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August 8, 2011

TOSHIBA’S PATIENT FRIENDLY 3T MR SYSTEM RECEIVES FDA CLEARANCE

Features of New 3T MR Designed to Improve Patient Comfort and Workflow

TUSTIN, Calif., Aug. 8, 2011 – In the 3T MR marketplace, patient compliance often impacts image quality and patient throughput. As the only 3T MR system designed to improve patient compliance and comfort while offering advanced radiology capabilities, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.’s new Vantage TitanTM 3T open bore MR has received FDA clearance. The new system is the only 3T MR offering patient-friendly features such as noise reduction, a wide and open bore, feet-first imaging and Toshiba’s proprietary contrast-free techniques.

By making MR exams more comfortable, patient compliance, exam efficiency and technologist productivity are improved. The Toshiba Vantage Titan 3T MR combines Toshiba’s commitment to patient comfort with the power of additional diagnostic capabilities.

Benefits of the Vantage Titan 3T open bore MR include:

• Vantage Titan’s open bore offers a 71 cm aperture. The open bore’s larger diameter enables hospitals to scan bariatric patients with greater ease and provides patients with a greater feeling of openness to reduce claustrophobia.
• Toshiba’s exclusive PianissimoTM noise-reduction technology, which reduces exam noise by up to 90 percent, makes the Vantage Titan 3T MR the quietest available and solves one of the 3T market’s greatest patient compliance issues. Since patients experience lower noise levels with Pianissimo, they stay more relaxed during exams and fewer motion artifacts are acquired, which helps improve image quality. Pianissimo also helps technologists image patients more successfully and reduces repeat exams.
• Toshiba is the only imaging vendor to offer advanced contrast-free MRA techniques. Contrast-free MRA exams, including 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.
• The Vantage Titan 3T MR also utilizes Toshiba’s Atlas SPEEDERTM integrated coil technology to reduce exam time and improve the overall exam experience for patients. Because the coils are integrated into the table, patients do not need to be continually repositioned for many exams, which saves time and improves patient comfort.

“From listening to our customers, we understand that patient compliance is one of the major issues impacting patient throughput and exam efficiency in the MR industry today,” said Stuart Clarkson, director, MR Business Unit, Toshiba. “Toshiba’s new Vantage Titan 3T MR is an example of our commitment to developing technology to meet our customers’ specific needs and enabling them to improve the exam experience, resulting in better patient compliance and throughput without sacrificing diagnostic confidence.”

About Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.
With headquarters in Tustin, Calif., Toshiba America Medical Systems (TAMS) markets, sells, distributes and services diagnostic imaging systems, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in the United States. For more information, visit the TAMS website at www.medical.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of medical diagnostic imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, X-ray and vascular, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and MRI systems, as well as information systems for medical institutions. Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation has been providing medical products for over 80 years. Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba.

About Toshiba
Toshiba is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products, spanning digital products, such as LCD TVs, notebook PCs and hard disc drives; electronic devices and components, such as semiconductors; social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems, and home appliances. Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 490 companies, with 203,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 6.3 trillion yen (US$77 billion).