TUSTIN, Calif.–(BUSINESS
WIRE)–To provide patient-friendly MR imaging, Banner Good Samaritan
Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz., has installed a Vantage Titan™ 1.5T MR system
from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc., which is the 1,200th Vantage MR
installed worldwide. Banner Good Samaritan is using Toshibas Vantage Titan MR
primarily for imaging breast cancer patients from the Laura Dreier
Breast Center
during screening and surgical planning.

“Vantage Titan is helping us expand our capabilities to not
only conduct breast imaging, but liver and kidney imaging as well,” said Kathy
Altergott, director of medical imaging, Banner Good Samaritan. “The
patient-friendly features, including the large open-bore and noise-reduction
technology, improve the patient experience, while the ease of use enables us to
perform exams more efficiently.”

The Vantage Titan offers a 71 cm open bore and allows
feet-first imaging for most exams to help reduce claustrophobia. Toshibas
Pianissimo™ noise-reduction technology reduces exam noise levels by up to 30
decibels, addressing one of the major compliance issues in MR.

Banner Good Samaritan is also utilizing two of Toshibas
proprietary non-contrast MRA techniques, Fresh Blood Imaging (FBI) and Time
Space Angiography (TSA), to image patients near or at renal failure without the
use of potentially dangerous contrast agents. Additionally, the system is used
to help guide physicians in the planning of liver transplants, for general
musculoskeletal imaging and many other clinical applications.

Toshiba has a long-standing partnership with the Banner
Health network, which includes two other Vantage Titan MR systems located at Banner Ironwood
Medical Center
in San Tan Valley, Ariz., and Skyline Center for Health in Loveland, Colo.
Other Toshiba medical imaging systems in the network include four Aquilion™ CT
systems and four Infinix™-i vascular X-ray systems.

“Partnering with Banner Good Samaritan demonstrates the
versatility of the Vantage Titan in helping diagnose a variety of conditions
while making the exam experience more comfortable and safer for patients,” said
Stuart Clarkson, director, MR Business Unit, Toshiba. “We also plan to work
together with Banner Good Samaritan in the future to explore and develop
advanced non-contrast breast imaging techniques.”

About Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

With headquarters in Tustin, Calif.,
Toshiba America Medical Systems (TAMS) markets, sells, distributes and services
diagnostic imaging systems, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging
research for all modalities in the United States. For more
information, visit the TAMS website at www.medical.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation

Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of medical
diagnostic imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT,
X-ray and vascular, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and MRI systems, as well as
information systems for medical institutions. Toshiba Medical Systems
Corporation has been providing medical products for over 80 years. Toshiba
Medical Systems Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba.

About Toshiba

Toshiba is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of advanced electronic and
electrical products, spanning digital products, such as LCD TVs, notebook
PCs and hard disc drives; electronic devices and components, such as
semiconductors; social infrastructure systems, including power generation
systems, and home appliances. Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a
global network of more than 490 companies, with 203,000 employees worldwide and
annual sales surpassing 6.3 trillion yen (US$77 billion).

Posted by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT