Cardiovascular Consultants Strikes 5-Year Research Pact With Siemens Medical Systems.

Business and Medical/Health Editors

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 2, 2001

Cardiovascular Consultants, P.C., of Kansas City, Mo., and Siemens Medical Systems of Iselin, N.J., today announced a five-year research alliance to develop protocols for using emerging imaging technology to diagnose and treat heart disease.

The alliance will represent the first time three, non-invasive imaging modalities--PET, MR and high-speed, high-resolution CT--have been integrated in an office-based clinical setting dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

"This alliance brings the most advanced imaging tools to Kansas City and will allow us to provide rapid, non-invasive diagnosis of cardiovascular disease with greater accuracy than existing methods," said Timothy Bateman, M.D, Director of Cardiac and Vascular Noninvasive Imaging for Cardiovascular Consultants (CC) and the Mid America Heart Institute.

Bateman said CT, MR and PET have not been refined for specific clinical applications in cardiovascular disease. "We'll work collaboratively with Siemens in the evolution of these technologies and will bring these new diagnostic techniques to the people of Kansas City and surrounding areas."

CC will conduct clinical trials and collect and analyze data, drawing on more than 20 years of expertise in this area. In 1980, CC established a research database of cardiac patients that now is one of the largest and most detailed in the world, with more than 50,000 patient records.

CCs' research facility in Kansas City will serve as a cardiac demonstration site for Siemens, which will bring in physicians, clinicians, and researchers from throughout the nation to be trained in the clinical application of these new imaging modalities by the CC staff. As part of the alliance, Siemens intends to contribute additional technology as it is developed to ensure the facility remains state of the art.

"The combination of funding from Siemens as well as new opportunities to partner with associated radiopharmaceutical and technology development companies will bring several million dollars of research funding to Cardiovascular Consultants and the Mid America Heart Institute," Dr. Bateman said.

Timothy O'Shea, Vice President of Sales for Siemens Health Systems said, "Cardiovascular Consultants has gained an international reputation for being on the cutting edge of cardiovascular disease prevention, treatment and research. The evaluation of clinical data to be gathered as a result of this alliance will directly benefit patients worldwide."

Siemens and CC, through its CCIT subsidiary, will explore a collaborative effort to develop software for use on Siemens imaging equipment.

"The research partnership between Cardiovascular Consultants and Siemens is a major step toward fulfilling the goals of the Mid America Heart Institute in its expanded role in the Kansas City area life sciences initiative," said Ben McCallister, MD, director of cardiovascular research for the Heart Institute. "Research alliances between leading technology manufacturers and practicing clinicians are the best way for these new technologies to be evaluated and brought to their optimal use in benefiting patient care."

Cardiovascular Consultants, P.C., is one of the nation's leading physician practices specializing in cardiovascular diseases and conditions. The group, which consists of 26 cardiologists and 160 support staff, manages the Mid-America Heart Institute of Saint Luke's Hospital. A CC subsidiary led by Dr. Bateman, Cardiovascular Consultants Imaging Technologies, Inc. (CCIT), develops software programs used in clinical settings to improve diagnostic imaging. CCIT's initial software products, developed in cooperation with Emory University, have been funded through grants from ADAC Laboratories and Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.

Siemens Medical Systems, Inc., based in Iselin, N.J., is the U.S. affiliate of Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany. The company offers complete integrated solutions comprising innovative medical devices, advanced information technology as well as consulting services that increase efficiency of the healthcare system while improving the quality of care to patients worldwide. In fiscal 1999/2000, Siemens Medical Solutions reported new orders of 5.3 billion Euro, sales of 5.1 billion Euro and employed 28,000 worldwide.

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