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May 3, 2011

TOSHIBA TO SHOWCASE DOSE REDUCTION TECHNOLOGIES IN CARDIOVASCULAR CT AT ARRS

NEMA XR 25 Dose Check Software Combined with QDS and Boost3D Help Physicians Reduce Dose While Obtaining High-Quality Cardiovascular CT Diagnostic Information

CHICAGO, May 3, 2011 – Reducing radiation dose while maintaining high image quality is a priority for medical imaging manufacturers and healthcare facilities. Addressing the need of improving clinician confidence and diagnostic accuracy while lowering dose in cardiovascular CT, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. will showcase its Aquilion^TM ONE 320-detector row technology for cardiovascular CT as well as its dose reduction features at the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) annual meeting, held in Chicago, May 1-6, 2011 (Booth 406).

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. The Aquilion ONE not only images patients quickly and accurately but also features numerous technologies that limit radiation dose while allowing healthcare providers to achieve their medical imaging objectives. One of these technologies is Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction (AIDR) software that iterates noise out of the image to increase image quality and lower radiation dose.

To address advancements in cardiovascular CT, Toshiba will be sponsoring the presentation “Advances in 320 Row Cardiovascular CT” by Frank John Rybicki, M.D., Ph.D; Director, Applied Imaging Science Laboratory; Director, Cardiac CT and Vascular CT / MRI, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Department of Radiology; and Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Rybicki will also be addressing dose reduction techniques. For more information about the presentation, visit www.medical.toshiba.com.

Toshiba’s Dose Check Software

Now standard on all new Aquilion ONE CT systems, Toshiba’s NEMA XR 25 Dose Check Software includes Dose Alert and Dose Notification, addressing the two main components of MITA’s CT Dose Check Initiative, as well as DICOM IHE SR software to allow patient dose tracking. Details of these features include:

• Dose Alert – The Dose Alert feature alerts the user if the selected scan settings yield a predicted dose that exceeds an upper threshold dose value. The default settings require that the user edit scan parameters or input their username to confirm the selected scan settings before continuing with the programmed scan.
• Dose Notification – The Dose Notification feature allows the user to set a nominal dose notification value for each part of a protocol being run. The Dose Notification feature will notify a user if the predicted dose value exceeds the nominal dose notification value.
• Tracking – The Tracking software upgrade adds tracking capabilities, allowing clinicians to create a report that can be downloaded from the system for facility quality assurance programs. The Tracking software will log events related to the Dose Alert and Dose Notification features.
• Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) – The DICOM IHE SR software feature allows for the system to be configured to transmit dose related information to a PACS or workstation as an electronic file compatible with DICOM’s Integrated Healthcare Environment (IHE) Structured Reporting (SR) technical framework. Previously, the system’s preceding dose report sent this information as a fixed DICOM image. The DICOM IHE SR feature allows this data to be sent in such a way that the data can be read by other systems with the proper DICOM IHE SR software, which facilitates monitoring dose for CT examinations. Additionally, the DICOM IHE SR feature will allow the transmission of dose information to dose registries as they become available.

QDS and Boost3D

In addition, Toshiba is showcasing QDS and Boost3D technologies, which improve image noise characteristics without increasing dose to the patient. These algorithms can be used to improve image quality with decreased radiation dose. Applying QDS and Boost3D can achieve dose savings while preserving image quality.

“Toshiba is committed to manufacturing diagnostic imaging devices that make clinical exams as fast, accurate and safe as possible for all patients,” said Joseph Cooper, director, CT Business Unit, Toshiba. “The NEMA XR 25 Dose Check Software exemplifies Toshiba’s dedication to innovate technologies that provide safer exams to 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.