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April 5, 2011

SHANDS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA EXPANDS CARDIAC AND NEURO DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES THROUGH UTILIZATION OF TOSHIBA’S AQUILION ONE

Shands at UF Improves Workflow While Providing More Accurate and Safer Diagnostic Imaging for Patients

NEW ORLEANS, April 5, 2011 – Shands at the University of Florida, the primary teaching hospital for the UF College of Medicine and one of the Southeast’s premier health centers, has expanded its diagnostic imaging capabilities for both cardiac and neurological diseases through the utilization of two Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. AquilionTM ONE CT systems. The systems’ ability to capture the entire heart or brain in one rotation has enabled UF physicians at Shands to improve diagnostic accuracy and workflow for patients presenting with stroke and heart attack symptoms, while making imaging safer for patients by limiting radiation doses. Toshiba will be showcasing the Aquilion ONE’s advanced cardiac capabilities at this year’s American College of Cardiology (ACC) annual meeting in New Orleans, April 2 – 5, 2011 (Booth # 2847).

UF radiologists are using Toshiba’s Aquilion ONE CT system for advanced cardiac applications for patients presenting with chest pain in the emergency department, evaluation of coronary artery disease and definitive non-invasive evaluation of congenital heart disease with low radiation dose. Unlike any other CT system available, the Aquilion ONE covers up to 16 cm of anatomy using 320 ultra-high resolution 0.5 mm detector elements and can image the entire heart in less than a single heartbeat.

“Having a system with the ability to capture the entire heart and great vessels with a single gantry rotation allows for imaging with very low dose and can often provide all of the information required for operative planning in the setting of complex congenital heart disease,” said Dr. Roger Shifrin, UF College of Medicine radiology clinical assistant professor. “This capability is extremely important for this patient set, as they will likely undergo multiple exams with radiation over the course of their lifetime.”

In addition to successfully evaluating cardiac patients, UF physicians at Shands have been able to further develop and elevate the hospital’s stroke imaging. Prior to the Aquilion ONE, diagnostic accuracy for stroke with CT was limited, because many strokes were occurring outside of the detector row imaging area. With the Aquilion ONE’s ability to cover up to 16 cm of anatomy, the entire brain can be imaged in a single rotation, dramatically improving the identification of stroke. It can show the organ’s dynamic blood flow and real-time function, allowing visualization of dynamic function. These capabilities enable the clinicians at Shands at UF to identify stroke in minutes and are critical in developing the best treatment path and improving the life of the patient, as every second counts in stroke diagnosis.

“Whole-brain perfusion imaging on the Aquilion ONE has improved our ability to accurately and efficiently diagnose stroke,” said Dr. Keith Peters, UF College of Medicine associate professor of radiology and neurological surgery. “Additionally, having the ability to conduct dynamic CT angiography over a one-minute sequence allows for the detection of a range of neurological diseases such as brain tumors, carotid-cavernous fistulas, patients with trauma or an altered mental state and other subtle abnormalities, such as rapid blood flow.”

“Working with the team at Shands at the University of Florida is a clear example of Toshiba’s commitment to developing industry-leading technology that helps hospitals improve their patient care,” said Joseph Cooper, director, CT Business Unit, Toshiba. “The Aquilion ONE has allowed Shands at UF to enhance both its cardiac and neurology departments’ capabilities through the expansion of diagnostic offerings and implementation of training programs, resulting in improved workflow and better patient outcomes.”

About Shands at the University of Florida

Shands HealthCare is private, not-for-profit and affiliated with the University of Florida. Located in Gainesville, Fla., the 618-bed Shands at UF medical center specializes in tertiary and quaternary care for critically ill patients and is one of the Southeast’s leading referral medical centers. Approximately 800 UF faculty physicians practice in about 100 areas of specialty care. Shands at UF’s areas of excellence are cancer, cardiovascular, neurosurgical and transplant services; and pediatric services at Shands Children’s Hospital at UF. Shands at UF operates a State-designated Level I Trauma Center, a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and one of four regional burn centers. Shands at UF also offers a Neuro ICU with highly specialized physician care expertise in neurosurgery, endovascular neurosurgery, vascular, neurology, critical care medicine, epileptology and neuroradiology. Shands at UF continually receives recognition as one of the nation’s top hospitals by U.S. News & World Report because of the dedication to patient care, education and research provided by UF and Shands clinical and support teams.

About Toshiba’s Aquilion CT Product Line Recognition

The Aquilion CT product line has received numerous accolades including the number one ranking in CT from MD Buyline since 2002 (eight consecutive years). The Aquilion 64 line has also been named Best in KLAS in 2006 and 2007 in CT; Best in KLAS in 2008, 2009 and 2010 for 64-detector row and above; and Frost & Sullivan’s “Healthcare Innovation Award in Cardiovascular Imaging” in 2008. (For more information about KLAS, visit www.KLASresearch.com.) Most recently, Toshiba’s service was ranked number one in 26 out of 40 attributes in the IMV, Ltd. ServiceTrakTM Imaging 2010 report on CT system service.

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.