Toshiba Medical Systems, Inc. launched their new Aplio Platinum series, at the RSNA meeting this week in Chicago. The series, which received FDA approval last month, is a software and hardware upgrade for their Aplio 300 and 500 ultrasound systems.

Toshiba designed the series so that it can do multiple applications ranging from diagnosis to treatment. "Platinum is our response to our customers' needs for one system that can do everything well," Maher G. Elhihi, senior manager of market development for the ultrasound business unit at Toshiba, told DOTmed News.

It features their Smart Navigation technology, which allows the user to call up prior CT and MR images and sync them with the ultrasound images. It can also utilize GPS technology to track needle positioning.

Additionally, the update can perform shear wave elastography for liver imaging.

The standard of care for monitoring liver disease is taking biopsy samples but with shear wave elastography the user can non-invasively quantify the liver.

Many other vendors are starting to incorporate that technology into their systems but what differentiates Toshiba's solution is their propagation mode. It allows the user to visualize the waves as they travel through the liver, which helps them pinpoint where they should do their measurements.

The series also features an upgrade to their existing Superb Micro-Vascular Imaging technology, which enables the visualization of micro-vascular flow without the use of contrast. The upgrade allows the technology to be used on five additional transducers.

When designing the Platinum series, Toshiba's goal was to offer a solution that assists facilities with the demand to improve workflow and efficiency and reduce costs. They believe they are able to do that by providing them with ultrasounds that can be used in any application.

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