FONR FONAR Upright(TM) MRI Owner Purchases Second Unit for Beaumont, Texas
MELVILLE, N.Y.--(Business Wire)--April 24, 2006--
FONAR Corporation (NASDAQ:FONR), The Inventor of MR
Scanning(TM), announced today that Altus Healthcare Management (Altus)
has purchased its second Upright(TM) MRI for Beaumont, Texas.
Multi-unit purchases account for approximately one third of all FONAR
Upright(TM) MRI sales.
Mr. Taseer Badar, CEO of Altus, said, "We're buying a second FONAR
Upright(TM) MRI because we have been delighted with the success of the
first. I can tell you from my own experience, that the MRI service
provider business is very competitive. But the unique features and
benefits of the FONAR Upright(TM) MRI have definitely given us the
edge." The first unit was installed at Clarus Imaging of Houston in
early 2005. There is also a surgery center and medical laboratory at
the facility. (Telephone: 888-MY SCAN EASY (888-697-2263). Web sites:
www.altushms.com and www.clarus-imaging.com)
"With respect to patient friendliness," continued Mr. Badar, "the
FONAR Upright(TM) MRI is superior to conventional 'open' MRIs because
with conventional 'open' MRIs patients have to contend with the
scanner's magnet pole just inches away from their faces. That's not
really "open." With the FONAR Upright(TM) MRI, there is nothing in
front of the patient's face except a 42" flat-screen TV. The patients
love this MRI."
"With respect to diagnosis," continued Mr. Badar, "the FONAR
Upright(TM) MRI has the unique ability to image the spine and joints
in normal weight-bearing and functional positions. Such information is
critical for surgeons, because their surgical outcomes depend on the
accuracy of the diagnosis. Missing information can lead to poor
surgical results, but accurate diagnoses lead to successful
surgeries."
"Finally," concluded Mr. Badar, "with respect to image quality,
the FONAR Upright(TM) MRI is competitive with the highly touted 1.5
Tesla MRI scanners. Our referring physicians are quite pleased with
the images. They're just beautiful. I'll add that neurologists are
happy with the many advanced imaging features of the FONAR Upright(TM)
MRI, such as diffusion weighed imaging (DWI)."
"We are very pleased with this new sale for two reasons," said
Raymond Damadian, M.D., president and chairman of FONAR. "First,
repeat sales speak for themselves. Second, it confirms what we've been
saying all along - since the FONAR Upright(TM) MRI detects pathology
that lie-down MRI's can't, surgeons have to have it."
The newly purchased FONAR Upright(TM) MRI will be installed at
Clarus Imaging of Beaumont (390 North 11th Street) and is expected to
be in operation by the end of the year. Like the first center, Clarus
Imaging will include a surgery center and medical laboratory.
