WARRENDALE, Pa. - MEDRAD will offer RSNA* attendees hands-on demonstrations of personalized-protocol software that individualizes CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) contrast dosing, and has proven to increase the percentage of diagnostic-quality studies to rule out Pulmonary Embolism (PE) when compared to the institution's standard protocol (1)** -- potentially obviating the need to rescan the patient.(2) Diagnosis with a high degree of certainty is critical to the safety of patients with suspected PE, yet can be inhibited by imaging complexities associated with these studies. PE, a blockage of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches due to a blood clot or other thrombus, results in as many as 50,000 deaths a year,1 most of which occur in the first few hours.

MEDRAD's P3T® PA (Pulmonary Angiography) software enables increased diagnostic quality studies by fitting into the established CTPA workflow and making consistent administration of personalized dosing practical. The only contrast-dosing solution of its kind, the clinically validated P3T algorithm tailors each patient's contrast protocol based on technologists' touch-screen responses to unique clinical concerns, study requirements, and the scanning equipment used.

"Achieving a diagnostic CT image for Pulmonary Embolism, without limitations, helps the hospital and emergency department in a number of important ways -- with efficiency, patient care, and cost savings," says Joan Lacomis M.D., Clinical Professor Radiology, The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Albany Medical Center Researchers concluded that suboptimal Emergency Department CTPA interpretations to rule out PE can substantially impact healthcare resource utilization and increase healthcare costs. Thirty percent of their CTPA studies showed suboptimal results, and these patients were subjected to additional imaging studies and/or received medical therapy. In some cases, patients were admitted to the hospital for further PE diagnosis considerations. None of the additional treatments or imaging modalities yielded a diagnosis of PE.(3)

"We're enabling increased diagnostic-quality studies at a point when timely and accurate diagnosis is critical," says Anthony Cinalli, executive director of MEDRAD Radiology. "The software makes applying the science of personalizing patient dose practical at the point of care, and offers the potential to significantly impact healthcare utilization."

In addition to quality improvements, the software offers flexibility and efficiency in administering personalized contrast dose for CT angiography for multiple regions of the cardio-pulmonary vasculature, especially when operating higher-speed scanners. The P3T line also includes cardiac and abdominal CT software versions that automate each patient's optimal contrast dose for studies addressing these areas of the anatomy.***

About MEDRAD, Inc.
MEDRAD, Inc. develops, markets and services medical devices used to diagnose and treat disease. Its product offerings include fluid injection systems for radiology and cardiology, endovascular devices for the safe treatment of cardiovascular disease, magnetic resonance-compatible accessories and equipment services. The company's world headquarters is near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. MEDRAD is a business of Bayer HealthCare. More company information is available at www.medrad.com.

Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The pharmaceuticals business operates under the name Bayer Schering Pharma. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.

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*Radiology Society of North America, Annual Meeting, 11/28/10 - 12/2/10, Chicago
**At a slightly higher contrast dose than standard protocol (80ml)
***Optimal defined as gaining consistency in achieving diagnostic clinical images

1Presented at Society of Thoracic Radiology (2008) Poster Session; Christopher R. Deible, MD, PhD. Study supported by MEDRAD, Inc.
2Abstract: Patient Outcomes and Resource Utilization for Emergency Department Patients with Suspected Pulmonary Embolism and Initial Chest Computed Tomography Angiography Studies Deemed Suboptimal for Interpretation; Weinstein, JM, Burton, JH, ED Albany Medical Center.
3510(k) FDA clearance number: K082905