Philips unveils computed tomography (CT) system that scans the heart in two beats to aid in diagnosis and treatment of serious health conditions

Chicago, USA – At the 93rd annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) unveiled its latest innovative healthcare products and technologies that seek to make a difference in how radiologists can prevent, diagnose, treat and monitor disease, and allow them to focus more on their patients.



Among the Philips innovations featured at RSNA will be CT products designed specifically to improve image quality and reduce dose in the most demanding studies. The flagship product, the 256-slice Brilliance iCT scanner, allows radiologists to produce high-quality images with exceptional acquisition speed, including complete coverage of the heart and brain. It is so powerful it can capture an image of the entire heart in just two beats, while incorporating Philips technology that has reduced radiation doses by up to 80 percent.*



“Our innovations are perfect demonstrations of Philips’ commitment to enable healthcare providers to devote attention to their patients, not just the technology,” says Steve Rusckowski, CEO of Philips Medical Systems. “The new Brilliance iCT scanner announced today was specifically designed by Philips to make the job of the clinicians easier and improve the experience of the patient.”



Brilliance iCT and a new 64-channel system both feature Philips Essence technology, consisting of new X-ray tubes, detectors and reconstruction design elements. This technology can provide detailed and clear 3D images of an entire organ, including the heart and brain, and can also show changes over time. All images also can be accessed on any computer in a hospital or by colleagues and researchers remotely, to make it easier for the whole team to share information. To date, more than 30 CT systems with Essence technology have been shipped.



The scanners deliver key clinical insights for a wide range of applications in the radiology and cardiology settings, while the enhanced visualizations will be valuable for doctors diagnosing and treating problems within the heart. The Brilliance iCT scanner is also designed to reduce patients’ exposure to X-rays. The scan is much quicker, as the machine’s X-ray emitting gantry – the giant ring-shaped part that surrounds the patient – can rotate four times in a single second, which is 22 percent faster than current systems.



Additional company highlights at RSNA include the Philips Reading Room 20/20 Concept. Developed and designed by Philips, Reading Room 20/20 is a future concept of the reading room where radiologists analyze diagnostic images of patients. It brings to life Philips’ “ambient” concepts in lighting, information technology (IT), user interface and design to create a collaborative environment that positions radiologists as the key diagnostic consultant at the center of the disease management process. Promoting knowledge and data flow between radiologists and other caregivers, the cutting-edge, intuitive setting may foster tighter clinical collaboration on exams for all patients, from infants to adults.



As healthcare continues to evolve, clinicians require more efficient systems that reduce time and physical limits for acquiring diagnostic scans to help speed exams and care. To address these needs, Philips is developing technologies like a wireless X-ray detector for Philips X-ray systems used in the radiology department, emergency room and intensive care unit. This cable-free detector will be demonstrated at RSNA as a work-in-progress.



Additionally, Philips will showcase five research projects that demonstrate where radiological technology for diagnosing and treating heart disease and cancer is headed, including:

* Spectral CT imaging to quantify the amount of calcium in tissues such as calcified plaques and the ability to differentiate multiple contrast agents from anatomical structures in one-pass CT scans;
* Advanced software algorithms to calculate the probability that a lung nodule is malignant, and to search a database of prior cases with known diagnoses and present clinically relevant past cases to the user;
* Patient-specific organ models for personalized radiology planning, therapy and reporting;
* New image analysis techniques to enhance the resolution and image quality of PET and SPECT scans and extract quantitative information relating to localized tissue processes, such as hypoxia (reduced oxygen levels in tissue); and
* Image-guidance technology based on the fusion of MR and ultrasound images for prostate biopsy.