Toshiba Launches Breakthrough CT System -- the AquilionONE
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November 26, 2007 -- Chicago, Illinois --
Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc., a leader in diagnostic and
medical
imaging, today introduced the world’s first dynamic volume computed
tomography system -- the AquilionONE™. This advanced diagnostic
imaging system revolutionizes patient care because it can help reduce
diagnosis time for life threatening diseases like stroke and heart
disease from days and hours to mere minutes. AquilionONE, will debut
at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting in
Chicago.
For the first time, physicians can see not only
a three-dimensional depiction of an organ, but also the organ’s dynamic
blood flow and function. Unlike any other CT system, the AquilionONE
can scan one organ -- including
heart, brain and others -- in one rotation because it covers up
to 16 cm of anatomy using 320 ultra high resolution 0.5mm detector elements.
This reduces exam time, as well as radiation and contrast dose, and dramatically
increases diagnostic confidence. With the AquilionONE, the organ or area
is captured in a single rotation at one moment in time, eliminating the
need to reconstruct slices from multiple points in time.
With its ability to perform uniquely comprehensive exams, including functional studies, the AquilionONE reduces the need for multiple, duplicative tests and invasive procedures. As a result of this breakthrough technology, healthcare costs can be reduced because unnecessary tests can be eliminated and diagnosis times are faster.
"The introduction of dynamic volume CT marks an important milestone in the history of Computed Tomography," said Doug Ryan, senior director, CT Business Unit, Toshiba America Medical Systems. "AquilionONE is the culmination of a decade of dedicated research and establishes a new frontier in CT imaging, offering advanced applications that can significantly enhance patient care while reducing the cost of healthcare worldwide." Real-world
Patient Benefits
The AquilionONE has the potential to save lives
and improve the quality of life for many people, especially patients
with neurological symptoms, specifically related to stroke. When a patient
comes to a hospital’s emergency room (ER) exhibiting stroke symptoms, it can take hours to diagnose and treat the patient when time is of the essence. Typically, stroke patients will be taken first to the hospital’s
CT system, but with current CT technology results can be inconclusive
and additional tests such as MR exams are necessary, extending diagnosis
time to as much as four or more hours. With the AquilionONE, time-to-diagnosis
can be dramatically reduced to minutes because complete functional data
is acquired accurately and quickly with less radiation and contrast.
This improved diagnosis time could greatly impact patient quality of
life.
For patients exhibiting symptoms of heart conditions, diagnosis time can be reduced from days to minutes. Typically, patients who come to the ER with chest pain are given multiple tests to identify the problem, including an EKG, calcium study, CT angiography (CTA), nuclear test and catheterization. Tests of this nature could take days to complete and would expose the patient to significant radiation and contrast dose. With the AquilionONE, a single comprehensive exam can give physicians all of the information they need to diagnose and treat the patient in less than 20 minutes and with significantly less contrast and radiation dose.
The Path to Dynamic Volume CT
Toshiba’s road to dynamic volume CT began a decade ago. The development of the Quantum Detector technology platform made it possible to produce the industry’s thinnest detector elements at 0.5mm with the industry’s
best low contrast resolution. In addition, this completely new system is equipped
with innovative features including an exam table that accommodates up to 650lbs
and coneXact dynamic volume CT reconstruction.
Prototypes and beta systems have been under rapid
development. In 2006 and early 2007, AquilionONE beta systems were tested
at Fujita Health University and the National Cancer Center in Japan and
Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. Feedback from the beta systems have
been integrated into the system to ensure the best possible clinical
outcomes. The first commercial unit has been installed at Fujita Health
University in Japan since October 20th, followed by Johns Hopkins University
in Baltimore, U.S., Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, U.S., Humboldt University, Campus Charité Mitte
in Germany and University Health Network in Canada.
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 191,000
employees worldwide and annual sales of $60 billion. For more information,
visit www.medical.toshiba.com.
AquilionONE is a trademark of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation.
Source: Toshiba
America Medical Systems
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