TeraRecon Announces the AQPlaque(TM) Analysis Suite

SAN MATEO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- April 9, 2007 -- TeraRecon (www.terarecon.com), a leader in advanced imaging processing technology and advanced 3D visualization solutions, announced the availability of the AQPlaque™ suite of vascular analysis tools for the Aquarius product family. The powerful toolkit enables researchers to investigate and evaluate a range of parameters from CT or MR images of vascular structures including coronary arteries, as a standard feature from standalone Aquarius Workstations or the AquariusNET thin-client software. Parameters relating to plaque constitution and morphology, including the overall extent of wall remodeling, luminal encroachment and the density distribution of CT values within the plaque, can be characterized with the AQPlaque tools.

On the Aquarius Workstation, AQPlaque is integrated into the vascular analysis package and provides tools to delineate the vessel outer wall versus surrounding tissue and lumen. A set of HU or intensity ranges can then be defined to visually delineate different structures (for example, potentially corresponding to calcified plaque, healthy wall, contrast-enhanced lumen and lipid-rich core), and volumes are reported for each delineated data range. On the AquariusNET thin-client software, the AQPlaque toolkit extends the analysis to production of a histogram of voxel values along the defined section of vessel, raising the possibility for a researcher to identify voxel population peaks corresponding to healthy wall and lumen, and to observe potential shift and broadening of these peaks in the presence of disease. Luminal area and vessel cross-sectional dimensions can be readily reported for comparison with angiography and intra-vascular ultrasound.

In a case study performed by C. Herzog et. al. at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt (Clinical Case Studies in the Third Dimension, Volume 2, 2006, TeraRecon, Inc.), investigators reported a comparison between MDCT, MR and histopathology for the detection and characterization of atherosclerotic lesions, using the AQPlaque suite. The results suggested that MDCT is superior to MR for detection of such lesions, while MR is superior to MDCT for further sub-characterization of lesion type. The case study reported excellent agreement between observers applying the software tools.

"The promise of MDCT and MR for characterizing coronary and other plaques is tantalizing, given that the only other currently viable technique for looking beyond the lumen is intra-vascular ultrasound, which involves invasive coronary catheterization," said Robert Taylor, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief operating officer of TeraRecon. "Efforts are underway by researchers around the world to understand how to interpret CT and MR images of the vessel wall, and TeraRecon is committed to supporting these efforts with tools like AQPlaque, so that one day we will be able to automatically and non-invasively quantify an individual's plaque burden and risk, long before symptoms present at the end-stage of disease."

About TeraRecon, Inc. (www.terarecon.com)

TeraRecon, Inc., a leader in advanced image processing and 3D visualization techniques, provides advanced imaging systems for medical and other visualization applications based on its unique and patented image processing technologies. A two-time winner of Frost and Sullivan's Innovation award, the company has developed a leading portfolio of products that advance the performance, quality, functionality, and integration of image processing and 3D visualization systems. Founded in 1997, TeraRecon has developed a unique family of powerful processors that are used in its real time diagnostic workstations, enterprise-wide image processing 3D servers, dental and industrial Cone Beam CT scanners, high-performance reconstruction engines, and real time 3D volume rendering hardware engines. TeraRecon is a fast growing, privately held company with headquarters in San Mateo, CA, and branch offices in Concord, MA; Tokyo, Japan; Osaka, Japan; and Trondheim, Norway.

Contact Information: Contact: TeraRecon, Inc. Robert Taylor, Ph.D. Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Tel: 650-372-1100 Email: Email Contact