Toshiba America Medical Systems Features Vantage ZGV MRI System at RSNA; Toshiba's Newest MRI System Offers New Sequences, High-Quality Images and Faster CPU.

CHICAGO -- Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. (TAMS) today announced the introduction of its high-performance Vantage ZGV magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system -- the highest-end 1.5T system available. The works-in-progress Vantage ZGV features new product sequences, enhanced image quality, and the Mach 8 processor, a faster CPU allowing 1,230 images per second reconstruction for more powerful clinical applications. The system is currently installed and undergoing evaluation at the Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging (SDMI) Center in Las Vegas.

Images obtained using the Vantage ZGV will be available for viewing at the Radiological Society of North America's (RSNA) annual meeting, held in Chicago, Nov. 27-Dec. 2 in booth #7114 (North Building, Hall B).

"Toshiba's Vantage ZGV features industry-leading technology and is designed with exceptional patient care and comfort in mind," said Bob Giegerich, director, MR Business Unit, TAMS. "With the new Mach 8 processor, the Vantage ZGV increases patient throughput and broadens future upgrade capabilities."

The Vantage ZGV offers a gradient strength of 33 mT/m (milliTesla per meter) and a slew rate of 200 mT/m/sec (milliTesla per meter per second) and delivers the highest homogeneity of any magnet in the industry over the full 50 cm diameter spherical volume (DSV). Field upgrade kits to the new ZGV are available to current Vantage users.

Vantage MRI -- Unmatched Performance and Patient-Focused Features

Currently available in three other versions, the Vantage offers an ultra-short magnet at 140 cm with linear 30 mT/m (milliTesla per meter) gradient strength with a slew rate of 50 T/m/s (Tesla per meter per second) (AGV), 86 T/m/s (MGV) or 130 T/m/s (XGV).

The Vantage also offers some of the most advanced MRI applications available in the market today, including optional packages for cardiac imaging, advanced Echo Planar Imaging (EPI), Perfusion and Diffusion Imaging, Peripheral MRA, and SuperFASE (Fast Advanced Spin Echo) imaging. In addition, Toshiba has pioneered research into contrast-free MRA with its Fresh Blood Imaging (FBI) protocol and Body Diffusion.

With Toshiba's patented Pianissimo(TM) technology, which reduces acoustic noise by as much as 90 percent, the Vantage dramatically reduces the most significant cause of patient discomfort and enables clinicians to better utilize all of the system's high-field MRI capabilities including SPEEDER parallel imaging for increased acquisition speed that reduces examination times. For more information about the Vantage, TAMS and its wide range of medical imaging products, visit www.medical.toshiba.com.

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, X-ray, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, MRI and information systems. Toshiba Corp. is a leader in information and communications systems, electronic components, consumer products, and power systems. Toshiba has approximately 161,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of $53 billion.

Excelart Vantage(TM) and Pianissimo(TM) are trademarks of Toshiba Medical Systems Corp.