Toshiba expands CT offerings with compact helical scanner

But pioneering 900S system process too costly

Toshiba's helical CT technology is evolving at a rapid pace. Followingintroduction of the premium Xpress/SX system late last year (SCAN11/17/93), the vendor will add a mid-tier price point to its helicalline in 1994 with Xvision. Toshiba America Medical Systems willalso phase out sales of its pioneering fourth-generation, slip-ring-based900S system, introduced in 1986.

Japanese sales of Toshiba's compact Xvision scanner are slatedto begin in July. A 510(k) application to the Food and Drug Administrationfor U.S. market clearance should be filed this year, said DavidEaton, TAMS CT product manager.

Xvision is about half the size and nearly a third lighter thanstandard helical scanners. It uses the same console as Xpressand the non-helical Xpeed scanner but packs a redesigned gantry.Xvision could expand CT applications and market opportunitiesfor Toshiba. For instance, it might allow use of volumetric CTimaging in the operating room to guide surgery.

With the competitive market determining CT system price levels,the high cost of producing 900S has made the scanner less profitablefor the vendor. After selling its last two units in U.S. inventoryduring 1994, TAMS plans no further orders of 900S from Japan.The system will continue to be sold internationally.