Mercury Computer Systems Announces Strategic Cooperation with the Institute of Medical Physics of Erlangen for Cell BE Processor-Based Solutions

CHELMSFORD, Mass./FUERTH (ots) -

Joint work to accelerate the reconstruction and visualization of
medical imaging data; preliminary results show 100x improvement in
computed tomography (CT) reconstruction

Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY) announced a
cooperation with the Institute of Medical Physics (IMP) of Erlangen,
Germany, which is focused on the joint development and
commercialization of medical imaging technology deployed on the Cell
Broadband Engine(TM) (BE) processor.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mercury is working together with
the IMP on designing and implementing ambitious reconstruction and
visualization algorithms with real-time performance on the Cell BE
processor, to deliver orders-of-magnitude performance increases while
also reducing the complexity and costs of medical image processing
systems. Together with IMP technology, Mercury will integrate the
algorithms into high-performance Cell BE processor-based systems
designed to significantly accelerate the reconstruction and
visualization of medical imaging data for medical OEMs.

Medical image reconstruction, such as that found in CT,
tomosynthesis, PET and SPECT, is computationally demanding. Advances
in medical sensor technology have created an increasing number of
images per procedure, posing a tremendous challenge for processing
and visualization in a timely manner that is compatible with the
hospital workflow. As example of the joint work, Mercury and the IMP
have developed a Cell BE processor-based solution capable of
performing modern CT reconstruction more than 100 times faster than
conventional microprocessors. The level of parallelism along with the
vast I/O capabilities permits the Cell BE processor to efficiently
implement complex CT reconstruction algorithms with close to
real-time performance. The Cell BE processor enables system design in
which the radiologist can view images obtained from better
algorithms, with higher quality, much sooner than ever before.

“With Cell Technology, advanced approaches thought to be too
demanding in terms of processing can now enter daily routine,” said
Marc Kachelriess, Professor of Medical Imaging at the IMP. “The
tremendous processing power of the Cell BE processor enables the use
of iterative reconstruction algorithms designed for the reduction of
beam hardening and metal artifacts. Analytical and statistical CT
reconstruction algorithms that allow for enhanced image quality,
while keeping the X-ray exposure of the patient as low as possible,
can also be implemented on a Cell BE processor-based platform.”

The Cell BE processor, developed by IBM, Toshiba and Sony, is a
breakthrough architectural design featuring eight synergistic
processing elements that provides unmatched performance levels in
many computationally intense applications. The Cell BE processor has
peak performance in excess of 180 GFLOPS _ which equates to 180
billion floating-point operations per second and an amazing 25 GB/s
memory bandwidth. Mercury has a multi-year agreement with IBM to
deploy the revolutionary Cell BE processor in computer systems for
defense, life sciences, seismic, and industrial applications. Mercury
is offering this technology to medical OEMs worldwide via the Cell
Acceleration Board (CAB) - a PCI Express® accelerator card based on
the Cell BE processor - along with algorithms, and multicore and
multicomputer programming expertise.

“With Cell BE processor technology, Mercury offers its medical OEM
customers the advantages of a cost-effective, high-performance
platform for reconstruction and imaging” said Marcelo Lima, Vice
President and General Manager of Commercial Imaging and Visualization
at Mercury. “In addition, we can offer our customers access to some
of the most advanced algorithm know-how on the planet, both through
the IMP and Mercury, and help our customers get this advanced
technology to market faster”

For more information on Mercury's advanced solutions for medical
imaging, visit Mercury at RSNA 2006 November 26-30 at McCormick Place
in Chicago, Illinois, in the South Building - Hall A, Booth #4383;
visit www.mc.com/RSNA06; or contact Mercury at (866) 627-6951.

About the Institute of Medical Physics (IMP) of Erlangen (Germany)
The development and the application of imaging technologies and
modalities for medical diagnosis, therapy planning and computer
assisted surgery represent a major focus of IMP's research
activities. In particular, projects related to X-ray computed
tomography (CT), among them the development of cardiac CT, are
recognized worldwide and allowed the IMP to reach a leading position
internationally. Basic research activities of the IMP relate to
detector technologies for x-ray diagnosis which are of interest to
medical diagnosis as well as to non-destructive materials testing.
For this purpose a universal CT setup and a micro-CT apparatus have
been developed which allow scanning in cone-beam geometry with a flat
panel detector of 1024x1024 detector elements and more. A high-end
clinical spiral cone-beam CT scanner as well as C-arm CT scanners are
available for basic research and advanced clinical studies. Magnetic
resonance tomography, ultrasound and positron emission tomography
supplement the spectrum of activities. Topics related to image
quality, to quality assurance and to patient dose assessment and
patient dose reduction are pursued with respect to all these
activities.

For more information please visit www.imp.uni-erlangen.de.

Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. - Where Challenges Drive Innovation
Mercury Computer Systems is the leading provider of computing systems
and software for data-intensive applications that include image
processing, signal processing, and visualization. With a strong
commitment to innovation, our expertise in algorithm optimization,
systems development, and silicon design is blended with software
application knowledge and industry-standard technologies to solve
unique computing challenges. We work closely with our customers to
architect solutions that have a meaningful impact on everyday life:
detecting aneurysms; designing safer, more fuel-efficient aircraft;
identifying security threats; discovering oil; developing new drugs;
and visualizing virtually every aspect of scientific investigation.

Mercury's comprehensive, purpose-built solutions capture, process,
and present data for the world's largest medical imaging companies, 8
of the 10 top defense prime contractors, and other leading Fortune
500 and mid-market companies in semiconductor, energy,
telecommunications, and other industries. Our dedication to
performance excellence and collaborative innovation continues a
23-year history in enabling customers to stay at the forefront of the
markets they serve.

Mercury is based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts and serves customers
worldwide through a broad network of direct sales offices,
subsidiaries, and distributors. We are listed on the Nasdaq National
Market (NASDAQ: MRCY). Visit Mercury at www.mc.com.

Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, as
that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995, including those relating to work between Mercury Computer
Systems and the Institute of Medical Physics (IMP) of Erlangen,
Germany. You can identify these statements by our use of the words
“may,” “will,” “should,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,”
“continue,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” and similar expressions.
These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected
or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, general economic and business conditions, including
unforeseen weakness in the Company's markets, effects of continued
geo-political unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in
technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing engineering
and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns,
changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances
and delivering technological innovations, continued funding of
defense programs, the timing of such funding, changes in the U.S.
Government's interpretation of federal procurement rules and
regulations, market acceptance of the Company's products, shortages
in components, production delays due to performance quality issues
with outsourced components, inability to fully realize the expected
benefits from acquisitions or delays in realizing such benefits,
challenges in integrating acquired businesses and achieving
anticipated synergies, and difficulties in retaining key customers.
These risks and uncertainties also include such additional risk
factors as are discussed in the Company's recent filings with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006. The Company
cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The
Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which
such statement is made.

Originaltext: Mercury Computer Systems GmbH
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Contacts:
Gabi Strasser, Kathy Sniezek,
Public Relations Manager Europe Corporate Public Relations Manager
Mercury Computer Systems Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.
Phone: +49 (0)911 97341-205 Phone: +1 (978) 967-1126
E-mail: gabriele.strasser@mc.com E-mail: ksniezek@mc.com

Cell Broadband Engine is a trademark of Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc. Other product and company names mentioned may be
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.


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