In a recent study presented at the 2011 European Society of Radiology conference, researchers using a digital radiography system with a wireless detector reduced patient exam time by 25 percent - or 10 days each year - for a typical two-view skeletal exam, compared with conventional computed radiography.[1]

"The digital wireless detector has been a major advancement for us," said Gesa Kellerman, M.D., resident radiology at Federal Armed Forces Hospital, Hamburg, Germany. "The workflow is more efficient since we no longer need to scan phosphor plates. The direct digital images are sharper, they have more contrast and clearer contours. And we can use a lower X-ray dose to produce these good images."

The new DigitalDiagnost system allows health care professionals to further customize radiography rooms to match each health center's clinical needs and financial scope. DigitalDiagnost Release 3.0 can be scaled depending on individual application requirements, room conditions and budget flexibility from single, to dual, or even triple detector systems. Healthcare providers can even choose among multiple table designs and vertical stands. Overall, the newly enhanced DigitalDiagnost system has a more ergonomic design than previous systems to enhance the examination experience for both the patient and the health care provider.

The MobileDiagnost wDR maintains the same outstanding image quality of a full efficiency premium DR room, but offers clinicians a portable solution so that immobile and critical patients (such as patients in trauma rooms, intensive care units and operating rooms) can be easily reached and treated. With a robust 40 kW generator, the MobileDiagnost wDR delivers fast exposure times for challenging examinations, critical patients, pediatric and bariatric patients. Perfectly designed for a busy hospital setting, the MobileDiagnost wDR allows technologists to react swiftly and perform a multitude of difficult examinations with ease.

"Radiologists and technologists face the same challenge as every other healthcare provider - taking care of more patients with fewer resources," said Shawl Lobree, vice president of marketing, Diagnostic X-Ray for Philips Healthcare. "The new DigitalDiagnost and MobileDiagnost wDR are compelling solutions from both a clinical and budgetary standpoint. Time saved during the imaging process is often crucial to treatment outcomes and patient well-being."

There are several features on the new DigitalDiagnost and MobileDiagnost wDR that allow for quicker exams and improved efficiency such as "UNIQUE" (UNified Image QUality Enhancement) image processing and the easy-to-use Eleva user interface that only requires minutes of staff training to prepare, perform and complete exams. UNIQUE image processing is an advanced algorthim that harmonizes contrast and enhances faint details to assure accuracy and provide consistent, outstanding images for all anatomical areas. Additionally, the DigitalDiagnost now offers a tray that locks the wireless portable detector (even in tilted positions) with just one click, automatically charges it and allows the detector to be moved between the table and vertical stand trays. Technologist can also use the wireless portable detector to take free exposures e.g. for wheelchair patients. Additionally, the wireless portable detector has five amplimat chambers to reduce the risk of capturing incorrect exposures that often leads to the need to retake images.

With both solutions, patients and medical personnel receive the benefits of a premium DR room - wherever they are needed.

For more information on Philips digital radiography systems, please visit:
http://www.philips.com/digital_radiography

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• Philips Healthcare's Profile

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 about 117,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 22.3 billion in 2010, 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 male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare.

1. Lehnert T., Kerl M.J., Bauer R.W., Naguib N., Nour-Eldin M., Vogl T.J. “Novel, portable, cassette-sized, and wireless flat-panel digital radiography (DR) system: initial workflow results versus computed radiography (CR).” As presented at the ESR Conference, March, 2011, Vienna. http://ipp.myesr.org/esr/ecr2011/index.php?v=sessiond&seid=229&ippwwwsid=iq7gr9m5pulck5nss9u9cjplp2#pap3726