<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.18
<SEQUENCE>6
<FILENAME>a2074671zex-10_18.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 10.18
<TEXT>
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                          BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
                          2000 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

                                     FORM OF
                                    AMENDMENT

     Pursuant to Section 7 of the Boston Scientific Corporation 2000 Long-Term
Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), Boston Scientific Corporation hereby amends the
Plan effective for all Awards granted on or after October 30, 2001 as follows:

     1.   Section 5(A) of the Plan is amended by adding the following language
          to the last sentence of this Section:

          "for all Awards granted on or after October 30, 2001, immediately upon
          the cessation of a Participant's employment or other service
          relationship with the Company and its Affiliates by reason of the
          Participant's Disability, or with respect to a Participant who is an
          employee or director of the Company or its Affiliates, by reason of
          such Participant's Retirement, all Stock Options, SARs and Restricted
          Stock Awards held by the Participant (or by a permitted transferee
          under Section 4.a.(4)) immediately prior to such Disability or, as
          applicable, Retirement, will become vested and, where exercisability
          is relevant, will remain exercisable until the expiration of the
          stated term of the Stock Option or SAR, unless otherwise determined by
          the Administrator at or after grant;"

     2.   Section 5(B) of the Plan is amended by adding the following language
          after the last sentence of this Section:

          "for all Awards granted on or after October 30, 2001, all Stock
          Options, SARs and Restricted Stock Awards held by a Participant (or by
          a permitted transferee under Section 4.a.(4)) immediately prior to the
          Participant's death will become vested and, where exercisability is
          relevant, will remain exercisable until the expiration of the stated
          term of the Stock Option or SAR, unless otherwise determined by the
          Administrator on or after grant;"

     3.   Section 5(C) of the Plan is amended by adding the following language
          after the last sentence of this Section:

          "for all Awards granted on or after October 30, 2001, except as
          provided in (D) below, all Stock Options, SARs and Restricted Stock
          Awards held by a Participant (or by a permitted transferee under
          Section 4.a.(4)) immediately prior to the cessation (other than by
          reason of death or Disability, or with respect to a Participant who is
          an employee or director of the Company or its Affiliates, Retirement)
          of the Participant's employment or other service relationship with the
          Company and its Affiliates, to the extent not vested shall terminate,
          and to the extent then exercisable, will remain exercisable for the
          lesser of twelve months or until the expiration of the stated term of
          the Stock Option or SAR unless otherwise determined by the
          Administrator at or after grant;"

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     4.   To correct a typographical error, the defined term "Retirement" is
          amended by deleting the definition in its entirety and replacing it
          with the following:

          "Unless the Administrator expressly provides otherwise, cessation of
          employment or other service relationship with the Company and its
          Affiliates if, as of the date of such cessation, (i) the Participant
          has attained age 50 or has accrued at least five years of service with
          the Company and its Affiliates, and (ii) the sum of the Participant's
          age and years of service as of such date equals or exceeds 62."

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Boston Scientific Corporation has caused this
     instrument to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its duly
     authorized officer this 30th day of October, 2001.

                                BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

                                By:
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Paul W. Sandman
                                Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel

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