Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc., an industry leader in magnetic resonance (MR) technology, reached a significant achievement in installing its 800th Vantage™ 1.5T MR system at Elkview General Hospital in Hobart, Okla. Elkview is using the Vantage system for orthopedic, neuro and abdominal imaging.
As Elkview remodeled its imaging facility to create a more inviting environment for patients, they looked for an MR system to provide the highest quality images while addressing patient comfort issues like claustrophobia and noise.
“During the remodeling process, we went to great lengths to create an environment that would reduce patient anxiety during the exam. We found the Toshiba Vantage’s ultra short bore and noise reducing Pianissimo™ technology to be the perfect fit,” said Ralph Anderson, interim director of Radiology, Elkview General Hospital. “Additionally, the image quality on the Vantage is helping us make better diagnostic decisions faster.”
Shortly after installing the Vantage system, Elkview had a patient with a muscle pull in the hip. After an X-ray exam revealed nothing, the orthopedic surgeon ordered an MRI to see if the problem was more than just a simple muscle pull. The Vantage revealed a fracture of the patient’s right pubis.
“In the past a patient would have had to go 50 or 60 miles away to get an exam like this,” said Anderson. “The Vantage’s clear images allowed us to quickly and accurately diagnose the patient without referring them to another hospital, miles away.”
Toshiba’s patented Pianissimo™ technology, which reduces acoustic noise by as much as 90 percent, is increasing the comfort level of Elkview patients during exams. During MR exams, the magnets can be very loud and increase the sensation of claustrophobia. Pianissimo can help to reduce patient nervousness and dissatisfaction associated with MR exams.
Additionally, the system’s integrated coil concept allows physicians to perform multiple exams without repositioning the patient. This means a more comfortable exam experience and results in enhanced workflow and technologist productivity. Also, Toshiba’s SPEEDER parallel imaging allows for increased acquisition speed and reduced examination times.
“Installing the 800th Vantage MR system is a milestone that illustrates our continued commitment to image quality and patient care,” said Girish Hagan, vice president, Marketing, Toshiba. “The Vantage system meets clinical demands and delivers high-resolution images across the entire body with faster imaging times.”
Another reason Elkview chose the Vantage was Toshiba’s proprietary, contrast-free MRA techniques — Fresh Blood Imaging (FBI), Contrast-free Improved Angiography (CIA), Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse (Time-SLIP) and Time and Space Angiography (TSA). These techniques are available on all Toshiba MR systems. Contrast-free imaging is particularly important because gadolinium, the most common contrast agent used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) exams, has been directly linked to a sometimes fatal disease that occurs in patients with renal insufficiency, called Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) or Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NFD).
Toshiba’s Vantage product was named Best in KLAS in the Top 20 Best in KLAS Awards reports for 2006 and 2007 for MR; Best in KLAS in the Top 20 Best in KLAS Awards reports for 2008 and 2009 for 1.5T MRI. For more information about KLAS, visit www.KLASresearch.com .
About Elkview General Hospital
Elkview General Hospital is a 50 bed, short-term general hospital serving approximately 10,000 people in the Hobart area. Serving an area approximately 60 miles wide, Elkview is small enough to be able to offer highly personalized care while offering the diagnostic capabilities of much larger facilities. The Kiowa County owned and operated hospital includes a staff of four family practice physicians and one general surgeon.
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 Corp. is a leader in information and communications systems, electronic components, consumer products, and power systems. Toshiba has approximately 198,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of $77 billion. For more information, visit www.medical.toshiba.com .
