Pioneer of P.E.T. Technology Joins MBPT Medical Advisory Board
SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 18, 1999--Mobile PET Systems Inc. (OTC BB:MBPT - news), the first provider of mobile state-of-the-art Positron Emission Tomography (PET) technology, announced the strengthening of its Medical Advisory Board with the addition of Peter
Stephen Conti, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Conti is Associate Professor of Radiology, Clinical Pharmacy and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California, and is Director of the USC Positron Imaging Science Center and Clinic. He is Board certified in both Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.
''We are delighted to have one of the pioneers in the development of positron emission tomography applications join our Medical Advisory Board,'' said David C. Frakes, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., Medical Advisory Board Chairman for MBPT. ''Dr. Conti is an extremely well-respected leader in the field, and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our Board.''
An Idea Whose Time Has Come
''I have always felt that the mobile approach would be a cost-effective means of delivery of this emerging clinical technology,'' said Conti. ''Plus, the mobile model has been proven successful with other imaging modalities. The high cost and limited utilization of PET have made it prohibitive for small hospitals to purchase their own dedicated imaging equipment. Mobile PET, therefore, would provide access to this technology by patients at many of these locations who would not otherwise be able to obtain it, and significantly increase the number users in the community.''
Conti noted that, ''Although the mobile PET business has been explored in the past, the recent convergence of several forces makes the mobile delivery of PET technology viable at this time. Teleradiology and remote image interpretation are the future of diagnostic imaging analysis, and in the case of a new diagnostic modality, provide access to expertise for physicians who are just entering that market. Also, PET radiopharmaceuticals are now available for commercial distribution
in many regions of the country. Finally, third-party reimbursement, including Medicare, can now be obtained. These factors all signal an exciting opportunity for the
PET field.''
About Peter Stephen Conti, M.D., Ph.D.
Conti's doctoral degree, completed at the Sloan-Kettering Institute in New York, was in Biophysics with focus on radiopharmaceutical chemistry and development of applications of positron emission tomography in cancer. Conti received his medical degree from Cornell University, and completed a residency in Diagnostic Radiology and Fellowship in Nuclear Medicine at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.
Conti currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Institute for Clinical PET (ICP) and for the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM), and is President-Elect of ICP. He also serves on a number of committees for both the SNM and ICP in government and regulatory affairs, with efforts primarily focused on development of PET technology and applications in medicine.
About MBPT and PET
MBPT provides a mobile coach which integrates the PET imaging equipment and the technician necessary to provide diagnostic PET services. The service is made available to medical institutions on a negotiated contractual basis.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is an advanced imaging technique that assists in the diagnosis and management of numerous diseases. PET allows the physician to examine the whole patient at once, by producing images of the body based on functional rather than anatomic characteristics. These images show body metabolism and other functions rather than simply the gross anatomy and structure revealed by conventional x-rays, CT or MRI scans.
Whole-body PET imaging uncovers abnormalities that might otherwise go undetected. Physicians may then apply the most appropriate treatment for the detected disease. For example, PET can detect tumors unseen by other imaging techniques, or detect Alzheimer's Disease one to two years before the diagnosis would be made clinically.
The unique ''shared service'' provided by MBPT allows hospitals the ability to offer PET imaging services to their own communities through their own medical staffs, and in a cost-effective manner. Patients who previously might have to travel hundreds of miles for a PET scan can now be studied at their local hospital. To learn more about MBPT, visit our Web site at www.mobilepet.com.
Certain information included in this communication (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by Mobile PET Systems Inc.) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the future anticipated direction of the health-care industry, plans for future
expansion, various business development activities, planned capital expenditures, future funding sources, anticipated sales growth and potential contracts. These forward statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual operations or results to differ materially from those anticipated.
Contact:
Mobile PET Systems Inc.
Paul Crowe, 619/226-6738
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