STOCKHOLM, Sweden, June 22, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Elekta, a world leader in non-invasive brain surgery, will establish an international network of research centers with Elekta Neuromag(TM), the number one system for magnetoencephalography (MEG), a sophisticated diagnostic system that provides a non-invasive registration of nerve cell activity by measuring the intensity of very weak magnetic fields in the brain in real time.
Elekta, being the foremost manufacturer of MEG systems, will assume the responsibility to assist and speed up the ongoing transformation of MEG technology from pure research applications to routine clinical use.
"Elekta is and has always been dedicated to fighting serious disease and Elekta can see a great untapped potential in MEG and want to explore this in collaboration with world leading clinical centers. We believe that this will need major efforts from multiple centers around the world and that MEG in the future will contribute in a significant way to further improvements to the diagnostic workup of patients prior to neurosurgical intervention," says Laurent Leksell, President and CEO of Elekta.
Elekta will together with interested and qualified neurological and neurosurgical, as well as neurophysiological and psychiatric clinics worldwide set up Elekta Neuromag(TM) based on various research and collaborative agreements. Elekta sees this opportunity as a clinical research and market development investment that will be ongoing for a number of years. These investments support the development and growth of Elekta's clinical solutions, particularly in minimally invasive neurosurgery.
Elekta Neuromag(TM) is today used to study the activity in the brain prior to surgical treatment of epilepsy in order to define the epileptogenic zone from which the seizure emanates. Furthermore, it is a very accurate tool for non-invasive pre-surgical mapping of eloquent areas of the brain, prior to surgery. Elekta believes that MEG technology can be used in conjunction with Leksell Gamma Knife(R) for a totally non-invasive treatment of epilepsy. Elekta further believes that clinical applications exist in other functional areas as well as in trauma treatment.
There are today 27 Elekta Neuromag(TM) whole-head systems installed worldwide out of a total of approximately 69 MEG whole-head systems world-wide. Elekta believes there is a great potential for this non-invasive, extremely precise and real-time diagnostic tool in a number of clinical applications going forward.
For further information, please contact:
International: Peter Ejemyr, Group VP Corporate Communications, Elekta AB (publ), Phone: +46 733 611 000, e-mail: peter.ejemyr@elekta.com
United States: Lars Jonsteg, VP Investor Relations North America, Elekta, USA Phone: +46 708 78 37 35, e-mail: lars.jonsteg@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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