Toshiba Announces the Vantage CGV for Cardiac MRI Studies; Ultra-Short Bore MRI System Offers New Gradient Configuration and Applications Dedicated to Advanced Cardiac Examinations

Business Wire, March 8, 2005

TUSTIN, Calif. -- To meet the demands of the U.S. cardiology market, Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. (TAMS) is introducing a new optimized cardiac configuration for the Excelart Vantage(TM), the company's 1.5-tesla (1.5T) high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system equipped with one of the shortest magnets in the industry. Based on the Vantage XGV platform, the new Vantage CGV configuration features gradient strength of 30 mT/m (milliTesla per meter) and a slew rate of 130 mT/m/ms (milliTesla per meter per millisecond) to meet clinical requirements for advanced cardiac MRI examinations.

"With the introduction of the new cardiac configuration for the Vantage line-up, Toshiba is further expanding our presence in the 1.5T high-field MRI category with a dedicated system designed to meet the clinical demands of the expanding cardiology market," said Bob Giegerich, MRI Business Unit, Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. "In addition to a list of exclusive patient-focused features of the Vantage, the new Vantage CGV adds advances, such as a specialized cardiac coil, and application packages for high-resolution cardiac imaging and quantification analysis."

The Vantage CGV features the latest technology and applications optimized to perform advanced cardiac MRI procedures, including eight-channel radio frequency (RF) electronic components, Toshiba's cardiac/torso SPEEDER coil, and software packages designed for high-quality cardiac MRI studies, including Respiratory, Peripheral Pulse and Cardiac Gating. The new cardiac configuration also enables freeze-frame imaging, Differential Rate K-space Sampling (DRKS), a SPEEDER-compatible, high-resolution, time-resolved MR angiography (MRA) technique with temporal resolution as low as 0.6 seconds when combined with the cardiac SPEEDER coil. Additionally, the new system incorporates a PC-based workstation to operate the MEDIS MRI-MASS(R) (MR AnalyticMulti-View allows visualizational Software Systems), an industry-leading cardiac quantification analysis application, and an in-room Gating Monitor mounted to the gantry to allow evaluation of the cardiac cycle while positioning the patient.

Unmatched MRI Performance and Patient-Focused Features

The Vantage features one of the industry's shortest magnets at 140 cm with linear 30 mT/m gradient strength and a slew rate 130 mT/m/ms for the Vantage CGV. Despite the short length of the magnet, the system delivers the highest homogeneity of any magnet in the industry within a full 50 cm diameter spherical volume (DSV).

With Toshiba's patented Pianissimo(TM) technology, which effectively reduces acoustic noise by as much as 90 percent, the Vantage significantly reduces the most significant cause for patient discomfort and enables clinicians to better utilize the system's high-field MRI capabilities and SPEEDER parallel processing for increased imaging acquisition speed and reduced exam times.

For more information about the Vantage MRI, TAMS and its wide range of medical imaging products, please 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, 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.

MEDIS MRI-MASS is a registered trademark of LUMC.