Largest Orthopaedic Practice in Central
North Carolina Purchases
FONAR UPRIGHT ® Multi-Position™ MRI
MELVILLE,
NEW YORK, November 18, 2008 - FONAR Corporation (NASDAQ-FONR),
The Inventor of MR Scanning™, announced the sale of its UPRIGHT® Multi-Position™ MRI to Triangle Orthopaedic Associates, P.A. (TOA), headquartered
in Durham, North Carolina.
TOA, the largest orthopaedic practice in central
North Carolina, strives to provide cutting-edge care in a convenient,
patient-centered environment. In its commitment to a regional
orthopaedic Center of Excellence, TOA has built a skilled team
of physicians on the forefront of their specialty, an integrated
network of 13 clinics and therapy centers, a uniquely specialized
surgical hospital and an active clinical research program. Continually
updating and advancing services and technologies for better
patient care is critical to the success of this vision.
Writing to the North Carolina Department of Health
and Human Services Certificate of Need Section, TOA's president,
Thomas A. Dimmig, M.D., stated, "The most recent and exciting
development is the unique UPRIGHT® MRI scanner. UPRIGHT® MRI
technology enables physicians to image patients in various weight-bearing
positions in order to view tissue and analyze the spine, joints,
or bones under the strain of normal use. This exclusive technology
is not available on conventional MRI scanners. As a physician,
I have a long-term vision of an orthopaedic center of excellence
that will allow our patients the convenience of receiving all
of their care at one location in a seamless patient-oriented
environment. To achieve this goal, Triangle Orthopaedic Associates
desires to have a fixed multi-position MRI scanner located in
our Spine Center in Durham."
The new FONAR UPRIGHT® Multi-Position™ MRI is intended for use in all patients requiring imaging of
any musculoskeletal condition, from shoulder to hip, hand to
foot or neck to back. Its ability to image patients in a standing
or sitting position is unique in that it offers a weight-bearing,
true-to-life view of the body, that is also frequently more
comfortable for the patient. Furthermore, the FONAR MRI is an "open" design,
making it possible to image patients who are obese or claustrophobic.
TOA is an active clinical research center with
15 ongoing FDA trials, 10 involving new technologies for relieving
back and neck pain and preserving spinal function. Of particular
interest to the spine surgeons at TOA is the potential for the
UPRIGHT® Multi-Position(TM) MRI to detect spinal abnormalities
that are not visible on conventional recumbent-only MRI scanners.
In this way, the FONAR MRI may play an important role in the
clinical research arena. Additionally, following implantation
of MRI compatible orthopaedic devices, the field strength of
the FONAR UPRIGHT® MRI may allow better visualization of
the surrounding anatomy than many current MRI scanners, which
is of particular importance to spine surgeons.
About Triangle Orthopaedic Associates
Triangle Orthopaedic Associates, P.A. is the Triangle's
largest physician-directed orthopaedic medical practice, caring
for
patients with musculoskeletal and pain problems through state-of-the-art
medical treatment, surgery, physical medicine & rehabilitation,
physical therapy, occupational (hand) therapy, a chronic pain
program, and other medical and diagnostic services responsive
to the needs of patients living within the counties they serve.
Their staff of 25 physicians is located at 13 offices. There
are approximately 200,000 office visits each year. The FONAR
UPRIGHT® Multi-Position™ MRI will be placed in the South
Durham Office. Their Web site is www.triangleortho.com.
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The Inventor of MR Scanning™, Full Range of Motion™,
pMRI™, Dynamic™, Multi-Position™, True Flow™,
The Proof is in the Picture™, Spondylography™ and
Spondylometry™ are trademarks and UPRIGHT® and STAND-UP® are
registered trademarks of FONAR Corporation.
This release may include
forward-looking statements from the company that may or may
not materialize. Additional information
on factors that could potentially affect the company's financial
results may be found in the company's filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
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