FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kirk Deeter
Bracco Diagnostics Press Office
303-838-8708

New EuroPCR Satellite Symposium Accessible through “Video On Demand”
at www.bracco.com.  Free, convenient access to presentations by leading physicians on Contrast Optimization Techniques.

Minneapolis, August 2, 2005 – ACIST Medical Systems, a clinical and technological leader in automated contrast delivery systems and part of the Bracco Group, invites clinicians to its EuroPCR Satellite Symposium entitled “Contrast Optimization Techniques” by accessing its link on www.bracco.com.  This program includes presentations from leading physicians related to recent data on the safe and efficient use of contrast media for high-risk patients during catheterization procedures.
 

This information is important to both patients and physicians, because many catheterization patients suffer from underlying conditions that increase sensitivity to contrast agents.  Procedures and devices that promote efficient use of contrast media benefit both patients and health care providers. 

The symposium, chaired by Gregg Stone, MD, includes the following presentations:

• Contrast-Induced Nephropathy (CIN), review of the latest data and practical considerations
  Richard Solomon, MD;
• Optimising contrast administration through advanced delivery techniques
  Ran Kornowski, MD
• Contrast media safety – selecting the right agent for your patient
  Rainer Schräder, MD
• Identifying opportunities for efficiency and cost effectiveness in the cardiac catheterization laboratory
  Craig Lehman, Ph.D.

To access this symposium, simply go to www.bracco.com and click on the “Video on Demand” section.  The Bracco Group supports and organizes high level educational activities for the world healthcare professionals, including the sponsorship of scientific meetings, symposia, seminars and courses and the support of clinical publications and organizations.  Bracco strives to enhance the abilities of imaging professionals to promote improvements in practice, and encourage innovation in the use of imaging techniques. 

Through the Bracco Group, over three million people around the world have had cardiovascular angiographic procedures using an ACIST system. ACIST systems are widely proven in the global health care arena, with clinical usage in over 30 countries and in many world-renowned centers, as well as in community hospitals and university settings.  ACIST's automated contrast delivery technology is a step forward from manual manifold techniques that are currently used in interventional cardiovascular procedures.

About Bracco

The Bracco Group is a world leading provider of global diagnostic imaging solutions, with net sales of more than $1.25 billion.  Bracco has operations in 115 countries and about 3,300 employees, around 600 of whom work in R&D.  Bracco invests approximately 15% of its annual turnover in R&D and has a portfolio of 1,500 patents worldwide.

The Bracco Group is a leader in the diagnostic imaging market with an integrated product offering from a diverse roster of subsidiary companies.  While Bracco is recognized internationally as a definitive market leader in its core business of contrast media, Bracco also markets key diagnostic imaging resources through the following companies: Esaote, which is one of the world’s primary producers of magnetic resonance and ultrasound imaging systems; ACIST Medical Systems, a manufacturer of advanced contrast media injection systems; EBIT-AET, which creates and markets medical application software, and Singapore-based Volume Interactions, which also produces advanced medical software.

Bracco also operates a high-level international research network, with three centers (Milan, Geneva, and Princeton).  These centers develop products of the latest-generation diagnostic techniques, from X-ray and computed tomography (CT) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine and echocontrast.