9/23/2004
For Immediate Release
HITACHI MEDICAL SYSTEMS AMERICA RELEASING ASCENT 4.7 OPERATING SYSTEM FOR ALTAIRE
CONTACT:
Phil Chang
Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc.
1959 Summit Commerce Park
Twinsburg, OH 44087
800.800.3106 or 330.425.1313 Ext. 5447
330.425.1410 Fax
changp@hitachimed.com
www.hitachimed.com
(September 2004)Hitachi Medical Systems America will soon release the Ascent 4.7 operating system for its Altaire® High-Field Performance Open MRI. Hitachi customers will enjoy Ascent 4.7’s vascular imaging features including shorter TEs and TRs and PEAKS k-space ordering for increased arterial vessel conspicuity, and DWI features that eliminate the need for peripheral pulse gating. Faster imaging methods minimize the opportunity for patient motion and resultant artifacts, increasing the overall diagnostic confidence level. Ascent 4.7 includes a combination of software and hardware enhancements resulting in acceleration of reconstruction processes for handling large datasets required by today’s advanced applications.
Ascent 4.7 is offered at no charge to customers enrolled in Hitachi’s industry-leading Ultra Plus Customer Assurance Program, including new Altaire customers. Accelerated reconstruction performance offered by Ascent 4.7 will enhance the Scaleable DualQuad™ option, Hitachi’s advancement in multiple array RF technology. “As the basis for next generation RF technology enhancements, Scalable DualQuad has the capacity to handle the continuous data stream required by ultra-fast acquisitions and interactive real-time imaging coming in future software versions.” notes Sheldon Schaffer, HMSA’s Vice President and General Manager of MR. Additional low noise preamplifier channels, quadrature receiver channels, and expanded memory provide increased acquisition capacity to support Altaire’s advanced applications and next generation RF coils.
Hitachi Medical Systems America, Inc. markets premium, high performance magnetic resonance imaging products of Hitachi Medical Corporation, Tokyo, Japan. These include the AIRIS® Elite advanced mid-field open MR system, the Altaire high-field performance MR system and the AIRIS® II MR system with advanced permanent magnet technology. The company has more than 1,300 Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging systems installed throughout the United States and over 3,000 Open MRI systems installed worldwide. HMSA first established a leadership position in the medical industry with Open MRI systems and has expanded their modality offerings to include ultrasound, positron emission tomography, optical tomography, and 3D dental imaging.
Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 326,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2003 (ended March 31, 2004) consolidated sales totaled 8,632.4 billion yen ($81.4 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services.
