Toshiba (TYO:6502) said today it won clearance through an “authorization to operate” with the U.S. Air Force for the company’s Aplio Platinum series of ultrasound systems.
Toshiba’s Aplio 500 platinum and Aplio 300 platinum ultrasound systems won clearance by meeting the Air Force and Defense Health Agency’s Platform Information Technolagy guidelines implemented to protect Patient Health Information against malware, viruses and malicious software.
“We understand that medical imaging safety goes beyond radiation dose and extends to other areas, including cyber threats where medical imaging technology could be targeted. Cyber threats present a significant risk to not only healthcare provider’s data, but to patient safety when personal health and financial information is stolen, and the confirmation of ATO status will help our customers mitigate those risks,” Toshiba marketing and strategic development veep Satrajit Misra said in prepared remarks.
Toshiba said it previously won Air Force ATO for its CT, MR and cardiovascular X-ray portfolios.
In March, Toshiba said that it inked a deal to sell its medical device business to Canon (NYSE:CAJ) for $5.9 billion, as the U.S. Justice Dept. and the SEC probed the accounting practices in its U.S. businesses, and today said it plans to lay off an additional 3,000 workers.
A week earlier, Toshiba granted Canon exclusive negotiating rights to buy Toshiba Medical after a hotly contested auction. The ¥665.5 billion sale of Toshiba Medical Systems follows the February announcement that Toshiba would sell the entire medical equipment unit rather than just a controlling stake. A bidding war soon developed among a slew of private equity players and rival corporations.
