M. D. Anderson Purchases BrainSUITE(R)iMRI: The Fully Integrated Neurosurgical Operating Suite

WESTCHESTER, Ill., April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- BrainLAB Inc., a worldwide leading innovator of Image-Guided Surgery (IGS) and stereotactic radiosurgery systems, today announced the sale of BrainSUITE(R) iMRI to The University of Texas - M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. BrainSUITE iMRI is a fully integrated workflow-optimized neurosurgical Operating Room (OR) that combines IGS, intra-operative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), visualization and data management technology within a turnkey solution concept.

M. D. Anderson will be the first hospital in the world to implement a complete BrainSUITE iMRI system with the new Siemens wide-bore MR scanner MAGNETOM(R) ESPREE for its patients. The installation is scheduled to be completed by January 2006.

With BrainSUITE, BrainLAB is able to offer a turnkey solution that meets the highest demands in neurosurgery. The integrated MR scanner allows surgeons to verify the complete resection of a brain tumor before finalizing the operation. Beyond anatomical imaging, additional scanning options such as functional MRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging provide the surgeon with valuable information about the functional structure of the patient’s brain.

Both the diagnostic and functional images needed for navigated neurosurgery can be updated during the procedure, making the surgery more precise and much safer for the patient. Due to better tumor resection control, BrainSUITE can decrease re-operation and complication rates, and increases navigation accuracy, thus helping hospitals to contain treatment costs while providing patients with better care. The new Siemens high-field wide-bore MR scanner MAGNETOM ESPREE improves the flexibility in patient positioning, increasing the clinical versatility and application spectrum of BrainSUITE iMRI.

BrainSUITE iMRI has been designed and pre-tested ensuring MR compatibility, MR safety and software integration. This new fully integrated neurosurgical suite brings patients and surgeons the most cutting-edge neurosurgical OR available today.

Additional BrainSUITE information will be available at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) tradeshow being held in New Orleans, LA. BrainLAB will be exhibiting at booth #1201. The exhibit hall is open Monday, April 18th from 9AM - 4PM; Tuesday, April 19th from 9AM - 4PM and Wednesday, April 20th from 9AM - 3:30PM.

About BrainLAB

BrainLAB, a privately held company headquartered in Munich, Germany, was founded in 1989 and is specialized in the development, manufacture, and marketing of medical technology for radiosurgery / radiotherapy, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and ENT. Among the products developed by BrainLAB are software and hardware components for image-guided surgery and radiotherapy as well as integrated systems for stereotactic radiosurgery. With 1550 systems installed in over 60 countries, BrainLAB is among the market leaders in image-guided medical technology. BrainLAB today employs 620 people worldwide and has 15 offices across Europe, Asia, North and South America.

For more information, visit BrainLAB at http://www.brainlab.com/ .

BrainLAB Inc.

CONTACT: Gabriella Cyranski of BrainLAB Inc., +1-708-486-0114,+1-312-771-7200