Toshiba laid the groundwork for entering the 3T marketplace in the U.S. with the unveiling of its Vantage Titan 3T system at RSNA 2009. The work-in-progress, which is pending FDA clearance, leapfrogs earlier generations of 3T scanners with a 71-cm tapered aperture and Pianissimo noise reduction technology.

The new wide-bore system incorporates the ability to perform contrast-free MR angiography exams, including Fresh Blood Imaging (FBI) for evaluating peripheral vascular diseases of the lower legs and extremities, Contrast-free Improved Angiography (CIA) for easier visualization of smaller vessels, Time-Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse (Time-SLIP) for evaluating hemodynamic functional assessments and visualization of vascular structures, and Time and Space Angiography (TSA) to create noncontrast time-resolved imaging with high temporal resolution.

The 3T system utilizes Toshiba's Atlas coil technology integrated into the table to allow patients to be examined without having to be continually repositioned for different exams. The product is being designed with a new user interface called M-Power that promises to simplify training and operation.