Toshiba Receives FDA Clearance On Cardiac Functional Analysis Package for the Aquilion 16 Multislice CT Scanner.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

TUSTIN, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2002

The Adaptive Software Expands Cardiac Studies and Offers Patient More

Comfortable, Non-Invasive Diagnostic Options

Toshiba America Medical Systems (TAMS) today announced that it received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) marketing clearance on its Cardiac Functional Analysis software package for the Aquilion(TM) 16, the company's 16-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner.

Performing segmented reconstruction of cardiac images, the new intelligent and adaptive software enhances the system's cardiac imaging capabilities by expanding applications to include studies on patients with fast heart rates up to or exceeding 100 beats per minute.

"Toshiba is focused on advancing the cardiac imaging capabilities of our CT systems. By delivering more advanced non-invasive methods for diagnosing heart disease and abnormalities, clinicians will be better positioned to capture the necessary clinical information while making procedures more comfortable for patients," said Doug Ryan, director, CT Business Unit, Toshiba America Medical Systems.

"And, the new, unique Cardiac Functional Analysis package for the Aquilion 16 opens up new possibilities for CT imaging with applications that serve a greater patient population."

Toshiba's Cardiac Functional Analysis package is designed to deliver a full array of cardiac analysis functions. Using data from coronary CT angiography images, the software performs segmented reconstructions to provide fast analysis for ejection fractions, cardiac output and regional wall motion.

In addition, the software's wide range of capabilities includes calculating multi-axis MPRs, end diastolic volume, stroke volume, body surface area, cardiac input, stroke index and myocardial mass, as well as polar maps to display the regional parameters.

About Aquilion 16: The World's Most Advanced CT Scanner 

The Aquilion 16 is the world's most advanced CT scanner based on its unique 40-row Quantum detector. The system's 16 slice scanning technology delivers 32 mm coverage by simultaneously acquiring 16 slices at 0.5 mm thickness with each gantry rotation.

The Aquilion 16 is the only scanner that produces 16 slices as thin as 0.5 mm, in a single gantry rotation, capturing more detail of internal anatomy such as small arteries or subtle abnormalities in an organ.

The Aquilion 16 also offers the capability of delivering up to 16 0.5 mm slices within a 400-millisecond gantry rotation, which further reduces any resulting image artifact from internal organ and structure motion.

Featuring Toshiba's proprietary algorithm that was specifically designed for the 16-slice CT scanner to deliver the best possible image quality, the system's reconstruction technique virtually eliminates artifacts, providing physicians with precise, clear images.

In addition, the system offers a 1.8-meter couch designed with the highest scan range to accommodate patients of all sizes, provide faster scans and offer superior image quality.

For more information about the Aquilion 16, TAMS and its wide range of medical imaging products, visit the company's Web site at www.medical.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba

With headquarters in Tustin, 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 Corp., Medical Systems Co. 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 176,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of more than $40 billion.