Royal Philips Electronics launches three new imaging systems
MRI, digital radiography and CT systems aim to increase throughput and range of examinations offered
Royal Philips Electronics is introducing three new imaging systems to help radiology departments increase both the number of patients and range of clinical exams they can handle.
Showcased at the 2013 European Congress of Radiology , all three systems combine the capabilities for high patient throughput with the functionality and advanced clinical imaging applications.
It is widely recognised that ageing populations and the rise of chronic disease are putting huge pressure on healthcare systems. Radiology has become a cornerstone of diagnosis and treatment and much of that pressure is felt in the radiology department. Transforming care means creating new clinical solutions for imaging, offering faster ways to collaborate, and providing breakthrough economic value, so that more patients can have access to care.
"Hospitals and clinics of all sizes face a constant struggle to treat more patients and reduce waiting times, all within often extremely tight budgets," said Gene Saragnese, chief executive officer of imaging systems at Philips. "We're helping them to meet that challenge by delivering affordable imaging systems with premium functionality and image quality that deliver real clinical and economic value."
The first of the new systems is the Multiva 1.5T MRI system, which combines high productivity with the capability to go beyond standard MRI applications. The Multiva 1.5T builds on Philips’ innovative and proven technologies from the Ingenia and Achieva platforms. At its heart is the FlexStream workflow that improves coil handling efficiency for head, spine, musculoskeletal, body and neurovascular exams, reducing scan set-up time by up to 40%. In addition, Multiva 1.5T delivers up to 16 times faster imaging, provides high-quality images of large anatomical areas for increased diagnostic confidence, and includes multiple features to improve the patient’s overall comfort and experience.
"The time it takes to change patients has significantly decreased even for elderly patients, letting us scan around 20 patients per day,” said Dr Christof Walter, co-owner of the Radiology Center Trier in Germany. “Plus we can do advanced imaging in all body and brain regions and get beautiful visualisation of lesions in knee cartilage and small ligaments in the wrist.”
The company is also unveiling the DuraDiagnost digital radiography (DR) system. A cost-effective solution, it brings the benefits of DR to more radiology departments. These benefits include images that are available within seconds and can easily be saved and shared, enhancing workflow efficiency. DuraDiagnost uses premium features such as the UNIQUE image processing and Eleva user interface, which automatically and intuitively ensure the right image settings are used for each examination. The system is available in three configurations of which the first two deliver a full range of exams; the dual-detector Efficiency room allows rapid switching between different types of examinations for high patient throughput, the Compact room's unique geometry fits into small rooms, while the table-based Focus room enables enhanced department set-up flexibility for an affordable investment.
Lastly, Philips is also unveiling a brand new configuration in its proven Ingenuity family of CT scanners. The Ingenuity Flex is a 16-slice CT scanner that delivers robust imaging with fast acquisition and reconstruction for streamlined workflows that let clinicians spend more time with their patients. Highly flexible, it is ideally suited for routine and cardiac CT imaging, and provides valuable advanced clinical applications delivered through the Philips Extended Brilliance Workspace that helps the clinicians differentiate their practice. The system offers personalised image quality at low dose with the iDose option. In addition, the Ingenuity Flex allows personalised dose checks and reporting to manage dose for each patient. Additional upgradeability options allow the system to grow with the customer to maximise their return on investment.