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February 24, 2011

TOSHIBA’S reNEW UPGRADE PROGRAM PROVIDES PATHWAY FOR ACCESSING THE LATEST IN MR TECHNOLOGY

Upgrade Program Offers Cost-Effective Solution for Toshiba MR Customers to Improve Their Technology

TUSTIN, Calif., Feb. 24, 2011 – To help customers gain access to the latest innovations in imaging, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. offers the reNEW™ upgrade program, which provides customers the ability to upgrade throughout the entire suite of Toshiba’s advanced Vantage™ 1.5T MR systems. As a cost-effective alternative to purchasing a new system, the reNEW program provides Toshiba Vantage customers multiple upgrade options, including upgrade paths to a Vantage Atlas^® or a Vantage Titan™.

“By utilizing the customer’s existing magnet during the upgrade, Toshiba’s reNEW program provides customers a hassle-free and cost-effective path to offering the most patient-friendly and advanced MR technology to their patients,” said Stuart Clarkson, director, MR Business Unit, Toshiba. “The reNEW upgrade path enables Toshiba MR customers to stay competitive in the marketplace and improve patient care with minimal impact to their bottom line.”

Upgrading to Vantage Atlas

Customers upgrading from the Vantage to the Vantage Atlas can take advantage of the advanced Atlas integrated coil technology and an extended field of view of 55 x 55 x 50 centimeters. The Atlas integrated coil system, which eliminates the need to reposition patients during exams by integrating the coils into the table, helps streamline exams and improve workflow creating a faster and more comfortable exam.

Upgrading to Vantage Titan

For customers who upgrade from a Vantage or a Vantage Atlas to the Vantage Titan, the system’s large open bore and 71-cm opening creates a more comfortable exam, which can help reduce claustrophobia in some patients. The Titan’s large diameter can accommodate some bariatric patients, an important subset of patients who often cannot be imaged on other MR systems with smaller-bore openings. The Vantage Titan also includes powerful gradients to handle demanding imaging sequences and has outstanding homogeneity to provide high image quality.

Toshiba Service Commitment

Toshiba is committed to providing customers with top-tier service, and those who participate in the upgrade program are no exception. Customers upgrading their Toshiba MR equipment are offered a 12-month system warranty, which includes the customer’s existing magnet. After the 12-month warranty, customers have the option of signing a full service agreement with Toshiba to cover the MR system. The reNEW program also includes applications support and includes two weeks of initial training and one week of follow-up training to update technicians on how to operate the new upgraded equipment and take advantage of the enhanced features.

Toshiba’s Patient-Focused Features

Toshiba’s MR product line includes numerous patient-focused features to improve the MR imaging experience for patients. Some of these patient-friendly MR design features include:

• Pianissimo^TM technology reduces noise by up to 90 percent, making Toshiba’s MR systems the quietest available. Since the patient experiences lower noise levels with Pianissimo, patients stay more relaxed during exams and fewer motion artifacts are acquired, which helps improve image quality.

• Proprietary contrast-free MRA techniques enable safer MRA imaging of patients with known renal compromise. Toshiba’s contrast-free MRA techniques include Fresh Blood Imaging (FBI) for evaluating peripheral vascular diseases of the lower legs and extremities; Contrast-free Improved Angiography (CIA) for easier visualization of smaller vessels; Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse (Time-SLIP) for evaluating hemodynamic, functional assessments, and visualization of vascular structures and Time Space Angiography (TSA) to create non-contrast time-resolved imaging with high temporal resolution.

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 Corp., an independent group company of Toshiba Corp., is a global leading provider of diagnostic medical imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, Cath & EP Labs, X-ray, Ultrasound, MRI and information systems. Toshiba Corp. is a worldwide leader in technology, electronic and electrical products, digital consumer products, electronic devices and components, power systems, industrial and social infrastructure systems and home appliances. Toshiba was founded in 1875 and today operates a global network of more than 742 companies with more than 204,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing $68 billion. For more information, visit Toshiba’s website at www.medical.toshiba.com.