First US Outpatient Neurology Clinic in the US to Purchase the NeuroLF system
July 17, 2025
- The Neuron Clinic is the first outpatient neurology clinic to purchase and operate the NeuroLF® system in the US.
- Point-of-Care imaging is soon a reality for hundreds of patients in San Diego County, California
Positrigo, a Swiss based company developing nuclear medical devices to advance functional brain imaging, today announced that the Neuron Clinic in San Marcos, CA (USA) is the first outpatient neurology clinic in the US to purchase and operate the NeuroLF® system – a dedicated brain positron emission tomography (PET) system. This is unique as until today the NeuroLF system has been in use in large hospitals and outpatient imaging centers but not in outpatient neurology clinics. This so called “point-of-care imaging” offers great benefit to patients as it reduces wait times and increases convenience as all testing can be done in the same building. “It is great to witness that outpatient neurology clinics see the benefit of offering advanced imaging modalities like the NeuroLF system. We are highly motivated to support these initiatives as it improves patient access and allows for timely and accurate diagnosis,” states Dr. Jannis Fischer, co-founder and CEO of Positrigo. The NeuroLF system is an ideal imaging modality for an outpatient clinic due to following characteristics:
- Ultra-compact in design. Device requires only a 10 x10 ft room.
- Very limited construction effort and shielding requirements, particularly compared to whole-body systems.
- Extensive and proven compatibility with standard imaging workflows.
- Only brain PET system to meet requirements of the IHE Connectathon.
- Compatible with relevant FDA cleared quantification tools.
Increased Demand for Timely and Accurate Diagnosis
The number of people living with, or dying from, neurological conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and other dementias, has risen substantially over the past 30 years globally.1 The most comprehensive study to date about the burden of this diverse group of conditions, estimated 43% of the world’s population, or 3.4 billion individuals, are affected by nervous system diseases and disorders.1 The data suggests that worldwide, the overall amount of disability, illness, and premature death—a measurement known as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)—caused by neurological conditions increased by 18% since 1990.1
The growing population and aging are mainly contributing to the global increase in neurological conditions. According to numerous studies, aging is the main risk factor for many neurodegenerative diseases, including AD, which is the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide.2-4 In the United States, an estimated 6.7 million Americans are living with AD. By 2050, the number of new AD cases is projected to double, affecting 12.7 million Americans aged 65 and older.5
“The compact design, the minimal construction needs and the seamless integration in our existing clinical setting led us to choose the NeuroLF system over a full body PET/CT device. We are very excited and can’t wait to start offering brain imaging in our San Marcos location.”
Dr. Branko Huisa, Founder and Medical Director of The Neuron Clinic
Outpatient Neurology Clinics as Brain Imaging Providers
As new treatment strategies targeting neurological conditions enter the market, the demand for accurate diagnosis and monitoring is increasing. The introduction of disease-modifying therapies, aimed at slowing disease progression, has heightened the need for sophisticated imaging modalities that can provide both diagnostic clarity and therapeutic guidance. This is the reason why neurologists are considering the utilization of advanced and dedicated imaging techniques to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis. By offering imaging at the point-of-care the clinic owners experience additional benefits like maximum convenience and efficiency for physicians and patients, control of quality and standards and significant revenue growth and profit retention. The first outpatient neurology clinic in the US to receive the NeuroLF system is The Neuron Clinic in San Marcos, CA. “Given the population we serve we felt the need to offer brain imaging in one of our clinics. Beside the routine diagnosis of AD patients, we plan to participate in AD clinical trials and see strong demand for brain imaging in both areas,” says Dr. Branko Huisa, founder and Medical Director of The Neuron Clinic. “The compact design, the minimal construction needs and the seamless integration in our existing clinical setting led us to choose the NeuroLF system over a full body PET/CT device. We are very excited and can’t wait to start offering brain imaging in our San Marcos location.”
About Positrigo:
Positrigo is a pioneer in nuclear medical imaging technologies. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the medical device company was founded in 2018 as a spin-off of ETH Zurich. Positrigo’s technology, development, clinical testing and commercialization has been supported by various private investors, the Swiss government and the European Innovation Council. NeuroLF – the company’s first device – is an ultra-compact brain Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner which has applications in the assessment of causes of dementias, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other brain related disorders. This award-winning product is the first device of its to gain market clearance in the US and EU.
About The Neuron Clinic:
The Neuron Clinic is a leading, evidence-based neurology practice dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of a wide range of neurological disorders. At the heart of the clinic’s mission is a deep commitment to delivering exceptional patient care—this principle drives every aspect of the organization.
The Neuron Clinic is nationally recognized for its exceptional expertise in Alzheimer’s disease. It is home to one of the largest private Alzheimer’s diagnostic and treatment programs in the United States. The clinic provides state-of-the-art care using the latest FDA-approved monoclonal antibody therapies targeting amyloid plaques in the brain—a significant advancement in Alzheimer’s treatment.
In addition, The Neuron Clinic actively participates in and leads multiple clinical trials, offering patients access to cutting-edge research and experimental therapies not widely available.
The Neuron Clinic serves communities throughout San Diego and Riverside Counties, with locations in South Bay San Diego, North County, East County, Temecula, Murrieta, and the Coachella Valley/Palm Springs region.
References:
1. Steinmetz JD, Katrin Maria Seeher, Schiess N, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet Neurology. 2024;23(4).
2. Hou Y, Dan X, Babbar M, et al. Ageing as a risk factor for neurodegenerative disease. Nature Reviews Neurology. 2019;15(10):565-581.
3. Huang Y, Li Y, Pan H, Han L. Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders in 204 countries and territories worldwide. Journal of Global Health. 2023;13.
4. Guerreiro R, Bras J. The age factor in Alzheimer’s disease. Genome Medicine. 2015;7(1):1-3.
5. Alzheimer’s Association. “Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures.” Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, Alzheimer’s Association, 2024, www.alz.org/ alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures