Replies to post #470 on Fonar Corp (FONR)

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EPIC Imaging Acquires First FONAR Upright Multi-Position MRI in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore., Mar 28, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- EPIC Imaging, the Pacific Northwest's premiere diagnostic imaging facility and FONAR Corporation ( FONR ), The Inventor of MR Scanning(TM), have today jointly announced the sale of the first FONAR Upright, Multi-Position MRI in Oregon.

The revolutionary Upright MRI acquired by EPIC Imaging promises to help provide physicians with the best tool to date for pinpointing the cause of back pain as well as other spinal syndromes in which gravity and weight exert an influence. "For the first time we have an MRI with maximum flexibility relative to patient positioning. That means we can now image the problem as the patient is experiencing it, be it standing, bending, sitting or lying down," explains Dr. Gerald L. Warnock, Medical Director of EPIC Imaging. "This information is invaluable for surgical planning and developing treatment strategies."

Eighty percent of all Americans will suffer from back pain during their lives. Back pain is the leading cause of disability for individuals under the age of forty-five and accounts for the majority of workers' compensation claims.

The significance of a weight-bearing, physiologic scan adds a new dimension to MR imaging. In the vast majority of spinal syndromes, symptoms are generally most severe with standing, bending or walking. In the reverse, symptoms are often relieved when the patient is lying down. The inability of conventional, single position MRI's to provide a dynamic evaluation of precisely what is happening when the patient is in a weight bearing position is solved using the Upright system. Research clearly demonstrates the power of this new information to change treatment strategies.

"One of the most difficult conditions to visualize in supine MRI is Chiari malformation," explains Dr. Warnock. "This is easily seen with the Upright. We will also be able to visualize knee meniscal subluxation easily, as well as the effects of gravity on standing feet and ankles."

Perhaps one of the most innovative uses for EPIC Imaging's new Upright MRI is in the area of women's imaging, specifically pelvic support disorders. These can include urinary and fecal incontinence; prolapse of the uterus or bladder; bulging of rectum or intestines; or a combination of several of these problems. The Upright MRI will provide a dynamic window into the pelvic organs under stress helping to pinpoint exactly which weakened structures are responsible for the symptoms.

The design of the Upright MRI is so open that the patient can literally walk in. Claustrophobia is simply not an issue. The Upright MRI is manufactured by FONAR, the company that introduced the first commercially available MRI ever made. EPIC expects to begin seeing patients on the Upright MRI as early as July.

The acquisition of the first Upright MRI scanner in Oregon is another in a long line of firsts for EPIC Imaging. The facility has long been a leader in bringing groundbreaking imaging technology to the Pacific Northwest. From the first non-hospital based CT way back in 1982 to installing and operating an MRI scanner for nearly a year before any local hospital acquired the technology, EPIC has remained committed to ensuring Oregonians have access to the most advanced technology. More recent examples of this commitment were the first digital mammography units and the first dedicated PET scanner to the Northwest.

Raymond Damadian, M.D., president and founder of FONAR, said, "EPIC Imaging continues their legacy of radiology firsts by becoming the first in Oregon to have the FONAR UPRIGHT(TM) MRI. Being state of the art has made Dr. Warnock's business the leader in radiology in Oregon."

About EPIC Imaging

Founded in 1959, EPIC Imaging is the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art outpatient diagnostic imaging facility in Oregon. It offers all major imaging technologies and is widely recognized as "the gold standard" for imaging services in the state. The driving force behind the EPIC Imaging family of centers is Dr. Gerald L. Warnock, its founder and medical director. Over the years he has been a pioneer in bringing state-of-the art imaging technology to the region and is a leader in quality patient care.

The FONAR UPRIGHT(TM) Multi-Position(TM) Full Range of Motion(TM) MRI will be placed at EPIC Imaging East, 233 NE 102nd Ave., Portland, OR 97220, phone [phone]. The other two locations are EPIC Imaging West, 8950 SW Nimbus Ave., Beaverton, OR 97008, phone [phone], and EPIC Portland PET Center, 143 NE 102nd Ave., Portland, OR 97220, phone [phone]. To learn more about Epic Imaging visit: www.epicimaging.com.

About FONAR

FONAR(R) 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, FONAR has installed hundreds of MRI scanners worldwide. Their stellar product line includes the FONAR UPRIGHT(TM) Multi-Position(TM) MRI (also known as the STAND-UP(TM) MRI), the only whole-body MRI that performs Full Range of Motion(TM) (ROM) Multi-Position(TM) imaging (mpMRI(TM)) that enables patients to be scanned in numerous weight-bearing positions, i.e. standing, sitting, in flexion, in extension and, in particular, in the position that generates symptoms, so that a picture can be obtained of the actual pathology giving rise to the patient's symptoms (e.g. pain). The scanner also performs all the scans of a conventional MRI with the patients in the usual lie-down position. The FONAR UPRIGHT(TM) Full Range of Motion(TM) (ROM) Multi-Position(TM) MRI often sees the patient's problem that other scanners cannot, because they are lie-down only. Approximately 85% of patients are scanned sitting while they watch a 42" flat screen TV. For more information please visit: www.fonar.com

The Inventor of MR Scanning(TM), FULL RANGE OF MOTION(TM), STAND-UP(TM), UPRIGHT(TM), MULTI-POSITION(TM), pMRI(TM), True Flow(TM), WALK-IN(TM) and The Proof is in the Picture(TM) are 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 filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE: FONAR Corporation

FONAR Corporation
Daniel Culver, 631-694-2929
[e-mail]
or
Athena Maris, 503-236-3486
[e-mail]


Copyright Business Wire 2007