News | Press Releases

---

April 14, 2011

TOSHIBA ANNOUNCES UPGRADES ACROSS ITS ULTRASOUND PRODUCT LINE TO FURTHER ENHANCE IMAGING CAPABILITIES AND IMPROVE WORKFLOW

New Upgrades Include Auto IMT, 4D Imaging and Workflow Enhancements

TUSTIN, Calif., April 14, 2011 – Enhancing imaging capabilities and improving workflow are paramount in today’s demanding ultrasound environment. To meet these ongoing needs, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. has introduced upgrades across its ultrasound product line and will showcase these upgrades at the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine (AIUM) annual convention, April 14-17, 2011 in New York (Booth #522). The latest features available on the Aplio™ XG, Aplio MX, Xario™ XG and Viamo™ systems include Auto IMT, 4D imaging improvements and workflow protocol enhancements. Additional upgrades to the Viamo include ApliPure™, TissuePure™ Imaging and DICOM structured reporting.

“Toshiba listens to its customers to understand their needs and the challenges they face in today’s changing healthcare environment,” said Tomohiro Hasegawa, director, Ultrasound Business Unit, Toshiba. “The upgrades offered across Toshiba’s ultrasound product line are designed to further enhance clinical capability and productivity, ultimately allowing clinicians to diagnose more patients in a shorter period of time and improve overall workflow.”

Auto-IMT (available on the Aplio XG, Aplio MX and Xario XG ultrasound systems) can determine the thickness of the near and far arterial walls from three segments of the carotid artery: at an optimal angle of incidence and two complementary planes. Auto-IMT traces the two complementary planes automatically and calculates the distance between them in order to help with early detection and monitoring of cardiovascular disease. Auto-IMT uses the collected images following the American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) consensus statement for the diagnosis.

Toshiba is improving 4D image quality across its ultrasound line to enable clinicians to see all dimensions of the anatomy being imaged more clearly and accurately. During biopsies, 4D imaging allows for more accurate guidance of the biopsy needle. Precise visualization of the needle path creates safer exams and reduces potential complications.

Workflow enhancements, including the easy setup of protocols that streamline the imaging process for many routine exams, can be customized to the customer’s workflow. The protocols standardize image output and increase exam efficiency by reducing the number of tasks per exam. Sonographers have the ability to add custom annotations and reshuffle images. Sonographers can exit the protocol when additional images are required and re-enter at the same place to continue the protocol with just the click of a button.

Finally, Toshiba offers upgrades to the Viamo, the industry’s no-compromise ultrasound system with advanced radiology capabilities, previously unavailable on point-of-care systems. These upgrades include ApliPure, TissuePure Imaging and DICOM structured reporting. The new upgrades on the Viamo enable clinicians to perform advanced exams with greater image definition and clinical accuracy without compromising on patient access, making it ideal for high-end radiology, vascular, and OB/GYN exams and procedures at patients’ bedsides. Its portability and exceptional imaging performance raise the bar in the rapidly growing point-of-care markets, such as interventional radiology, emergency medicine and anesthesia.

Viamo also offers the ability to interchange Toshiba transducers from other ultrasound systems, such as the Aplio MX, thus improving productivity and flexibility while saving healthcare costs by reducing the need to purchase multiple transducers. Additionally, a new industry-best 40-cm depth setting allows imaging of even the toughest of patients.

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.