Introducing to the U.S. cardiology market new innovations for advanced computed tomography (CT) imaging, Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. (TAMS) today announced that it has received marketing clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the SUREPlaque cardiac visualization software package. Designed specifically to optimize the clinical performance of the Aquilion(TM) CFX series of cardiac CT scanners, the SUREPlaque option identifies and quantifies soft plaque for cardiac and peripheral vessel analysis using a color-coding system based on tissue density.

"With marketing clearance from the FDA, Toshiba's SUREPlaque technology will promote greater utilization of multislice CT in the United States for cardiology - more specifically, in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease," said Doug Ryan, director, CT Business Unit, Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc. "Combined with the low-contrast detectability performance of the Aquilion CFX's Quantum detector, SUREPlaque will improve the visualization of soft plaque in the coronary arteries and enable cardiologists to improve their clinical accuracy on a routine basis."

The SUREPlaque visualization technology takes advantage of the Aquilion CFX's unique multi-row Quantum detector, which enables a combination of 0.5 mm isotropic image slice thickness and outstanding low-contrast detectability, or the ability to detect and differentiate between soft tissues. With the low-contrast detectability performance of the Aquilion CFX, which measures 2 mm at 0.3 percent (26.7 mGy), SUREPlaque allows the visualization of more than just the lumen, or cavity, but also soft plaque and the coronary vessel walls.

Faculty members of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine recently demonstrated the clinical validity and low-contrast detectability benefits of utilizing SUREPlaque visualization software during the CME-accredited seminar, "Cardiovascular CT Imaging."

Aquilion CFX Series

Toshiba's Aquilion CFX series represents a breakthrough that makes noninvasive CT angiography (CTA) a clinical reality. Its revolutionary design integrates Quantum 64-row detector technology, volume imaging capabilities and advanced software to provide the fastest temporal resolution, as low as 40 msec, to cover the entire heart within a 5 to 15 second breath-hold. Additionally the system offers high spatial resolution, up to 0.35 mm detail, to visualize small coronaries and the insides of stents.

For more information about SUREPlaque, Aquilion CFX series, TAMS and its wide range of medical imaging products, please visit 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, 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.