Fonar Corp (FONR)

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FONAR Sells Upright MRI to Radiology Center in Maryland; Customer Believes The Upright MRI Will Become the Standard for Ortho-Neuro MRI Applications

MELVILLE, N.Y., Mar 17, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- FONAR Corporation ( FONR ), The MRI Specialist(TM), announced today the sale of an Upright(TM) MRI to Next Generation MRI of Columbia, MD. Shipment and installation of the scanner is expected to occur during the second (calendar) quarter of 2005.

Dr. Glenn Molin, director of Next Generation MRI said, "We purchased the FONAR Upright(TM) MRI because of its advanced MRI applications. The Upright(TM) MRI allows patients to be scanned in various weight-bearing positions such as standing, sitting, flexion and extension, etc., enabling doctors to more clearly see the exact nature of their patients' discomforts. The added information can be critical to their patients' treatment strategies."

Dr. Molin continued, "Intuitively, physicians understand the value of Upright(TM) imaging and attempt to achieve it through the use of X-ray or myelography. Now for the first time, with the FONAR Upright(TM) MRI, we can do Upright(TM) imaging using the exquisite diagnostic capabilities of the MRI. I believe that the Upright(TM) MRI will become the standard for Ortho-Neuro applications."

Dr. Molin attended FONAR's Marketers/Owners Meeting earlier this month in Long Island. Commenting on his experience at this gathering, Dr. Molin remarked, "The FONAR Marketers/Owners Meeting was well-planned and professionally run. The information presented was technologically savvy, but easily understood by all those who attended. The sessions provided tremendous insight into the operations and capabilities of the Upright(TM) MRI, and offered many great ideas on how to effectively market the scanner. I found the meeting extremely beneficial, and I plan to attend next year to share my experiences and gain new ideas."

Raymond V. Damadian, president and founder of FONAR stated, "I am always pleased and gratified to learn of a new customer joining the FONAR family. The sale to Next Generation MRI demonstrates the increased demand we are seeing for the Upright(TM) MRI. Practitioners such as Dr. Molin are fast becoming part of the upright imaging revolution."

About FONAR

FONAR was incorporated in 1978, making it the first, oldest and most experienced MRI manufacturer in the industry. FONAR introduced the world's first commercial MRI in 1980, and went public in 1981. Since its inception, we have installed nearly 300 MRI scanners worldwide. FONAR's stellar product line includes the Upright(TM) MRI (also known as the Stand-Up(TM) MRI), the only whole-body MRI that performs Position(TM) imaging (pMRI(TM)) and scans patients in numerous weight-bearing positions, i.e., standing, sitting, in flexion and extension, as well as the conventional lie-down position. The FONAR Upright(TM) MRI often sees the patient's problem that other scanners cannot because they are lie-down only. With over 100,000 patients scanned, the patient-friendly Upright(TM) MRI has a near zero claustrophobic rejection rate by patients. As a FONAR customer states, "If the patient is claustrophobic in this scanner, they'll be claustrophobic in my parking lot." Approximately 85% of patients are scanned sitting while they watch a 42" flat screen TV. Our latest MRI scanner is the FONAR 360(TM), a room-size recumbent scanner that optimizes openness while facilitating physician access to the patient. FONAR is headquartered on Long Island, New York, and has approximately 500 employees.

MRI Specialist, Stand-Up, Upright, Position, PMRI and The Proof is in the Picture are trademarks of FONAR.

Be sure to visit FONAR's Web site for Company product and investor information: http://www.fonar.com

SOURCE: FONAR Corporation

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