Toshiba Showcases Vantage Atlas MRI System at American College of Cardiology Annual Meeting.

System is Suited for Coronary Artery Disease Screening

NEW ORLEANS -- Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. will feature its EXCELART Vantage[TM] powered by Atlas 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system at this year's American College of Cardiology (ACC) annual meeting in New Orleans, March 24-27, 2007. The system is capable of performing coronary MR angiography procedures to detect, diagnose and aid the treatment of heart disorders and blood vessel diseases.

The most advanced 1.5 T system available, the new Atlas design is a 128-element system with an integrated coil concept that allows clinicians to perform multiple exams without repositioning coils, resulting in more comfortable exams and enhanced workflow. With a large clinical field of view (FOV) of 55 x 55 x 50cm, the Atlas meets clinical demands for an MRI system and delivers high-resolution images across the entire body - particularly images crucial for detecting coronary artery disease: veins in the leg, renal arteries and pulmonary circulation.

Vantage Atlas'[TM] cardiac coils consist of multi-sized elements designed to capture discreet MR signals from cardiac anatomy. Of the 16 element array used for cardiac imaging, the center eight elements are smaller, resulting in a better signal to noise ratio and ultimately higher resolution imaging of the heart. The outer eight elements are larger and allow for imaging deeper into the anatomy. This synergistic element design allows Atlas' coils to capture high precision images of the midline anatomies, such as the heart, as well as optimize the image quality of the peripheral tissues. Additionally, this element design enables physicians to image the whole heart coronaries in a single breath hold without the use of contrast*. Previously, whole heart coronary imaging took 10 minutes or longer.

"The Atlas' advantage is its ability to perform coronary studies via MR with single breath hold and non-contrast imaging techniques, which can also be utilized to image the peripheral and renal vessels, including arterial and venous circulations," said Bob Giegerich, director, MR Business Unit, Toshiba. "Ultimately, the Vantage Atlas' state-of-the-art technology is designed with the patient in mind."

The Vantage Atlas puts patient comfort first. Its optional 205-cm acquisition range allows for feet-first imaging for the entire body, except the neck and head, alleviating claustrophobia concerns of many patients undergoing MR exams. Also, with Toshiba's patented Pianissimo(TM) technology, the Vantage dramatically reduces acoustic noise, the most significant cause of patient discomfort during an MRI exam, and enables clinicians to better utilize all of the system's high-field MRI capabilities.

Vantage MRI: Unmatched Clinical Performance

Featuring some of the most advanced MRI applications available in the industry, the Vantage offers a wide range of optional packages, including advanced Echo Planar Imaging, Diffusion and Perfusion Imaging, Peripheral Angiography utilizing Fresh Blood Imaging (FBI), SuperFASE (Fast Advanced Spin Echo) Imaging and Body Vision, diffusion-weighted imaging optimized for the trunk and torso. In addition, Toshiba's SPEEDER parallel imaging allows for increased acquisition speed and reduced examination times. It is also able to determine the hemodynamics - without the use of contrast media - of selective vessels with high image quality using Time-SLIP (Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse) technology, and offers better separation of arterial and venous blood flows with Contrast-free Improved Angiography (CIA).

For more information about the Vantage Atlas, visit Toshiba at ACC booth # 2414, or 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, Cath & EP Labs, 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 172,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of $54 billion.

*Imaging whole heart coronaries in a single breath hold is a works-in-progress.

EXCELART Vantage, Vantage Atlas, Pianissimo are trademarks of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation.