Toshiba Introduces Enhancements on its Ultrasound Product Line to improve Cardiac Diagnostic Capabilities

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 College of Cardiology (ACC) annual meeting in New Orleans, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc., highlighted new enhancements to its cardiac and shared service ultrasound systems that are designed to enhance cardiac ultrasound imaging.

“Toshiba is dedicated to continuously improving its imaging systems to meet the changing needs of healthcare providers,” said Tomohiro Hasegawa, director, Ultrasound Business Unit, Toshiba. “These enhancements to the ultrasound product line build upon Toshiba’s advanced technology to allow quicker, safer and more effective diagnosis, particularly for cardiac exams.”

For its flagship cardiac system, Aplio Artida^TM, 3D Wall Motion Tracking and Tissue Enhancement technologies are now available. 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, Tissue Enhancement has the ability to improve image uniformity and endocardial border delineation, especially in difficult-to-scan patients.

Available on Toshiba’s shared service ultrasound systems, Aplio^TM MX, Aplio^TM XG and Xario^TM XG, the new 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 American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) consensus statement for diagnosis of cardiac risk in certain asymptomatic populations.

Toshiba also introduced their new adult motor-driven TEE probe which improves the diagnosis of numerous cardiac conditions in difficult-to-scan patients. (www.medical.toshiba.com)