FDA Approves CT Software from Toshiba to Reduce Radiation Dose and Improve Patient Care and Workflow
|
|
March 28, 2008 -- Tustin, California --
Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. has received FDA clearance for
two new CT clinical applications that will improve throughput and enhance
workflow, while further reducing contrast and radiation dosage. The
applications, SURECardio™ Prospective and Variable Helical
Pitch (vHP), are available for new Toshiba Aquilion™ 32- and
64-slice CT systems.
An Aquilion
64-Slice CT Scanner, photo courtesy Toshiba America Medical Systems |
|
SURECardio Prospective
Toshiba’s
SURECardio Prospective helps reduce patient dose by up to 80
percent during coronary CTA exams by using a helical acquisition
technique to provide
one continuous image instead of multiple images produced by the current step-and-shoot
techniques. SURECardio Prospective will automatically detect and adjust to
patients with arrthymia, providing quicker, more conclusive
exam results.
|
SURECardio Prospective automates scan parameters and reconstruction
based on the patient’s heart rate. It also speeds exam time and eliminates the
need to use additional contrast as with the step-and-shoot method.
Variable Helical Pitch
Variable Helical Pitch (vHP) increases workflow and efficiency by enabling physicians
to complete an exam of more than one anatomical region consecutively – i.e. without
stopping to alter the helical pitch of the exam. Toshiba is the first vendor
to introduce this type of technique.
“Previously, if a physician needed to image a patient’s heart and body, two separate exams would be needed,” explained Doug Ryan, senior director, CT Business Unit, Toshiba America Medical Systems. “With Toshiba’s vHP, the patient’s gated heart and non-gated body can be imaged during a single exam, reducing patient radiation and contrast dose and saving critical time for the imaging center or hospital. This feature is particularly helpful in trauma centers, when minutes can make a difference in the patient’s
treatment and recovery.”
vHP also saves time by producing one comprehensive image instead of two separate images that would result from separate scans. This eliminates the task of piecing together separate images.
Both clinical applications are available to purchase independently and will be offered with all new Aquilion 32 and 64 CT systems.
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.
SURECardio and Aquilion are trademarks of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation.
Source: Toshiba
America Medical Systems
|