Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to House One of the World's Most Advanced Intra-Operative MRIs

Atlanta, GA (PRWeb) November 29, 2006 -- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta will join the ranks of the world's most technologically advanced hospitals with the installation of the IMRIS iSPACE intra-operative MRI (iMRI) surgical imaging system.

Scheduled to be operational in August 2007, the iMRI system will provide real-time images to surgeons in the operating room. Children's will become one of only four pediatric hospitals in the world and the first in the Southeast to house the IMRIS technology.

The iMRI system has a number of unique and innovative features that will enable surgeons to view high-resolution patient scans during surgery, eliminating the difficult and lengthy procedure of moving a patient to an MRI machine.

The primary goal of the IMRIS iSPACE solution is to improve patient outcomes by providing surgeons with greater precision in the surgical environment.

"Children's is committed to enhancing the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education," said Roger Hudgins, M.D., chief medical officer of the Neurosciences program at Children's. "In obtaining the IMRIS iMRI, we are satisfying this commitment in a very big way, by bringing the world's most advanced surgical imaging technology to our facility."

In addition to helping make surgical procedures safer and giving surgeons information quicker, the imaging system allows surgeons to better determine the size and often complex shape of a brain tumor, as well as the distinction between the tumor and healthy tissue. With this new technology, Children's anticipates the iMRI system will allow for better patient care due to fewer returns to the operating room.

A recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota showed a reduction in the need for additional operations in pediatric brain tumors by 30 percent when using iMRI.

David Graves, President and CEO of IMRIS, stated, "We are privileged Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has selected our technology. We share a common goal of applying innovative technology that helps improve medical outcomes and, ultimately, children's lives."

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the leading pediatric healthcare systems in the country, is a not-for-profit organization that benefits from the generous philanthropic and volunteer support of our community. Operating three hospitals with more than half a million patient visits annually, Children's is recognized for excellence in cancer, cardiac, neonatal, orthopaedic and transplant services, as well as many other pediatric specialties. To learn more about Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, visit www.choa.org or call 404-250-KIDS.

IMRIS Inc designs and delivers advanced surgical imaging solutions for medical applications. Our Company mission is to develop industry leading technology that will assist in the treatment of disease and measurably improve outcomes for patients.
For more information visit: www.imris.com.

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