Palo Alto, Calif. - Frost & Sullivan selected Toshiba as the recipient of the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Market Penetration Leadership Award in the North American computed tomography (CT) market.

Toshiba has rapidly risen in the ranks to become a major medical imaging modality vendor and has penetrated key markets for imaging equipment including MRI, CT, Xray vascular and ultrasound, experiencing double-digit growth rates across the board.

The company's penetration of the North American CT market is particularly impressive, since it has captured 19 percent of market revenues in 2005 in a highly competitive structure. Toshiba has developed an edge in the premium,

technology-driven North American market, indicating its ability to remain at the forefront of technological and clinical advances. This is demonstrated by its remarkable performance in cardiology and oncology.

The company is successfully leveraging its expertise to develop sophisticated imaging systems using the latest technologies. Toshiba's work-in-progress is also significant, proving the company's mastery of advanced technology.

"Toshiba's next-generation CT scanner is a 256-slice system that features a 3-centimeter-wide detector that can capture any whole organ, including the heart and the brain, in a single rotation of the gantry, while offering superior whole-body scanning capabilities in trauma and stroke," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Nadim Daher. "Toshiba stands out as the only vendor with the capability to develop such a system today."

The system is expected to be commercially available in 2008 and is already attracting considerable interest at trade shows. This technological leap will eliminate helical scanning and signify the advent of a whole-organ scanner that will unlock an array of new clinical applications and advance the clinical utility of CT.

Apart from delivering the highest standards of technology for the best value, Toshiba also works with best-in-class partners to deliver a best-of-breed solution.

Powerful applications and workflow tools, an adequate IT infrastructure, a future-proof archiving strategy, and the ability to provide access to CT imaging to end users throughout the enterprise have become key to the successful utilization of CT equipment. Toshiba's strategic partnerships create a high level of aggregate industry expertise, which guarantees that its customers will benefit from the optimal solutions.

"In recent years, Toshiba has established research and collaboration partnerships at some of the most prestigious healthcare institutions in the country," notes Daher. "With over five prototypes of its next-generation scanner being used by prestigious institutions all over the world, Toshiba is conducting commendable clinical trials activity that holds the promise of redefining the limits of CT imaging and moving the CT industry forward."

Each year Frost & Sullivan presents this Award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in capturing market share within their industry. The recipient has demonstrated strategic excellence in product innovation, marketing, and sales strategies that have resulted in the largest gain in market share over the past two to three years.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

For more information visit www.healthcare.frost.com.

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