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September 13, 2004

TOSHIBA FLAT-PANEL DETECTOR IMPROVES VISUALIZATION FOR ENHANCED CARDIAC STUDIES AND INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES

Reid Hospital Expands Cardiac Services and Provides Quicker Diagnosis and Treatment with Toshiba’s New Cardiac Flat-Panel Detector

TUSTIN, Calif., Sept. 13, 2004 – Improving the practice of cardiology with next-generation diagnostic imaging technology, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. (TAMS) announces its successful first U.S. installation and clinical operation of the new cardiac flat-panel detector (FPD) for the InfinixTM-i cardiovascular X-ray system at Reid Hospital & Health Care Services in Richmond, Ind.  Designed to perform advanced cardiovascular studies, the cardiac FPD is Toshiba’s field-upgradeable component that offers superior image quality and radiation dose safety features for non-invasive cardiac diagnostic procedures.

“All of the Reid Hospital cardiologists are very impressed with the image quality. There is no degradation of the image around the edges, which to us is the foremost benefit of the flat-panel detector,” said Allen Joseph, M.D., medical director of cardiology, Reid Hospital & Health Services.  “We can visualize the periphery more clearly without having to focus what’s on the center of the screen.  We have also found that thin wires, bi-ventricular pacers and coronary sinuses can be imaged in greater detail.  As for stent placements, we are able to see our instruments and anatomical details more clearly and deploying them is much easier using the new technology.”

Improved Cardiac Services at Reid Hospital

The Toshiba Infinix-i cardiovascular products are the industry’s only systems that are truly field-upgradeable to FPD technology.  This capability enabled clinicians at Reid Hospital to expand the system and take advantage of the next-generation detector technology in three days.

Cardiologists at Reid Hospital have proven the clinical value and benefit of cardiac FPD with superior image quality, dose savings benefits, and improved visualization for high-quality cardiac studies and complex interventional procedures.  There, the cardiac FPD is utilized for a wide variety of heart imaging services including cardiac catheterization, angioplasty and stenting.  Additionally, the system is used to conduct advanced procedures such as electrophysiology studies of the heart and implanting pacemakers and cardiac defibrillators.

In addition, the increased speed of the cardiac FPD direct imaging system has reduced image acquisition and patient turnaround time by 30 to 40 percent.  The larger field-of-view of the cardiac FPD also has improved the quality of studies without having to perform repeat exams.

““Our successful installation of the new cardiac FPD at Reid Hospital will serve as a benchmark in cardiovascular imaging for other facilities to follow,” stated Don Volz, director, Vascular/X-ray Business Unit, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.  “The cardiac FPD not only offers cost benefits with its field-upgradeable technology but also significantly improves visualization of the heart and the periphery for enhanced cardiac imaging and interventional procedures.”

For more information about the Infinix-i series, Toshiba and its wide range of medical imaging products, please visitwww.medical.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba

With headquarters in Tustin, Calif., Toshiba America Medical Systems markets, sells, distributes and services diagnostic imaging systems, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in the United States.  Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, an independent group company of Toshiba Corporation, is a global leading provider of diagnostic medical imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, X-ray, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, MRI and information systems.  Toshiba Corporation is a leader in information and communications systems, electronic components, consumer products, and power systems.  Toshiba has 161,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of about $53 billion.

InfinixTM is a trademark of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation.