Available for the first time under Federal contract, the FONAR Upright^TM MRI, the world's first and only whole-body MRI scanner that performs Position^TM imaging (pMRI^TM) and scans patients in numerous weight-bearing positions, is now available to military personnel.

The process of attaining government approval began when FONAR brought the superior medical benefits of its Upright^TM MRI scanner to the attention of the VA. FONAR was then directed to submit an entry to be considered for inclusion on the government agency's list of approved products. The approval process included a lengthy and comprehensive review of the device's technology and diagnostic procedures and FONAR's technical capabilities, corporate experience, quality, past performance, and other factors. Finally, a fixed price was determined for FONAR's Upright^TM MRI scanner, which facilitates the expedition of purchases and eliminates negotiations based on price. This methodology is used, according to the government agency, because it makes good business sense and ensures reliable contractors with proven performance records who will deliver quality products at agreed upon prices.


"Following our recent penetration of the private sector hospital market with two scanner sales, we now have pre-approval to market FONAR's Upright^TM MRI in the public sector," said Dr. Damadian. "Moreover, we are privileged to have unprecedented access to the single largest segment of hospitals and medical facilities in the nation through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The FONAR Upright^TM MRI will benefit from potentially significant exposure to an incredibly large number of medical professionals who work for various government agencies, and other practitioners who are primarily part of the private sector health care community."

"The VA is known for providing high quality health care to the nation's veterans and also conducting research on some of the most difficult challenges facing medical science today. VA researchers have played key roles in developing the cardiac pacemaker, the CT scan, and radioimmunoassay, among other major medical innovations. With the failed spine surgery syndrome affecting many Americans, including U.S. military veterans, the VA will now have the opportunity to use FONAR's Upright^TM MRI to improve upon medical care for military personnel with spinal injuries and back pain," said Dr. Damadian.

On behalf of veterans, military personnel and other patients treated at DoD medical facilities, many of which have physically demanding occupations or have at some point experienced traumas to the spine in their military service career, FONAR's Upright^TM MRI will provide superior diagnoses over what they have heretofore been able to receive. Until the introduction of the FONAR Upright^TM MRI in 2000, practitioners involved with medical diagnostics were capable of ordering only recumbent MRIs for their patients. It was the only technology available. FONAR's research and development efforts have advanced the state-of-the-art of MRI scanning and brought a new technology to fruition that now allows surgeons to make more accurate diagnoses of spine pathology by their ability to see the spine fully weight-loaded. Through these advancements the surgeons are able to achieve better treatment outcomes for their patients.

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