Hitachi Receives FDA Clearance for Widest Bore 1.5T MR System

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc., a leading provider of diagnostic imaging equipment, announced FDA clearance to market its Echelon Oval 1.5T Ultra-Wide MR system.

“With the evolving changes in health care delivery putting ever more emphasis on patient comfort and satisfaction, Echelon Oval re-shapes expectations for MR imaging”

Echelon Oval sets a new standard for premium wide bore 1.5T MRI with its patient shaped design, resulting in a 74 cm oval bore – the widest in the industry.

“With the evolving changes in health care delivery putting ever more emphasis on patient comfort and satisfaction, Echelon Oval re-shapes expectations for MR imaging,” said Sheldon Schaffer, Vice President and General Manager, MR and CT.

The latest innovation from Hitachi addresses the important aspects of patient accessibility, broad range of clinical capability and optimized workflow. All patients, particularly claustrophobic and anxious ones, will benefit from increased space and visibility. With a diverse suite of advanced imaging techniques including non-contrast MRA, isotropic image acquisition, robust fat suppression and much more, Echelon Oval delivers high diagnostic confidence. In addition, Hitachi’s Workflow Integrated Technology (WIT) suite of efficiency-focused and patient-friendly features, such as an integrated coil system and wide mobile table, optimize the entire imaging process.

“For over two decades Hitachi has lead the way in innovative, reliable MR products that have always put the comfort of the patient first,” Schaffer added. “Echelon Oval joins a storied progression of MR products that deliver state-of-the-art imaging capability, without sacrificing patient comfort.’”

About Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc.
Hitachi Medical Systems America (HMSA) located in Twinsburg, Ohio, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Medical Corporation, offers a broad range of diagnostic imaging equipment including MRI, CT and Ultrasound. Our innovations in diagnostic imaging provide technology that drives clinical solutions to deliver diagnostic confidence, improve workflow efficiency and provide a better patient experience. In addition to exceptional equipment, HMSA is known for its comprehensive customer support programs to maximize the lifecycle value of equipment through responsive service maintenance, significant software upgrades and on-going applications support.

About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT) (TOKYO: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 362,000 employees worldwide on the consolidated basis. Fiscal 2010 (ended March 31, 2011) consolidated revenues totaled 9,316 billion yen ($110.9 billion). Hitachi will focus more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes Information and Telecommunication Systems, Power Systems, Industrial, Transportation and Urban Development Systems, as well as the sophisticated Materials and Key Devices that support them.

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