Toshiba rolls out in-office ultrasound

Toshiba America MedicalSystems last week unveiled Capasee, a compact ob/gyn ultrasoundsystem it is introducing into the U.S. The Tustin, CA, vendorwill market the system as a portable ultrasound scanner for privateoffice applications.

Capasee has been marketed in Europe and Japan and has builtup an installed base of 4000 units in those market segments sinceits introduction two years ago. Toshiba demonstrated the systemfor the first time in the U.S. at this month's American Collegeof Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Orlando, FL.

Toshiba will market Capasee to obstetricians and gynecologistswho have been unable to buy ultrasound systems from major manufacturersdue to cost considerations. Capasee will be priced in the mid-$30,000range. The scanner is awaiting Food and Drug Administration 510(k)clearance.

Capasee will be distributed through Imaging Associates, a Charlotte,NC, firm that specializes in marketing medical equipment to private-practicephysicians.