STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 18, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The prestigious Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) in Korea has chosen Elekta to supply Elekta Neuromag(TM), the world's most advanced equipment for magnetoencephalography (MEG). Using Elekta Neuromag(TM), Korean neurosurgeons will now be able to non-invasively register nerve cell activity in the brain in real time, using MEG's ability to measure the intensity of very weak magnetic fields generated by electrical activity in the brain. This diagnostic tool increases the ability to understand and to improve treatment of functional disorders.
Within the framework of the previously announced establishment of an international network of MEG research centers, Elekta will deliver Elekta Neuromag(TM), the world leading MEG equipment, to SNUH early next year.
"We are very pleased to be working with the Elekta Neuromag(TM) MEG system", says Professor Chun-Kee Chung, neurosurgeon at SNUH. ``We have considered acquiring magnetoencephalography equipment for over 3 years and we think that MEG will play a pivotal role in human brain mapping, especially in surgical planning and in research and treatment of epilepsy. We are convinced that MEG will offer new insights in the neuroimaging research areas which will allow SNUH to treat patients better today and in the future", Professor Chung concludes.
``SNUH has a long tradition of research and clinical practice. MEG is one of the newest research tools and we are happy that we can work with Elekta in this area", adds Professor Sang-Cheol Seong, President of Seoul National University Hospital.
Non-invasive, real-time brain mapping and monitoring is considered as one of the most exciting developments in neuroscience today and around the world, researchers are developing clinical MEG routines. The list of new applications is steadily growing and includes pre-surgical mapping for neurosurgery as well as MEG-MRI integration to enhance the accuracy of surgical navigation and planning of open surgery and radiation treatments. For patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, surgery is an increasingly common alternative and MEG is proving useful for locating epileptogenic zones in relation to other functionally important areas of the brain. Ongoing research and development in other areas include cerebrovascular disease and mild brain trauma; psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression; learning disorders, such as dyslexia; as well as normal cognitive functions underlying memory and language. Compared with other preoperative registration methods, MEG is superior with respect to both the time required and its 3D resolution, since activity of the brain is measured directly and in real time.
Elekta is currently focusing on research programs for non-invasively locating epileptogenic zones and it is believed that MEG technology increasingly will be used to localize functional targets prior to non-invasive Gamma Knife(R) surgery as well as conventional neurosurgery.
``Elekta has a long standing relationship with Seoul National University Hospital and we are proud to broaden our collaboration with this exciting new technology for advanced neuroscience research and patient care, says Dr Dan Leksell, head of clinical research at Elekta, and continues: ``Elekta is fully committed to the future of MEG technology and also believes there is significant potential for the combination of Elekta Neuromag(TM) and Leksell Gamma Knife(R) as a totally non-invasive treatment paradigm for certain cerebral disorders."
For further information, please contact:
Product Enquiries
Stephen Otto: Global MEG Sales and Marketing Coordinator Tel: +81 78 241 7100, e-mail: so@elekta.co.jp
Investor Enquiries
Peter Ejemyr, Group VP Corporate Communications Tel: +46 733 611 000, e-mail: peter.ejemyr@elekta.com
Elekta is a world-leading supplier of advanced and innovative radiation oncology and neurosurgery solutions and services for precise treatment of cancer and brain disorders. Elekta's solutions are clinically effective, cost efficient and gentle to the patient.
For additional information about Elekta, please visit www.elekta.com
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