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September 29, 2014

St. Elizabeth Healthcare Study Shows Toshiba’s Smart Fusion Delivers Accurate Ultrasound-Guided Biopsies at Less Cost

More Efficient and Precise Exams Improve the Patient Experience

St. Elizabeth Healthcare is delivering safer and more accurate guidance for liver and kidney lesion biopsies with Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.’s Smart Fusion technology on its Aplio 500 ultrasound system.

St. Elizabeth Healthcare is delivering safer and more accurate guidance for liver and kidney lesion biopsies with Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.’s Smart Fusion technology on its Aplio 500 ultrasound system.

TUSTIN, Calif., Sept. 29, 2014 – A prospective clinical evaluation at St. Elizabeth Healthcare showed that Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.’s Smart Fusion ultrasound technology gives clinicians a worry-free experience, delivering safer and more accurate guidance for liver and kidney lesion biopsies. Out of 35 biopsies observed, the technology successfully sampled the lesion of interest in 34 cases (over 97 percent). A separate cost-benefit analysis showed St. Elizabeth Healthcare saves approximately $85,000 annually by utilizing Smart Fusion.

The evaluation set out to assess the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided liver and kidney biopsies using Smart Fusion. Available on the Aplio™ 500 ultrasound system, Smart Fusion allows physicians to fuse live ultrasound with previously acquired CT or MR images and display simultaneously.

The study evaluated a total of 35 patients undergoing ultrasound-guided biopsies using Smart Fusion between February 2013 and May 2014, including 33 liver lesion biopsies, one renal core biopsy and one renal lesion biopsy. In addition to clinical accuracy, shorter procedure times, less radiation exposure and the absence of invasive surgical biopsies contributed to a higher rate of patient satisfaction.

“The ability to view previously acquired CT or MR scans with live ultrasound using Smart Fusion provides significant benefit to both clinicians and patients,” said Van Young, M.D., interventional radiologist, Radiology Associates of Northern Kentucky, PLLC, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare. “The patient receives a less invasive, accurate biopsy, while the physician can perform confident biopsies, especially with difficult lesions. Both see a benefit in the reduced cost of the procedure.”

“Our work with St. Elizabeth Healthcare and its success with the Smart Fusion technology exemplify Toshiba’s commitment to providing customers with a worry free experience,” said Tomohiro Hasegawa, director, Ultrasound Business Unit, Toshiba. “As healthcare reform calls for improvements in quality of care and efficient use of resources, technologies like Smart Fusion will help providers to both increase the standard of care and minimize financial impacts for all parties.”

For more details on the study, please visit the Toshiba website.

About Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

With headquarters in Tustin, Calif., Toshiba America Medical Systems (TAMS) markets, sells, distributes and services radiology and cardiovascular systems, including CT, MR, ultrasound, X-ray and cardiovascular equipment, 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. Visit Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation’s website at www.toshibamedicalsystems.com.

About Toshiba

Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical products and systems into five strategic business domains: Energy & Infrastructure, Community Solutions, Healthcare Systems & Services, Electronic Devices & Components, and Lifestyles Products & Services. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future,” Toshiba promotes global operations towards securing “Growth Through Creativity and Innovation” and is contributing to the achievement of a world in which people everywhere live in a safe, secure and comfortable society.

Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today’s Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of over 590 consolidated companies employing over 200,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 6.5 trillion yen (US$63 billion). To find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.