CTI Molecular Imaging Introduces Eclipse ST Cyclotron

Search Blogs that Mention this News Release
Click this link to view linked Bookmarking Services
Click this link to view linked Blogging Services
CTI Molecular Imaging Introduces Eclipse ST Cyclotron
 Designed for On-site Production of FDG Radiopharmaceuticals for PET Imaging

    CHICAGO, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
CTI Molecular Imaging (Nasdaq: CTMI) today introduced the Eclipse ST
cyclotron, a low-cost, self shielded cyclotron that will allow PET imaging
centers to manufacture their own FDG radiopharmaceuticals required for PET
imaging procedures.
    "The Eclipse ST is an affordable and practical option for PET imaging
providers who have decided that their facilities are best served with in-house
production of FDG," said Thomas Hook, President of CTI Services, Inc.,
speaking at the Radiological Society of North America annual meeting.  "The
simple design of the Eclipse ST, its self-shield features and compact size
will make it attractive to centers that do sufficient volumes of PET
procedures."
    Hook added that CTI Molecular Imaging has established a cyclotron customer
support program, called Eclipse QuickStart.  "To help our customers hit the
ground running with their in-house FDG production, QuickStart is a turn-key
start-up solution that is a source of ongoing service and support for Eclipse
ST sites," he said.  "Our estimate is that the QuickStart program can yield
greater than $100,000 in cost savings."
    CTI Molecular Imaging is a world leader in the development, manufacture
and sale of medical cyclotrons for production of FDG radiopharmaceuticals.
FDG is a glucose-based radiopharmaceutical that is injected before a PET scan.
For cancer monitoring, the radio-labeled glucose migrates directly to the
tumor site.  The level of glucose absorption detected by the PET scan gives
physicians a precise check on the metabolic activity of the tumor.  Rapid
glucose consumption, for example, indicates that cancer has recurred and the
tumor is growing.
    The Eclipse ST expands CTI's line of gold-standard PET cyclotrons.  The
Eclipse ST is fully upgradeable onsite to either the Eclipse RD and Eclipse
HP, the other cyclotrons in the CTI's product offerings.  Like the Eclipse ST,
they are enhanced-performance, 11 MeV, particle accelerators designed for the
demanding requirements of busy PET radiopharmaceutical production facilities.
CTI's subsidiary, PETNET Pharmaceuticals, has installed Eclipse cyclotrons in
all of its new radiopharmaceutical manufacturing sites throughout the US.
    Currently, more than 100 Eclipse cyclotrons are in use worldwide, each
capable of producing multiple runs of PET radioisotopes with high reliability.

    About CTI
    CTI Molecular Imaging, Inc. is a leading supplier of products and services
for positron emission tomography (PET), a diagnostic imaging technology used
in the detection and treatment of cancer, neurological disorders and cardiac
disease. Additional information is available at: http://www.ctimi.com .

    About PET
    PET images the biology of diseases at the molecular level often before
anatomic changes are visible or in some cases before symptoms appear. Diseases
are biological processes and it is these processes that PET examines. PET/CT
is a new imaging technology that combines the biological examination of
patients by PET with the CT images of the body's structural detail. PET/CT
technology improves the treatment management of patients by providing
surgeons, radiation therapists and other physicians precise anatomical
landmarks associated with the disease condition as determined by PET.
    PET's whole-body imaging capability helps physicians improve their ability
to determine the location, extent and stage of cancer, neurological disorders
and cardiac disease. By improving diagnosis, PET scans aid physicians in
selecting better courses of treatment, as well as assessing whether treatment
is effective or should be changed. Recent published clinical trials have shown
that in a wide array of cancers, the use of PET has caused the treatment to be
changed for 15 to 50% of patients, depending on the specific clinical
question. In addition, PET and PET/CT provide both the patient and their
physician with a degree of certainty that is often unavailable through other
imaging methods.
SOURCE CTI Molecular Imaging, Inc.
http://www.rsna.org
http://www.ctimi.com
CONTACT:
Chuck Weber for CTI Molecular Imaging,
+1-847-705-1802, cpweber@weberpr.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of the Eclipse ST are available on the
CTI Molecular Imaging website, http://www.ctimi.com