Toshiba Announces Top KLAS Cardiovascular Rating, Tying for First Overall

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ultrasound is often used as a first-line diagnostic exam to quickly and safely diagnose a range of patient conditions. At this year’s American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) annual meeting in Montreal, June 11–14, 2011 (Booth #1019), Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc., will highlight cardiac and shared service ultrasound applications designed to improve cardiac ultrasound imaging.

“Toshiba is dedicated to developing imaging systems to meet the needs of healthcare providers”

Further demonstrating Toshiba’s leadership in cardiac ultrasound, the Aplio™ cardiovascular system tied for first overall in KLAS’ latest report, “Echo 2011: A Tight Race at the Top.” The Aplio’s advanced cardiac applications make it easy to perform a variety of high-end cardiology exams in multiple clinical settings, and the KLAS distinction is another example of Toshiba’s commitment to developing industry-leading ultrasound technology. According to one Toshiba customer comment in the report, “[The Aplio cardiovascular system] is loaded with great functionality. It is mobile and easy to move… The image quality is excellent and the Doppler is very good.”

“Toshiba is dedicated to developing imaging systems to meet the needs of healthcare providers,” said Tomohiro Hasegawa, director, Ultrasound Business Unit, Toshiba. “These enhancements to the ultrasound product line and our top customer ratings show that Toshiba’s advanced technology enables quicker, safer and more effective diagnosis, particularly for cardiac exams.”

3D Wall Motion Tracking and Tissue Enhancement for the Aplio Artida

For its flagship cardiac system, Aplio Artida™, 3D Wall Motion Tracking and Tissue Enhancement technologies are designed to improve cardiac diagnosis with ultrasound. 3D Wall Motion Tracking, an industry first on the Artida, offers a new era of dyssynchrony imaging and advanced regional wall motion assessment. It aids electrophysiologists in optimizing pacemaker placement and function. It also shows 3D ejection fraction, volumes and regional and global strain function. A Toshiba-exclusive software feature, Tissue Enhancement has the ability to improve image uniformity and endocardial border delineation, especially in difficult-to-scan patients.

Auto IMT on Toshiba’s Shared Service Ultrasound Systems

Available on Toshiba’s shared service ultrasound systems, Aplio MX, Aplio XG and Xario™ XG, the Auto IMT feature calculates the intima-media thickness of the carotid artery, helping clinicians determine a patient’s risk for cardiovascular disease. Toshiba’s Auto IMT can determine the thickness of the near and far arterial walls from three segments of the carotid artery: at an optimal angle of incidence and two complementary planes. Auto IMT uses the collected images following the ASE consensus statement for diagnosis of cardiac risk in certain asymptomatic populations.

New TEE Probe

Also at ASE will be Toshiba’s next-generation adult motor-driven TEE probe, which improves the diagnosis of numerous cardiac conditions in difficult-to-scan patients. The TEE probe has been redesigned for ultimate patient comfort, ease of insertion and exceptional image quality.

About KLAS

KLAS is a research firm specializing in monitoring and reporting the performance of healthcare vendors. KLAS’s mission is to improve delivery by independently measuring vendor performance for the benefit of our healthcare provider partners, consultants, investors and vendors. Working together with executives from over 4,500 hospitals and over 2,500 clinics, KLAS delivers timely reports, trends and statistics, which provide a solid overview of vendor performance in the industry. KLAS measures performance of software, professional service and medical equipment vendors. For more information, go to www.KLASresearch.com, email marketing@KLASresearch.com or call 1-800-920-4109 to speak with a KLAS representative. Follow KLAS on Twitter at www.twitter.com/KLASresearch.

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, MRI and information systems. Toshiba Corp. is a worldwide leader in technology, electronic and electrical products, digital consumer products, electronic devices and components, power systems, industrial and social infrastructure systems and home appliances. Toshiba was founded in 1875 and today operates a global network of more than 742 companies with more than 204,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing $68 billion. For more information, visit Toshiba’s website at www.medical.toshiba.com.