Yin, what do you say now???
Gary
Thursday March 20 9:02 AM EDT
Researchers Unveil New Non-Invasive 3-D Studies of
Coronary Arteries Provided By Imatron's Ultrafast CT(R)
Scanner
Findings Detailed in Three Ultrafast CT(R) Related Presentations at 46th
Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology
SO. SAN FRANCISCO, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Imatron Inc today announced that in three
major presentations on Ultrafast CT(R) and Coronary Artery Scanning at the 46th Annual Scientific
Sessions of the American College of Cardiology, dramatic new images were shown of blockages in
the major coronary arteries. These images were obtained without having to resort to the expensive
and invasive angiographic techniques commonly in use today.
Dr. Matthew Budoff and colleagues from the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center presented their
research to the audience in Anaheim, California, and concluded that "intravenous Ultrafast CT(R)
angiography is a safe and non-invasive technique with great potential impact for the diagnosis and
treatment of coronary artery disease."
Ten presentations dealing with Imatron's Electron Beam Computed Tomography (EBCT) were
featured at the three-day session. Other significant findings include a study conducted by Dr.
Stephan Achenbach of the University of Erlangen, Germany, whose research group demonstrated
the usefulness of Ultrafast CT(R) in assessing the coronary arteries of patients who had suffered a
myocardial infarction, or heart attack. Dr. Stefan Mohlenkamp of the University of Essen presented
a new Ultrafast CT(R) protocol for evaluating cardiac stent function. This assessment is often
impossible when using other diagnostic techniques such as coronary angiography or fluoroscopy.
According to Dr. Bruce Brundage, Chief of Cardiology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, "Experts
in this field have now agreed to issue a set of physician guidelines for interpretation of coronary
calcium scores and treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) based upon eight years of compiled
data. Studies are now underway to measure the effectiveness of this early detection by Ultrafast
CT(R) and treatment using diet, exercise and drugs to modify risk factors. These studies will
demonstrate just how many heart attacks and coronary deaths may be prevented through early
diagnosis and cost effective intervention."
Dr. Alan Wasserman, Chairman of the Division of Cardiology at George Washington University
Medical Center, Washington, D.C., commented, "Based on the exciting new data presented, our
interest in the application of Ultrafast CT(R) at the George Washington University Medical Center
and HeartScan- Washington D.C. now goes well beyond the early detection of heart disease by
measuring coronary calcification -- our principal current application of the Ultrafast CT(R) Scanner.
We are now looking at the potential for this tool to non-invasively provide much of the information
needed in heart disease patients, which currently requires coronary angiography."
Following a panel discussion entitled, "Coronary Calcification: Clinical Relevance and Approach,"
Dr. John Rumberger, MD, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic added, "The detection
of coronary calcification by Ultrafast CT(R) goes well beyond population-based risk factor
evaluation and allows a physician to individualize the likelihood of developing coronary artery
disease in his or her specific patients."
S. Lewis Meyer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Imatron, stated, "The overwhelming
evidence of the effectiveness of Coronary Artery Scanning by Ultrafast CT(R) from multiple
research groups in both the United States and Europe is clearly facilitating the widespread adoption
of Imatron's EBCT technology within the cardiology community. We have been pleased with the
record numbers of highly interested cardiologists attending our exhibit this week, and the number of
presentations dealing with EBCT. I believe that this type of reception can only lead to increased
sales of our scanner. As we continue to work on our sales and marketing program, I look forward
to continued clinical validation of our Ultrafast CT(R)."
Imatron Inc. is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing and marketing high performance
computed tomography (CT) scanners based on the Company's proprietary scanning electron beam
technology. Ultrafast CT(R) is a registered trademark of Imatron. Imatron's Ultrafast CT(R) scanner
is now in use at major medical centers around the world, including The Mayo Clinic, University of
Iowa, National Institutes of Health, UCLA, University of Illinois, The Royal Brompton Hospital in
London, Tokyo University Hospital, Beijing Hospital, as well as many other major hospital centers.
Imatron's Ultrafast CT(R) distributed in the United States, Canada, Europe, and India by Siemens
Medical Systems. Imatron's HeartScan Imaging Inc. subsidiary provides Coronary Artery Disease
Risk Assessment diagnostic services in a nationwide network of Company-owned clinics.
Statements made in this news release that state the Company's or management's intentions, hopes,
beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future are forward-looking statements that involve risk
and uncertainties. It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from
those projected in such forward-looking statements. In addition to the factors set forth in the
Company's 1995 Form 10-K other important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially include, but are not limited to, projected financial results and industry-wide market factors.
SOURCE Imatron
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