SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES, a leading provider of turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services, announced today that a U.S. patent has been allowed on a variety of technologies jointly owned by AMS and NBBJ LP, a leading global architecture and design firm, that are designed to increase efficiency and improve patient outcomes in the operating room.

AMS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ernest A. Bates, M.D., said, "These technologies have applications ranging from novel operating room lighting systems to innovative operating table design."

"We have spent hundreds of hours observing ORs in action and we believe these technologies have the potential to improve patient safety and comfort, surgical team efficiency and satisfaction, and enhance payback for healthcare institutions," said Richard Dallam, NBBJ partner-in-charge, Healthcare.

About NBBJ

NBBJ helps companies and organizations create innovative places that enhance people's lives. NBBJ has designed state-of-the-art facilities for leading healthcare institution including ten of the top 17 US News and World Report Honor Roll hospitals as well as headquarters for top corporations such as Google, Reebok, Microsoft and Starbucks. The firm operates from Seattle with U.S. offices in Boston, Columbus, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco and overseas in London, Beijing, Shanghai, Moscow and Pune, India.

About AMS

American Shared Hospital Services provides turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services. AMS is the world leader in providing Gamma Knife radiosurgery equipment, a non-invasive treatment for malignant and benign brain tumors, vascular malformations and trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain). The Company also offers the latest IGRT and IMRT systems, as well as its proprietary Operating Room for the 21st Century® concept. AMS also owns a preferred stock investment in Mevion Medical Systems, Inc., formerly Still River Systems, developer of the MEVION S250 proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) system, which has not yet been approved by the FDA.

Posted by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT