NEW FONAR STAND-UP MRI IN MADRID,
SPAIN PERFORMS HISTORIC MRI “FIRST” BY SCANNING,
WITHOUT ANESTHESIA, A 2-YEAR OLD SITTING ON MOTHER’S LAP
MELVILLE,
NEW YORK, June 14, 2004 - FONAR Corporation (NASDAQ-FONR), The
MRI
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Fonar Stand-Up™ MRI scans mother
and non-sedated child watching cartoons on TV |
Specialist™, announced today that the Stand-Up™ MRI
at Hospital de Madrid in Madrid, Spain performed in November of
2003 a historic “first” in the field of magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), by scanning an infant sitting on its mother’s
lap. The scan was successful and the infant’s problem diagnosed.
This is a remarkable event because it shows that the revolutionary
Stand-Up™ MRI can possibly be used to avoid the use of anesthesia
for MRI exams in a substantial percentage of children currently
requiring it.
“The
child was an active two-year-old,” said Juan Abarca, M.D.,
president of Hospital de Madrid Monteprincipe. “The open
architecture of the Stand-Up™ MRI made it possible for us
to scan the child sitting on his mother’s lap, from where
he could sit still and watch cartoons on a large, 42-inch plasma
TV. We wrapped the surface coil (the belt-shaped antenna that
picks up the tiny radio signals that make up the MRI picture)
around both the mother and the child and were able to obtain images
from the lumbar region of the child.” The child was diagnosed
with syringomyelia, a disorder in which a cyst forms within the
spinal cord. “We were very happy that we were able to make
the diagnosis without having to anesthetize the child.”
Raymond
Damadian, M.D., president and founder of Fonar said, “Dr.
Abarca performed a ground breaking MRI scan. In the present day
practice of childhood MRI scanning, the great majority of children
under the age of 7 must be put to sleep with anesthesia in order
to eliminate any movement during scanning, thereby requiring continuous
vital signs monitoring by a physician in attendance. With a child
comfortably sitting on its mother’s lap, transfixed by a
42-inch TV showing a popular children’s program, the risks
and costs of anesthesia can possibly be eliminated. While it is
too early to tell what percentage of the under 7 childhood population
can be scanned without anesthesia, we are expecting it to be a
significant percentage. It’s another unique feature for
the Stand-Up™ MRI. Of course, I must add that it’s
a wonderful feeling for us at Fonar to be able to help children
like this one.”
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Fonar Stand-Up™ MRI scan of mother
and 2-year old child with Syringomyelia, a disorder in which
a cyst forms within the spinal cord. (elongated white area). |
The
Stand-Up™ MRI is the only MRI scanner in existence that
allows patients to be scanned in the conventional recumbent position
as well as in upright positions, usually the sitting position.
Because of its unique ability, the Stand-Up™ MRI has successfully
detected pathology that went undetected on traditional lie-down
MRI scanners. Dr. Abarca said, “In the first six months
of operating the Stand-Up™ MRI, we confirmed the enormous
diagnostic potential of having the versatility of scanning patients
in vertical and horizontal positions.”
When
asked to describe what the response of the patients has been to
the Stand-Up™ MRI in Madrid, Dr. Abarca said, “Due
to the success of the scanner, many people are calling for appointments.
We scan an average of 20 patients per day, with people coming
not just from Spain, but from all over Europe.”