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SightLine Health Spotlights Noninvasive Treatment for Uterine Fibroids During Women’s Health Week

600,000 hysterectomies still performed annually in the U.S. despite alternative treatment option.

HOUSTON, May 9, 2007—In honor of Mother’s Day and Women’s Health Week (May 13–19, 2007), SightLine Health encourages women suffering from uterine fibroids to learn more about a new, noninvasive treatment option.

“Uterine fibroid patients don’t have to suffer because they fear older treatments,” said TJ Farnsworth, the president and CEO of SightLine. “We hope women throughout the Houston area use National Women’s Health Week to take time for themselves, visit their doctors and learn all their options for leading the healthiest lives possible.”

Uterine fibroids are the leading cause of the roughly 600,000 hysterectomies performed in the United States each year. When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the ExAblate technology in 2004, it became—and remains—the only noninvasive treatment option for women suffering symptoms of these noncancerous uterine tumors.

“Many women suffer uterine fibroid symptoms for years because they fear hysterectomies,” said Farnsworth. “Another option is MR-guided focused ultrasound ablation (MRgFUS) using ExAblate technology. This completely noninvasive, radiation-free outpatient procedure gets patients back to their normal activities within a couple of days. We want women with uterine fibroids to know their options and realize that invasive surgery isn’t the only answer for symptom relief.”

With ExAblate technology—the leading tool in MRgFUS—physicians use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize tissue, plan procedures, and monitor treatment. This allows them to aim high-intensity, focused ultrasound energy to destroy fibroids. This process alleviates the painful symptoms of uterine fibroids while preserving the uterus. To date, more than 3,000 women have undergone the treatment worldwide.

SightLine Health invites women suffering from the bleeding, anemia and abdominal pain associated with uterine fibroids to seek consultations and find out if the procedure is right for them.

SightLine Health representatives are available to answer questions about the procedure at 713-795-5010. Patients interested in a consultation should call for an appointment.

About SightLine Health
SightLine Health, headquartered in Houston, provides an alternative for women suffering from the pain and discomfort of uterine fibroids: magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound ablation (MRgFUS) using ExAblate technology. SightLine’s patients are provided with the most advanced treatment in a comfortable, personal setting. Our facility is staffed by gynecologists and radiologists who bring a blend of expertise in MRI and expertise in female health to each patient care experience. For more information on MRgFUS and on SightLine Health, visit the company on the Web at www.sightlinehealth.com.

About National Women’s Health Week
National Women’s Health Week is an initiative led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. During the week, families, health organizations, businesses, communities, the government and individuals come together to raise awareness about women’s health issues and educate women about simple steps they can take for longer, healthier and happier lives. The theme for National Women’s Health Week 2007 is “It’s Your Time: Pamper Your Mind, Body and Spirit.”

National Women’s Health Week kicks off on Mother’s Day, May 13, and will be celebrated until May 19. National Women’s Check-up Day—when women across the country are urged to visit their doctors—will be May 14, 2007. For more information about National Women’s Health Week, please visit www.womenshealth.gov/whw.

About ExAblate® 2000
The ExAblate 2000 is the first system to use the breakthrough MRgFUS technology that combines MRI and high-intensity focused ultrasound to thermally ablate uterine fibroid tissue. MR thermal feedback, provided uniquely by the system, allows physicians to control and adjust treatment in real time to ensure the targeted tumor is fully treated and surrounding tissue is spared. ExAblate received FDA approval for treating symptomatic uterine fibroids in October 2004. ExAblate has been recognized for its innovation and potential to serve mankind, receiving the 2004 European Union’s Information Society Technologies grand prize, The Wall Street Journal’s 2004 Technology Innovation Award, Advanced Imaging’s 2005 Solutions of the Year, and most recently, the Red Herring 100 Europe 2007 Award.

Uterine fibroids, benign growths in the uterus, affect up to 30 percent of women of childbearing age. Symptomatic women suffer from extensive and prolonged menstrual bleeding, anemia, pain, pressure and often infertility. Existing treatment options include hysterectomy, myomectomy and uterine artery embolization and are invasive, involving hospitalization and weeks of recovery. ExAblate is an outpatient procedure. Patients return home the same day and to work within one to two days.

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