Vital Images inks deal with Toshiba

Medical imaging software firm Vital Images has entered into a marketing and distribution agreement with the medical systems unit of Toshiba, headquartered in Tochigi, Japan. The deal calls for Toshiba to offer Vital Images' Vitrea 2 software through its subsidiaries and distributors in more than 50 countries in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and Asia, excepting Japan. The agreement also supersedes and extends Vital Images' current marketing and distribution arrangement with Toshiba America Medical Systems (TAMS), Toshiba's U.S. subsidiary. Since October 2000, TAMS has offered Vitrea 2 systems as the 3D medical imaging product of choice to customers purchasing Aquilion CT scanners. Initially, TAMS purchased the hardware platform as well as software and services.

The new agreement covers only higher margin software and services and includes a minimum worldwide revenue commitment of $4 million. The agreement is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2001, and will be effective through Sept. 30, 2002. It can be extended by mutual consent of Vital Images and Toshiba.