American Heart Association Publishes Results of Long-Term, Follow-Up Study Comparing Imatron EBT Coronary Artery Scanning and Coronary Angiography.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

SO. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--July 30, 2001

Extent of Coronary Artery Calcification Detected by EBT More

Powerful Than Coronary Angiography in Predicting Future

Heart Attacks and Cardiac Death

Imatron Inc. (Nasdaq:IMAT) today announced the publication of a significant paper from researchers at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Michigan in Circulation, the weekly journal of the American Heart Association. In a sophisticated analysis of results in nearly 300 men and women at high risk for cardiac events, only the patient's age and the degree of coronary artery calcification measured by EBT achieved statistical significance in the prediction of future cardiac events over the ensuing 2 to 10 years. The EBT coronary artery scan was shown to add unique and valuable prognostic information in these specific patients. Most importantly, the results clearly demonstrated the EBT coronary artery scan to be more effective than the coronary angiogram in predicting subsequent cardiac risk.

It is important to note that 71% of all coronary events occurred in patients with calcium scores greater than 100, while only one coronary event occurred among patients in the study group with the lowest calcium scores. Notably, none of the conventional risk factors, except age -- not even the findings from the invasive coronary angiogram -- were significant predictors of future heart attack or death. The authors concluded that "...this (EBT) test should be considered in all patients with indications for angiography." They further commented that although the angiogram is regarded as the "gold standard" diagnostic modality for the identification of coronary artery disease, the coronary angiogram "provides no information on plaque burden other than the extent of luminal obstruction." In contrast, the EBT coronary artery scan, which sensitively detects and accurately quantifies coronary artery calcification "may add important prognostic information and identify the need for aggressive medical therapy and regular patient follow-up."

John A. Rumberger, MD, PhD, FACC, a pioneer in the research and application of EBT, and one of the principal authors of the study, commented, "This long term, follow-up study, largely in patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease, underscores the clinical value of determining baseline plaque burden using the EBT calcium score as the strongest predictor of future cardiac risk in a given individual."

S. Lewis Meyer, CEO of Imatron, commented, "Yet another prominent group of University researchers have come forward to unequivocally demonstrate the unique predictive power of Imatron's proprietary electron beam tomography technology. The significance of the specific recommendation that all patients who are candidates for coronary angiography should receive EBT scans should not be underestimated. The EBT coronary artery scan clearly provides new, relevant information with respect to patient outcomes as compared to the limited, stenosis-specific diagnostic information provided by coronary angiography. Such support further underlines the importance of recently published long-term, peer-reviewed studies validating the power of the EBT coronary artery scan. Medical acceptance of this unique technology continues to accelerate, contributing to increased sales of EBT scanners."

For additional information about Imatron, visit the company's web site at www.imatron.com.

Imatron Inc. is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing, marketing, and servicing high performance electron beam tomography (EBT) scanners based on the Company's proprietary EBT technology. Imatron's EBT scanner is now in use at more than 150 major medical facilities and imaging centers around the world, including Abbott-Northwestern Hospital, Arizona Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, Edward Cardiovascular Institute, Hackensack University Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, FL, St. Francis Hospital, Stanford University, UCLA Medical Center, University of Illinois, University of Iowa, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Alfried Krupp Krankenhaus, Essen, Landeskrankenhaus in Graz, Austria, Cardiology Research Centre in Moscow, Russia, FAU Erlangen-Nurnberg in Erlangen, Germany, Beijing Hospital in China, BodyScan Imaging Center of Kansas City, BodyScan Imaging Center of Scottsdale, Cardiac Plus, Cooper Clinic, Heart Savers of Irvine, Holistica Hawaii, ITG/HeartScan Imaging, LifeScore of San Diego, Michigan Heart Imaging, Ohio Heart, University HeartScan of Manhattan, VITASCAN Mobile EBT, and Vital Imaging (La Jolla, Dallas, Houston and Orange County).

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and estimates about the industry in which Imatron operates, the estimated impact of certain technological advances, the estimated impact of published research studies on scanner sales and procedures, as well as management's beliefs and assumptions. It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others; failed clinical demonstration of certain asserted technological advantages and diagnostic capabilities; reliance on product distributors; competition in the diagnostic imaging market; failure to improve product reliability or introduce new product models and enhancements; delays in production and difficulty in obtaining components and sub-assemblies from limited sources of supply; inability to meet cash-on-delivery or prepayment terms from vendors; determinations by regulatory and administrative government authorities; patent expiration and denial of patent applications; the high cost of the scanner as compared to commercially available CT scanners; and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including their reports on Form 10-K for their current fiscal year.