Competitive Technologies assisting diagnostic instruments to commercialize novel MRI technique for breast cancer diagnosis and therapy.

WESTPORT, Conn.--(HealthWire)--Oct. 3, 1996--Competitive Technologies Inc. (AMEX:CTT), a major U.S. technology commercialization and licensing company, is working with Diagnostics Instruments Inc. (DII) of Twinsburg, Ohio, to obtain development finance for DII's novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil, and to establish licensing links with MRI and medical device companies, it was announced today by George M. Stadler, president and CEO of CTT.

Dr. Susan A. Strenk, president of DII said, "Traditional MRI is used for diagnosis; Interventional MRI (I-MRI) can be used to treat disease. Breast cancer is our first target because of its high incidence (184,000 cases 46,000 deaths annually), limitations of conventional diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and MRI's cost-saving potential. According to the National Cancer Institute, mammography, the most widely accepted screening tool, is ineffective in women under 50. Its high false-positive detection rate can lead to unnecessary biopsies of benign lesions.

"Medical experts expect increasing use of MRI in breast cancer diagnosis for approximately 40% of women for whom mammography has limited effectiveness: younger women, those with large or dense breasts, breast implants and post-operative scarring, or with genetic predisposition to breast cancer. MRI offers significant advantages over traditional methods which often fail to define the extent of breast disease.

"MRI has detected breast cancer missed by other imaging techniques. Our device will allow MR-guided needle biopsy of breast lesions and thermal tumor destruction-predicted to replace breast conservation surgery (lumpectomy), becoming the prototypical procedure to improve quality of care and lower cost in a managed care environment."

The new high-resolution coil incorporates a gentle breast immobilization system, providing easy access without compromising accuracy. Its guidance mechanism allows the physician quick easy setting of the position coordinates for the MR-guided biopsy needles, surgical guide wires or therapeutic instruments.

Joseph G. Kubit, CFO of DII noted, "The commercial availablity of relatively low cost `open' MRI machines will facilitate MR-guided interventions such as needle biopsy and minimally invasive surgery. Manufacturers have focused on producing imagers (including `breast only' MR imagers) rather than the accessory devices used for the interventions; there is `market pull' rather than `technology push' for DII's relatively low cost accessory which can greatly enhance the MRI machine's function."

Competitive Technologies Inc. -- based in Westport, with offices in Bethlehem, Pa; Cleveland; Osaka, Japan; and London, England -- is in the technology transfer business concentrating primarily on the commercialization and licensing of high-tech company and university research. CTT has evaluated over 8,000 technologies, been responsible for closing several hundred license agreements, and helped launch 15 new companies. CTT also has been awarded a number of collaborative R&D contracts involving partnerships between university, industry and federal/state governments. Additional information about CTT can be found on its web site: WWW.CTI.Lehigh.edu

CONTACT: Competitive Technologies Inc., Westport

James Green, Ph.D., 216/586-4074, fax: [phone]