Atallah Heart Center One of Four in U.S. to Offer Life Saving Technology; Revolutionary Technology Offers Noninvasive Coronary Disease Detection.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

ROCHESTER, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2004

Imagine a medical technology so advanced that with one held breath a doctor can view a three-dimensional holographic image of a patient's heart, brain, abdomen or other area of the body detecting any tumors or masses and diagnosing diseases and ailments once only diagnosable with surgery. The Rochester Diagnostic Center is the first medical center in the state of Michigan, and one of only 4 in the United States and 15 in the world to have the most advanced Three Dimensional Multislice CT Scanner that performs noninvasive Coronary Angiography.

"This is a major advancement in imaging technology. It allows for the most precise and noninvasive diagnosis increasing the odds of early detection and prevention and even making cures possible. For example, the Aquilion 3D CT Scanner goes far beyond CT Calcium Scoring as it allows us, for the first time ever, to check the coronary arteries for blockage non-invasively, eliminating the need for surgical cardiac catheterization," states Dr. Pierre C. Atallah, cardiologist and chairman of the Rochester Diagnostic Center (www.rochestermedicalcenter.com) and Associate Professor of Medicine at Wayne State University.

Due to its speed and 3D reconstruction power, the scanner will visualize in one single breath all arteries, particularly those to the heart, brain, kidneys, abdomen, and all extremities. The 16-slice scanner also provides Virtual Colonoscopy with precision, and without discomfort or patient embarrassment nor risks, complications or patient fears.

With its spatial resolution of 0.5mm and gantry rotation of 400 mscec, the 16-slice CT Scanner can provide precise Angiographic findings. By EKG gating and retrospective sampling, the coronary images of the native vessels as well as the bypass grafts are striking with its powerful 3D reconstruction.

To arrange an interview or to view a demonstration of the Aquilion Three Dimensional Multislice CT Scanner, please contact Adrienne Lenhoff Wise at 248-366-0388.