Aloka Co., Ltd.'s ProSound Alpha 10 Ultrasound System Now Available with Latest Olympus Gastrovideos

TOKYO, June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Aloka Co., Ltd. announced that it had completed development to make its ProSound Alpha 10 compatible with the latest ultrasound gastrovideoscope manufactured by Olympus Medical Systems Corp. and has released the product for market.

The compatibility of the flagship model ProSound alpha 10 with Olympus' gastrovideoscope is expected to enhance ultrasound imaging performance as well as the ability to diagnose pancreatobiliary and biliary disorders and upper gastrointestinal tract disorders.

With this introduction, two types of ultrasound endoscopes are now compatible with ProSound Alpha 10:

The first is the world's first electronic radial scanning echoendoscope offering 360 degrees scanning angle with its main purpose being in the early detection of pancreatic and biliary lesions and diagnosing infiltration level of tumors in the stomach and the esophagus.

The second is an electronic convex scanning echoendoscope predominately used for ultrasound guided biopsies.

With this enhancement, the ultrasound transmission driving system of the ProSound Alpha 10 is renewed and the innovative Broadband Harmonics technology results in significantly elevated imaging capability, supporting detailed observation of the lesions and higher level of diagnosis.

The above mentioned ultrasound gastrovideoscopes are compatible with Directional eFLOW (D-eFLOW), Aloka's new-generation blood flow display mode featured in the ProSound Alpha 10. The D-eFLOW function has an enhanced capability to depict fine vessels inside and around the tumor, and it is expected to greatly contribute to observation and diagnosis of the tissue.

Following the release in Japan, the cooperative sales force of Aloka and Olympus Medical Systems market the endoscopic ultrasound system worldwide. The products are being introduced at major medical exhibitions worldwide. Aloka forecasts sales of the ProSound Alpha 10 in the endoscopic ultrasound market in the first year to be 70 to 100 units per year (over 1,000 million yen as sales volume).

Corporate Profile

Aloka Co., Ltd. is a pioneer in the development of diagnostic ultrasound systems. Our diagnostic ultrasound systems are used worldwide. We commercialized electronic convex sector scanner and Color Doppler systems that displays blood flow images, which are indispensable for today's ultrasound examination, first in the world. The cumulative production of Aloka's diagnostic ultrasound systems has exceeded 200,000 units as of December, 2006 as a world first as a single brand.

Aloka's corporate philosophy is encapsulated in the words, "The preciousness of life" and "Save as many lives as possible." Under this philosophy, Aloka's creativity and technological innovation will continually evolve to serve both patients and health-care professionals. Aloka is committed to the creation of a society based on a friendly relationship between medicine and people.

Contact: Mr. Masanobu Tada Marketing Department Aloka Co., Ltd. Phone: +81-422-45-9247 Fax: +81-422-45-7751 E-mail: tada1486@am.aloka.co.jp URL: www:aloka.com

CONTACT: Mr. Masanobu Tada, Marketing Department for Aloka Co., Ltd.,+81-422-45-9247, +81-422-45-7751 (fax), tada1486@am.aloka.co.jp

Web site: http://www:aloka.com/