means of
deferring federal income taxes. You may begin making contributions through
payroll deduction as of the first payroll of the calendar month following your
date of hire.

     3.   Term of Agreement; At-Will Employment.

          (a)  This letter agreement shall commence on the date a countersigned
copy of this letter is received by the Company and shall have a term of one (1)
year, subject to earlier termination as set forth below.

          (b)  The Company and Executive acknowledge that Executive's employment
is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law, and that
Executive's employment with the Company may be terminated by either party at any
time for any or no reason, subject to the terms of this Agreement. If
Executive's employment terminates for any reason, Executive shall not be
entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, award or compensation other than as
provided in this Agreement or as otherwise required by law. Any payments,
benefits, damages, awards, or other compensation provided for hereunder upon any
termination hereof shall be inclusive of (and not additive to) any such amounts
required pursuant to any applicable law. The rights and duties created by this
Section 3 may not be modified in any way except by a written agreement executed
by the Board of Directors of the Company.

     4.   Resignation.  You agree that, notwithstanding the foregoing, promptly
upon the request of a majority of the Board, you will voluntarily terminate your
employment with the Company.

     5.   Noncompetition Covenant.  You hereby agrees that you shall not, during
your term as Executive and for a period of one year after the date on which your
current term as Executive expires or otherwise terminates for any reason, do any
of the following without the prior written consent of the Board (for purposes of
this Section, the term "Company" shall mean the Company and each of its
subsidiaries):

          (a)  Compete.  Carry on any business or activity (whether directly or
indirectly, as a partner, stockholder, principal, agent, director, affiliate,
employee, advisor or consultant) for any company or other enterprise carrying on
or proposing to carry on any business or having any product line related to the
business of the Company, including, without limitation, wireless systems,
devices, products and software for the healthcare industry, remote monitoring
of, or transmission of, ECGs or other patient medical information, any pacemaker
software or hardware products or technology, cardiology-related software,
physician charting products, electronic charge capture (or any devices relating
thereto) or any current or currently planned (at the time of Executive's
termination) products or businesses by the Company, or that arc otherwise
competitive with the business conducted by or planned to conducted by the
Company, nor engage in any other activities that conflict with Executive's
obligations to the Company (any such company or enterprise, being a
"Competitor").

          (b)  Solicit Business.  Solicit or influence or attempt to influence
any client, customer or other person either directly or indirectly, to direct
his or its purchase of the Company's products and/or services to any Competitor.

                                       2
<PAGE>

          (c)  No-Hire.  Solicit or influence or attempt to influence, directly
or indirectly, any person employed by the Company or any of its affiliates to
terminate or otherwise cease his employment with the Company or hire any such
person within 6 months after such person's leaving the Company's employ.

          (d)  Equitable Remedies.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that
Executive's breach of this letter agreement will cause irreparable injury to the
Company for which money damages and other remedies at law would be inadequate,
and as such that the Company and/or its affiliates shall be entitled to
equitable remedies, including, without limitation, specific performance and/or
temporary or permanent injunctive relief.

          (e)  Scope.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company has
relied and is relying on the covenants contained herein in their decision to
enter into this letter agreement and that in light of such reliance the
covenants contained herein are fair and reasonable.

     6.   Effect on other Agreements.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that
all other agreements executed by Executive with or on behalf of the Company,
including without limitation, any confidentiality agreement and any assignment
of inventions agreement, shall remain in full force and effect without
modification; provided, however that in the event (and solely to the extent) the
terms of this letter agreement and any other such agreement conflict, the terms
of this letter agreement shall be deemed to govern.

     7.   Miscellaneous Provisions.

          (a)  Amendments and Waivers.  The terms of this letter agreement may
only be amended or waived only with the written consent of the parties.

          (b)  Sole Agreement.  Subject to Section 6 above, this letter
agreement, including any Exhibits hereto, constitutes the sole agreement of the
parties and supersedes all oral negotiations and prior writings with respect to
the subject matter hereof.

          (c)  Notices.  Any notice required or permitted by this letter
agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficient upon receipt, when
delivered personally or by a nationally-recognized delivery service (such as
Federal Express or UPS), or 48 hours after being deposited in the U.S. mail as
certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, if such notice is addressed
to the party to be notified at such party's address as set forth below or as
subsequently modified by written notice.

          (d)  Choice of Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this letter agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State
of Washington, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws.

          (e)  Severability.  If one or more provisions of this letter agreement
are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to
renegotiate such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot
reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then
(i) such provision shall be excluded from this letter agreement, (ii) the
balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so
excluded and (iii) the balance of the Agreement shall be enforceable in
accordance with its terms.

                                       3
<PAGE>

          (f)  Counterparts.  This letter 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.

          (g)  Arbitration.  Any dispute or claim arising out of or in
connection with this letter agreement will be finally settled by binding
arbitration in Seattle, Washington in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association by one arbitrator appointed in accordance with said
rules. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties
may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for preliminary or interim
equitable relief, or to compel arbitration in accordance with this paragraph,
without breach of this arbitration provision.

          (h)  Survival.  The provision of Sections 4, 5 and 6(g) shall survive
both the termination of this letter agreement and/or the termination of the
Executive's employment with the Company and/or its affiliates.

          (i)  Advice of Counsel.  EACH PARTY TO THIS LETTER AGREEMENT
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, IN EXECUTING THIS LETTER AGREEMENT, SUCH PARTY HAS HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL, AND HAS READ AND
UNDERSTOOD ALL OF THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS LETTER AGREEMENT. THIS LETTER
AGREEMENT SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AGAINST ANY PARTY BY REASON OF THE DRAFTING OR
PREPARATION HEREOF.

                           [Signature Page Follows]

                                       4
<PAGE>

     The parties have executed this letter agreement the date first written
above.

                                       DATA CRITICAL CORPORATION:

                                       By:  /s/ Michael E. Singer
                                          --------------------------------

                                       Title:  EVP, CFO
                                             -----------------------------

                                       19820 North Creek Parkway
                                       Suite 100
                                       Bothell, WA  98011

                                       DATA CRITICAL CORPORATION
                                       COMPENSATION COMMITTEE:

                                       By:  /s/ John V. Atanasoff
                                          --------------------------------

                                       Title:  BOD
                                             -----------------------------

                                       19820 North Creek Parkway
                                       Suite 100
                                       Bothell, WA  98011

                                       RICHARD EARNEST

                                       Signature:  /s/ Richard Earnest
                                                 -------------------------

                                       2194 San Dieguito Drive
                                       Del Mar, CA  92014

                                       5

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