Philips introduces advanced motorised radiography system

4 March 2005

VIENNA, Austria. Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG, AEX:PHI) marked the first day of the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) meeting in Vienna, Austria, with the introduction of its latest new technology designed around clinician, hospital and patient needs — the Philips Practix Convenio, an advanced, motorized radiography system.

A mobile, motorized X-ray system, the Philips Practix Convenio is the newest member of the Philips mobile radiography systems family to combine high quality X-ray technology with excellent levels of mobility. The Philips Practix Convenio allows full access to intensive care environments and even disaster sites. The system runs off its own power with a long battery life giving operators a whole day of full applications.

According to a report in the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, 65% of medical and surgical patients admitted into intensive care showed an incidence of significant radiographic abnormality occurring in chest radiographs(1). Also according to the study: "The quality of portable radiographs can be highly variable. Inferior image quality is frustrating for the clinician and radiologist in their attempt to manage these critically ill patients".

The Philips Practix Convenio moves with the help of a motorized carriage that allows radiographers to move the system at the touch of a button. The scanner can also be rotated on the spot and is designed to meet the needs of radiographers demanding convenience and mobility.

"In many cases, seriously ill patients can not be easily transported to a hospital's radiology department, particularly patients in intensive care," said Arne Helbig, international marketing manager, general X-ray, for Philips Medical Systems. "Clinicians and managers alike recognize that high quality imaging coupled with mobility is essential. The Philips Practix Convenio is an ideal system to meet that demand."

The Philips Practix Convenio is the latest addition to the company's product portfolio which has seen the introduction of four new technologies in recent months that can help make diagnosis and treatment easier, more efficient and above all, simpler for clinicians and patients. First revealed at the Radiology Society of North America (RSNA) meeting in November 2004, these four new technologies will be shown at the ECR meeting: The Philips Panorama 1.0T which is the world's first and only open high-field MR scanner with active shielding; the Philips Brilliance 64-channel CT scanner which enables clinicians to capture rich visual detail and cover a large area of the body in less time; the Philips GEMINI GXL which is an open PET/CT scanner; and the Philips MammaDiagnost FD Eleva, a digital mammography system.

"Philips recognizes that systems and solutions must be designed around the needs and requirements of hospitals and patients," said Kevin Haydon, CEO, Europe, Middle East and Africa, for Philips Medical Systems. "In the intensive care department, for example, clinicians need high quality, mobile X-Ray systems that combine clinical efficiency with the convenience of mobility. By supplying advanced systems designed to meet the direct requirements of clinicians — in this case mobility via the Philips Practix Convenio — we are helping advance medical care for patients. "

1. Radiology in Intensive Care, Beatrice Trotman Dickinson, MD: Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, March 2003