Aquarius iNtuition(TM) Advantage for Cardiac CT Validated at ECR 2009

VIENNA, AUSTRIA--(Marketwire - March 9, 2009) - TeraRecon, Inc. (www.terarecon.com), a global provider of advanced visualization solutions, today reported on a study presented at the 21st European Congress of Radiology, held in Vienna, Austria, which compared the company's Aquarius iNtuition solution with a competitor's solution for assessment of Cardiac CT studies. Differences in performance and efficiency were determined via a detailed analysis of Cardiac CT interpretations being performed on each system.

Professor Biagio Merlino of the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome, Italy, presented a study comparing the performance of the TeraRecon Aquarius iNtuition solution with that of a widely used competing workstation from a vendor headquartered in the Midwestern United States, during Scientific Session SS-203 on Friday, March 6th, 2009. The study, number B-129, was entitled "Impact of advanced reconstruction and workflow techniques on coronary CT diagnostic and productivity performance: A prospective study," and was authored by professor Merlino and his colleagues R. Marano, A. Simeone, G. Savino, L. Natale, and L. Bonomo.

The study found compelling evidence that TeraRecon's Aquarius iNtuition solution delivered substantially increased performance with less operator interaction. These findings were established through the use of various robust techniques, including video-taping of users and time-and-motion studies of their interaction with the two software systems.

The study reported that "A total of 82 CT data sets ... were randomly evaluated by 2 experienced observers using two different 3D WS systems," and that the Aquarius iNtuition system was "slightly faster in loading and rendering data and more effective in managing progressive processing steps due to the optimized integration in the GUI environment (22% reduced time, p < 0.05)." The presentation went on to report that "User-required action time was correspondently minimized ... (30%, p < 0.05)."

The study found that "the need for the radiologist to review initial recon data was also lower... mostly due to the easiness to correct data 'on-the-fly' during recon and view them even from thinner network client. Overall time from scanner to report was 23 min for TeraRecon, 38 min for WS-B (p < 0.01)."

In conclusion, the study reported "Fast scanners provide huge amounts of data, whose management is critical for overall performance and productivity. Improvement of hardware, but especially more powerful and refined software solutions, are the major determinant of coronary CT success."

TeraRecon president Robert Taylor Ph.D said, "We are, of course, very happy to learn of this objective and quantitative validation of the design philosophy of our iNtuition solution. Professor Merlino and his team have demonstrated with objective clarity the great difference that iNtuitive software design can make to physician productivity and efficiency."

"While this study focused on the interpretation session itself, it is also important to bear in mind that the TeraRecon iNtuition system is entirely a client-server system that provides access to these tools from any PC in the healthcare enterprise, while the competing solution was a stand-alone workstation that has to be physically located in the same place as the physician. We believe, once the additional convenience of such general access is also considered, the productivity gains offered by the iNtuition solution are even more marked and substantial than those reported by Professor Merlino's team."

The abstract for this presentation may be accessed on-line via the European Society of Radiology's web site www.myesr.org, under ECR 2009 Scientific Sessions number SS-203, presentation B-129. Or by following this link: http://tinyurl.com/b8qnb3

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 four-time winner of Frost and Sullivan awards, 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, enterprise-wide image processing solutions and real-time 3D volume rendering hardware engines. TeraRecon is a privately-held company with headquarters in San Mateo, CA, European headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, and branch offices in Concord, MA; Tokyo, Japan and Osaka, Japan.