Florida Institute for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Achieves a Milestone in Cardiovascular Diagnostic Imaging.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers/High-Tech Writers

PORT RICHEY, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2004

Medical Center Performs More Than 400 Coronary CT Angiography 

Procedures with the Toshiba Aquilion(TM) 16 CFX 

Florida Institute For Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (FIFADI) today announced that it has reached the milestone of performing more than 400 coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) procedures using the world's most advanced CT system available -- the Aquilion(TM) 16 CFX. FIFADI utilizes the multislice CT system from Toshiba America Medical Systems (TAMS) to offer non-invasive cardiovascular diagnostic imaging for early detection of heart disease.

"With more than 400 coronary CTA procedures conducted with the Aquilion 16 CFX, we are experiencing remarkable success and benefits for our patients," said Steven M. Strobbe, D.O., administrative physician, Florida Institute For Advanced Diagnostic Imaging. "Coronary CTA is one of the most accurate imaging techniques available for detecting the accumulation of soft plaque in the coronary arteries -- a major cause of heart attacks. Using the Aquilion scanner, we are conducting better exams at the earliest stages of heart disease to prevent future heart attacks and lessen patient risks. CTA also reduces the need for costly and often painful invasive procedures, such as catheter angiography or surgery."

Coronary CTA scans performed at FIFADI visually isolate the heart by removing surrounding structures to expose signs of disease through 3-D visualization of coronary arteries, calcified and/or soft plaque, heart chambers, bypass grafts and stents. In most cases, the primary advantage of a coronary CTA is the ability to visualize soft plaque, which would be invisible during an electrocardiograph, stress testing, calcium scoring and even cardiac catheterization.

"As a worldwide leader in CT, Toshiba is dedicated to continually advancing the technology and delivering important clinical capabilities, such as coronary CTA, to our customers," said Doug Ryan, director, CT Business Unit, Toshiba America Medical Systems. "The success at FIFADI with the Aquilion 16 CFX is a significant indication of growing acceptance and utilization of multislice CT technology by physicians for the treatment of heart disease."

The Aquilion 16 CFX delivers up to 16 0.5 mm slices within a 400-millisecond gantry rotation. This 0.4-second scanning capability enhances the image quality of the scanner by effectively reducing any image artifact from internal organs and structure motion. As a result, the Aquilion 16 CFX delivers more accurate clinical images depicting fine details, including minute coronary arteries, soft plaque and small vessel structures for superior cardiovascular imaging studies.

"The Aquilion 16 CFX is a remarkable technology for diagnosing coronary heart disease, and we are continually impressed with its performance," said Van Q. Nguyen, M.D., The Heart & Vascular Institute of Florida, a partner physician group of FIFADI. "Performing coronary CTA with the Aquilion has now become the method of choice for many cardiologists who have worked with FIFADI. With the best image quality, and more diagnostic information than any other medical imaging procedure, the Aquilion has become an indispensable tool for assessing and stratifying appropriate treatment risks for patients with heart disease."

About Florida Institute For Advanced Diagnostic Imaging

Florida Institute For Advanced Diagnostic Imaging is an official Toshiba America Medical Systems Show Site. This prestigious honor is given to only a few medical facilities in the country and positions the medical center at the forefront of new technological advancements and as a leader in cardiac imaging. The center's multi-million dollar investments in radiological technology offer patients faster diagnosis of diseases, and greater options for more precise and less invasive treatments.

About Toshiba

With headquarters in Tustin, Calif., Toshiba America Medical Systems markets, sells, distributes and services diagnostic imaging systems, coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research and has responsibility for research and development for all modalities in the United States. Toshiba Medical Systems Corp., an independent group company of Toshiba Corp. is a world leader in the development of medical imaging equipment, with a product line-up that includes CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, and both conventional and vascular X-ray systems. Toshiba Corp. is a leader in information and communications systems, electronic components, consumer products and power systems. Toshiba has 166,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of over $47 billion.