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Medical equipment industry

Toshiba and ViTAL Images Collaborate with Johns Hopkins for Improved Coronary CTA Imaging

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc., (TAMS) and ViTAL Images, Inc. have joined forces with top cardiologists at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to develop cutting-edge applications for high-resolution, multislice coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) imaging. This collaboration aims to improve the effectiveness of noninvasive cardiovascular imaging for early detection of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

Key Takeaways:

  • Toshiba and ViTAL Images have collaborated with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to develop improved CT imaging applications for coronary CTA.
  • The new applications use Toshiba's Aquilion 16 CFX and Aquilion 32 CFX multislice CT scanners with ViTAL Images' Vitrea 2 visualization and analysis imaging software.
  • The applications enable cardiologists to quickly obtain a better image of the heart and cross-examine the coronary arteries for abnormalities and blockage.
  • The collaboration has resulted in the development of angio-emulation technology for the Vitrea 2 imaging software, which makes images of the coronary arteries appear more like conventional angiography.
  • The new 3D reconstruction tool allows cardiologists to unravel the images of coronary arteries into two planes, making cross-sectional measurements to acquire a more accurate stenosis measurement.
  • The collaboration has already seen the development of improved CT imaging applications for noninvasive examination of vascular anatomy, such as coronary, carotid, and peripheral arteries.
  • The goal of the partnership is to improve the practice of medicine in the cardiovascular field and provide a diagnostic alternative to conventional angiography.

Statistics:

  • The collaboration between Toshiba, ViTAL Images, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine aims to improve the effectiveness of noninvasive cardiovascular imaging.
  • The new applications for coronary CTA imaging are designed to perform noninvasive examination of vascular anatomy, such as coronary, carotid, and peripheral arteries.
  • The angio-emulation technology for the Vitrea 2 imaging software is patented and allows for the creation of images that appear more like conventional angiography.
  • The new 3D reconstruction tool enables cardiologists to make cross-sectional measurements to acquire a more accurate stenosis measurement.

Sources:

  • Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.
  • ViTAL Images, Inc.
  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
  • Health & Medicine Week, via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net, 2004.

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