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news release:
Peer-Reviewed Study Concludes The FONAR
UPRIGHT(TM) MRI Could Serve as the `Standard Procedure of Care' for Pediatric
Shoulder Malady
Houston, TX, 30 May 2007:
FONAR Corporation (NASDAQ:FONR),
The Inventor of MR Scanning(TM), announced today, that the April 23, 2007 issue
of the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging featured an article entitled
'Upright MRI of glenohumeral dysplasia following obstetric brachial plexus
injury'. In layman's terms, the study evaluated the effectiveness of Upright(TM)
MRI imaging for the diagnosis of a particular deformity in a child's shoulder (glenohumeral
dysplasia), which occurs as the result of an injury known as Obstetric Brachial
Plexus Injury (OBPI), also known as Erb's palsy. The authors conclude that
"Upright MRI could, thus, serve as the standard procedure of care in pediatric
obstetric brachial plexus population for glenohumeral imaging." The study, which
included 89 children, ages 0.4 to 17.9 years, with OBPI, was conducted on a
FONAR UPRIGHT(TM) Multi-Position(TM) MRI operating at Natural MRI in Houston.
Visit:
http://mri.researchtoday.net/archive/3/4/2128.htm
The lead author-researcher in the study is Rahul
K. Nath, M.D., Director of the Texas Nerve & Paralysis Institute and the Nath
Brachial Plexus Institute at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Dr.
Nath, who has performed several thousand brachial plexus surgeries, is listed
among America's Top Doctors (Castle Connelly Publishers, 1st ed.). Less than 1%
of American doctors achieve this honor, where Dr. Nath is the only physician
listed in the category for Pediatric Brachial Plexus Management.
Dr. Nath said, "Old technology, such as recumbent
MRI and CT scans, misses significant dislocations of the shoulder, in my
experience. Because of what I learn about my patients' pathology, that can only
be seen on the FONAR UPRIGHT(TM) Multi-Position(TM) MRI, I have changed my
surgical protocols. Examination of my post-surgical data shows that the
Upright(TM) MRI definitely improves patient outcomes."
"Using MRI to image patient pathology in the
natural (weight-bearing) view is obvious," added Dr. Nath. "The effects of
gravity cannot be seen with other MRI machines."
Dr. Nath continued, "As a surgeon, I need to be
able to see the pathology of my patients in order to fix their problems. The
FONAR UPRIGHT(TM) Multi-Position(TM) MRI gives me the necessary image quality
that I need. But most important, by imaging patients in the 'natural'
weight-bearing position, I am able to see the true pathology that gives me the
best diagnoses. Because of this FONAR technology, I seldom use recumbent 1.5
Tesla scanners for my patients and am, in fact, dependent on the FONAR scanner."
In the discussion of the results of the study,
the authors state that "the images produced by upright MRI were of equal quality
to those produced by recumbent MRI." They also state, "Upright(TM) MRI has
significant advantages to standard recumbent MRI, including the ability to view
glenohumeral incongruence with gravity acting on the joint, as well as much
reduced morbidity and expense in the pediatric population due to elimination of
the need for sedation."
According to the authors, "The relative
beneficial aspects of Upright(TM) MRI include lack of need for sedation, low
claustrophobic potential and, most important, natural, gravity-influenced
position, enabling the surgeon to visualize the true preoperative picture of the
shoulder. It is an effective tool for demonstrating glenohumeral abnormalities
resulting from brachial plexus injury worthy of surgical exploration."
About FONAR
FONAR(R) was incorporated in 1978, making it the
first, oldest and most experienced MRI manufacturer in the industry. FONAR
introduced the world's first commercial MRI in 1980, and went public in 1981.
Since its inception, FONAR has installed hundreds of MRI scanners worldwide.
Their stellar product line includes the FONAR UPRIGHT(TM) Multi-Position(TM) MRI
(also known as the STAND-UP(TM) MRI), the only whole-body MRI that performs
Multi-Position(TM) imaging (mpMRI(TM)) 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(TM) Multi-Position(TM)
MRI often sees the patient's problem that other scanners cannot because they are
lie-down only. With nearly one half million patients scanned, the
patient-friendly FONAR UPRIGHT(TM) Multi-Position(TM) MRI has a near zero
claustrophobic rejection rate by patients. A radiologist said, "FONAR UPRIGHT(TM)
MRI - No More Claustrophobia - The Tunnel Is Gone." As another 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 they watch a 42" flat screen TV. FONAR's latest MRI scanner is the
FONAR 360(TM), a room-size recumbent scanner that optimizes openness while
facilitating physician access to the patient. FONAR is headquartered on Long
Island, New York, and has approximately 400 employees.
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