Philips and ACC Address the Growing Demand for Minimally Invasive Cardiology Interventions by Showcasing Hybrid OR Solutions at ACC 2010

ATLANTA, March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI), in partnership with the American College of Cardiology (ACC), spotlight the growing need for minimally-invasive interventions to address a spectrum of cardiac conditions, such as structural and degenerative heart issues.  The need to reduce invasive surgical interventions and complication rates is driving innovations in minimally invasive approaches.  Philips and ACC will jointly showcase the Hybrid OR Suite, a solution that combines in one room the equipment needed to perform both open and endovascular cardiac procedures.  Built out of combined efforts by Philips and its network of alliances, the Hybrid OR Suite will help advance how clinicians attend to patients in cardiac procedures.  The Hybrid OR Suite will be demonstrated at this year's annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology, March 14-16.

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Traditionally, X-ray imaging is used to navigate cardiac interventions performed in a cardiac catheterization (cath) lab.  In recent times, importance has grown for 3D ultrasound imaging in visualizing complex structures during interventions.  A Hybrid OR Suite combines the sterility and instruments of a traditional operating room with the X-ray and ultrasound imaging systems and radiation shields of a cath lab.  

"Using live 3D TEE ultrasound, we can view the anatomy without incisions or surgery," said Roberto Lang, M.D., director of Noninvasive Cardiac Imaging Labs at the University of Chicago Medical Center.  "It provides 3D images unlike those from other technology, to help clinicians place therapeutic devices."

The cutting-edge Hybrid OR configuration not only provides hospitals with a room that is flexible enough to handle a wide variety of treatments and procedures, but it also helps clinicians from a variety of specialties to collaborate.  

"Multidisciplinary care is gaining broader acceptance as hospitals and healthcare institutions combine approaches and evolve in their delivery of cardiac care," said Henry Solomon, M.D., chief medical officer for business development at the American College of Cardiology.  "Rooms equipped to support both open surgical and minimally invasive endovascular approaches, such as the Hybrid OR, are designed to meet the specific needs of clinicians when they are called upon to perform difficult procedures."

The Hybrid OR Suite on display at this year's ACC is well-suited to enable clinicians to perform a full range of endovascular, percutaneous and open procedures.  Percutaneous procedures enable physicians to utilize minimally invasive catheter-based interventions to treat patients that may be too sick or frail for open interventions, such as in valve replacement surgery.

"The patient is happy, the procedure is less invasive and the collaboration between the cardiologist, the cardiac surgeons and industry -- with Philips providing the technology -- has made that possible," said Valluvan Jeevanandam, M.D., chief of Cardiac & Thoracic Surgery at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Philips' Hybrid OR Suites are customized for customer needs and designed using an advanced 3D architectural planning tool that provides prospective customers with a visual rendering of possible room configurations.  From high-quality, high-resolution, multi-modality imaging with advanced 3D software to support confident decision-making, to surgical tables, lighting and other equipment considerations, the full scope of equipment combinations is assessed.

"Philips Healthcare is committed to improving patient outcomes by providing solutions to care providers that enable procedure evolutions and enhance collaboration amongst specialties to treat a wider patient population," said Joris van den Hurk, vice president of Cardiology Care Cycles for Philips Healthcare.  "Our developments in the Hybrid OR space, on display at ACC, illustrate these possibilities and also detail how best-of-breed technology providers can work together to foster patient-focused care."

Please find additional information on new products showcased at ACC by visiting the Philips Healthcare booth, #1343, and the Hybrid OR Suite located in booth #2744.  Online visitors can visit http://www.philips.com/media or www.philips.com/hybridor.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs more than 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of US $32.3 billion in 2009, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE Philips Healthcare