FONAR Reports on Publication of a Book Chapter Utilizing
its UPRIGHT MRI
MELVILLE, NEW YORK, March 14, 2019 - FONAR Corporation (NASDAQ-FONR),
The Inventor of MR Scanning™, reported today publication of
a chapter where the physician-author-researchers utilized the FONAR
UPRIGHT® Multi-Position™ MRI. The title of their chapter
is: Craniocervical Junction Syndrome: Anatomy of the Craniocervical
and Atlantoaxial Junctions and the Effect of Misalignment on Cerebrospinal
Fluid Flow.
Dr. Rosa says: “The chapter describes how malformations and
misalignments of the craniocervical junction (CCJ) can cause a constellation
of cerebral and other neurological signs and symptoms collectively
called the craniocervical syndrome (CCS). The signs and symptoms
of the craniocervical junction syndrome, may be due to mechanical
strain causing deformation of dura mater, vasculature and other
structures of the cranial vault resulting in irritation of and dysfunction
of affected tissues. Deformation of the CCJ may also obstruct blood
and CSF flow. Chronic ischemia, edema and hydrocephalus can cause
degenerative cascades that can in turn lead to neurodegenerative
diseases.”
Dr. Rosa has developed a patented method to restore cerebrospinal
integrity by correcting misalignments at the cranio-cervical junction
(CCJ). The method is called Image Guided Atlas Treatment™
or IGAT™. He says that the FONAR UPRIGHT® MRI and its
imaging sequences are a critical part of the IGAT™ methodology
in correcting the misalignments found at the CCJ. This is because
only the FONAR UPRIGHT® MRI can visualize the CCJ in the upright,
fully weight-loaded position, necessary for detecting fully distended
cerebellar tonsillar ectopia and CSF flow impeding vertebral malalignments.
Raymond V. Damadian, M.D., Chairman of the Board of Directors of
FONAR Corporation, said: It is rewarding when we see our UPRIGHT®
MRI scanner providing valuable results. When I went to medical school,
little was known about CSF physiology. The MRI has visualized the
flow of the CSF for the first time and enabled its quantification,
thus providing a measure of the degree to which the therapy being
employed is achieving its desired end results and enabling assessment
of the therapy modifications that might be needed. Now we understand
that 32 quarts of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) per day originate in
the ventricles of the brain and circulate down the spine to the
sacrum and back.”
“I would like to thank the authors for this thorough research
publication and their past and continued efforts towards the understanding
of the “craniocervical syndrome” (CCS) and “craniocervical
joint dysfunction”. FONAR’s own research validates their
work. In the future, continued understanding of the CCS may plausibly
have a significant impact on the genesis and treatments of the many
neurodegenerative diseases that plague mankind. These include multiple
sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease),
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and additionally the non neurodegenerative
disease childhood autism and birth injury Cerebral Palsy.”
concluded Dr. Damadian.
Following are figures 6, 9 and 11 from the online Chapter 3. Figures
6 and 9 demonstrate an example of the cervical misalignment that
can be realigned by IGAT™. Figure 11 shows a CSF flow cinematic
MRI in the pre-IGAT™ and post-IGAT™ on the same patient.
“All MRI images in the chapter 3 were taken on the FONAR UPRIGHT®
Multi-Position™ MRI,” said Dr. Rosa.
This press release contains an actual CSF flow cinematic which
is different from the static-only picture for Figure 11 in the online
published chapter.
Figure 6.
Rotary misalignment of atlas (C1) and axis (C2)
Figure 9.
Coronal view demonstrating misalignment of C0-C1 with left cerebellar
tonsillar ectopia.
Figure 11. (Single frame from CSF flow cinematic)
Disruption of CSF flow (left) with restoration of normal flow post
IGAT (right)
on phase contrast cine CSF flow MR.
Figure 11. (Actual CSF flow cine provided by FONAR)
Disruption of CSF flow - pre IGAT (left) with restoration of normal
flow - post IGAT (right)
on phase contrast cine CSF flow MR.
About FONAR
FONAR, The Inventor of
MR Scanning™, is located in Melville, NY, was incorporated
in 1978, and is the first, oldest and most experienced MRI company
in the industry. FONAR introduced the world’s first commercial
MRI in 1980, and went public in 1981.
The Company’s two industry segments are: development, manufacturing
and servicing of the FONAR UPRIGHT®
Multi-Position™ MRI, aka Stand-Up® MRI, and management
of 26 MRI centers through its subsidiary, Health Management Company
of America (HMCA).
FONAR’s signature product is the FONAR UPRIGHT® Multi-Position™
MRI (also known as the Stand-Up® MRI), the only whole-body MRI
that performs Position™ Imaging (pMRI™) and scans patients
in numerous weight-bearing positions, i.e. standing, sitting, in
flexion and extension, as well as the conventional lie-down position.
The FONAR UPRIGHT®
MRI often detects patient problems that other MRI scanners cannot
because they are lie-down and ”weightless” only scanners.
The patient-friendly UPRIGHT® MRI has a near-zero patient claustrophobic
rejection rate. As a FONAR customer states, “If the patient
is claustrophobic in this scanner, they’ll be claustrophobic
in my parking lot.” Approximately 85% of patients are scanned
sitting while watching TV.
FONAR has new works-in-progress technology
for visualizing and quantifying the cerebral hydraulics of the central
nervous system, the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which
circulates throughout the brain and vertebral column at the rate
of 32 quarts per day. This imaging and quantifying of the dynamics
of this vital life-sustaining physiology of the body’s neurologic
system has been made possible first by FONAR’s introduction
of the MRI and now by this latest works-in-progress method for quantifying
CSF in all the normal positions of the body, particularly in its
upright flow against gravity. Patients with whiplash or other neck
injuries are among those who will benefit from FONAR's new technology
for quantifying CSF flow and the new clinical
understanding it provides.
FONAR’s substantial list of patents includes recent patents
for its technology enabling full weight-bearing MRI imaging of all
the gravity sensitive regions of the human anatomy, especially the
brain, extremities and spine. It includes its newest technology
for measuring the Upright cerebral hydraulics of the central nervous
system. FONAR’s UPRIGHT® Multi-Position™ MRI is
the only scanner licensed under these patents.
This release may include forward-looking
statements from the company that may or may not materialize. Additional
information on factors that could potentially affect the company's
financial results may be found in the company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.