News | Press Releases

November 29, 2009

TOSHIBA ENTERS ULTRA-PORTABLE ULTRASOUND MARKET WITH NEW LAPTOP SYSTEM

New Portable System Offers Advanced Radiology Capabilities for a Variety of Patient Exams

CHICAGO, Nov. 29, 2009 - Many hand-carried ultrasound systems offer better access to patients when space is compromised, but cannot provide all of the advanced radiology capabilities required to perform exams in today's demanding ultrasound environment.

Designed to meet the needs of today's hospitals by combining portability with high-end radiology features, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. introduces the new Viamo™ laptop ultrasound system (works-in-progress), the industry's no-compromise ultrasound system with advanced radiology capabilities, previously unavailable on hand-carried systems. Toshiba will showcase the Viamo at this year's Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, held in Chicago, Nov. 29 - Dec. 4 (Booth #5629, South Hall).

The Viamo combines the portability of a laptop system with advanced radiology features to deliver outstanding image quality, enhance diagnostic confidence and improve ease of use. Developed from a radiology foundation, Toshiba's Viamo provides the confidence to image patients at bedside, which generally requires larger, more expensive cart-based systems. When an immobile patient needs a high-end ultrasound exam, the portable Viamo laptop ultrasound is brought to the patient to improve the patient's comfort without compromising exam quality. It is also ideal for a variety of patient exams, including traditional radiology, pediatric, emergency, OB/GYN, vascular and bariatric.

"The Viamo provides the best value in the hand-carried class by offering a feature-rich, portable system at a reasonable price point," said Girish Hagan, vice president, Marketing, Toshiba. "With the ability to perform high-end radiology exams using a portable laptop system, Viamo rounds out Toshiba's ultrasound product line, delivering function and value in the hand-carried segment, along with the exceptional image quality and clinical accuracy Toshiba is known for."

The new Toshiba Viamo laptop ultrasound system offers:

• Best-in-class imaging capabilities in a laptop size, making it ideal for high-end radiology, vascular, emergency, bariatric and OB/GYN exams, even at bedside. For example, Viamo is beneficial during liver transplants when medical personnel must image the anastomoses to assess blood flow through the vessels.
• Excellent image quality and color flow comparable to those of larger, more expensive cart-based systems.
• Ease of use with a simple touch-screen interface that is programmable in panel or tablet modes.
• Ability to interchange Toshiba transducers while using the Viamo's transportation pole, thus improving productivity and flexibility while saving health care costs by reducing the need to purchase multiple transducers. This unique feature improves productivity and saves money for current customers by using their existing Toshiba transducers on the Viamo. Additionally, new customers are able to use Viamo transducers with other Toshiba ultrasound systems they may purchase in the future.

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, MRI and information systems. Toshiba corporation is a worldwide leader and in technology, electronic and electrical products, digital consumer products, electronic devices and components, power systems, industrial and social infrastructure systems and home appliances. Toshiba was founded in 1875 and today operates a global network of more than 740 companies with 199,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing $73 billion. For more information, visit Toshiba's web site at www.medical.toshiba.com.

*Viamo is a trademark of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation.

*This news release introduce the products showcase at RSNA 2009. Some products are marketing only for US.market. Please ask your sales representatives in your country.