FONAR Sells 62nd Stand-Up MRI to Orthopedic Surgeons and 11th Multi-Unit Purchaser
Monday December 22, 9:53 am ET
MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 22, 2003--FONAR Corporation (NASDAQ:FONR - News), The MRI Specialist(TM), announced today the sale of its 62nd Stand-Up(TM) MRI scanner to Upright MRI of Sarasota, LLC of Sarasota, Florida. This is the customer's second Stand-Up MRI purchase; the first was purchased in June 2003 for installation in Hazel Crest, Illinois; and the customer plans to purchase several more in 2004. The total number of multi-unit Stand-Up(TM) MRI purchasers has now increased to eleven.
Martin Hall, M.D., a key decision-maker for Upright MRI of Sarasota, said, "We are looking forward to bringing this technology to the people of Sarasota, Florida. We have seen how well the FONAR Stand-Up(TM) MRI has been received by patients and physicians. It is obvious that patients love the extraordinary openness of the Stand-Up(TM) MRI, particularly the fact that there is nothing in front of their faces while the scans are being conducted. Better yet, patients get to watch a large-screen TV, a standard feature of every Stand-Up(TM) MRI unit. The FONAR Stand-Up(TM) MRI is also known for its relative quietness. It is no surprise that the Stand-Up(TM) MRI has a near-zero rejection rate due to claustrophobic reactions, which compares very favorably to the approximately 20-40% rate for closed-tube MRI scanners."
Mr. Bear Roalsen, President of Upright MRI of Sarasota, said, "The unique design and capabilities of the FONAR Upright(TM) MRI make it the scanner of choice for physicians and patients. We believe the weight-bearing MRI scanner will become the standard diagnostic tool for ailments of the spine. Beside the facilities in Sarasota and Hazel Crest, we have pinpointed five additional sites in Illinois and Indiana."
Dr. Hall continued, "As an orthopedic surgeon, I have seen numerous cases where pathology was undetected or mischaracterized based on the results of a recumbent-only MRI. But with the FONAR Stand-Up(TM) MRI, the MRI exam can be done with the patient in upright postures, or in any position of pain or other symptoms. For an orthopedic surgeon, the Stand-Up(TM) MRI is the MRI of choice."
"Before surgeons go into the operating room, they want as much information about the patient's problem as possible," said Dr. Hall. "The more information we have about a patient's pathology, the better the surgical outcome. The Stand-Up(TM) MRI is the only medical diagnostic instrument that can give us a complete understanding of the patient's problem."
Dr. Hall concluded, "The FONAR Stand-Up(TM) MRI is what we need to provide our patients with the highest quality of medical care. Its unique ability to provide crucial diagnostic information - information that no other MRI can provide - will allow us to achieve better surgical results. At the same time, our patients can have their MRIs done comfortably and free from the often unpleasant experiences that, unfortunately, are typically associated with MRI scanning." |
