Since its launch in 2008, Philips CX50 CompactXtreme ultrasound system has been providing the flexibility of a portable system, while delivering the imaging performance of a premium ultrasound solution. With Live 3D TEE now available on the CX50 xMATRIX, interventional teams can more easily access important clinical information and visualizations for complex interventional procedures. For clinical efficiency the compact Live 3D TEE transducer is designed to be shared between the CX50 and iE33 xMATRIX systems. Because of this, departments should be able to reduce the number of TEE transducers that must be purchased, tracked, cleaned, and stored.

"The first thing the staff noticed was the incredibly small size of the CX50 system, which is very useful in our cath lab where space is at a premium," said Dr. David Liang, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director, Marfan Syndrome and Aortic Disorders at Stanford University. "In clinical evaluations the Live 3D TEE image quality is excellent and, with the new user interface, 3D imaging is really intuitive. In imaging TAVR procedures with the CX50, I am able to easily switch back and forth between 2D and 3D during the critical time when we are positioning the valve."

The CX50 xMATRIX is a uniquely powerful all-in-one imaging solution for structural heart disease (SHD) repairs in cath labs and hybrid cardiac operating rooms, offering Live 3D TEE plus an architecture designed to support future capabilities including advanced fluoro integration (EchoNavigator, 510(k) pending) with Philips Allura systems.

Along with the new CX50 xMATRIX, Philips announced the Vision 2013 upgrade for existing CX50 cardiology customers. Vision 2013 includes:

• Qlab 9.0 with improved speckle tracking algorithm for faster, more robust strain quantification
• Available C8-5 and L12-5 50mm transducers for specialized vascular imaging requirements.
• Available S12-4 and S8-3 sector transducers for pediatric and neonatal imaging.
• New pediatric analysis and structured reporting capabilities.
• Vascular structured reporting.
• Improved annotations and workflow

"We re-engineered the CX50 in order to continue to push the envelope. The CX50 xMATRIX demonstrates our continued commitment to cardiology leadership and to delivering the most clinically relevant echocardiography solutions," said Conrad Smits, CEO Ultrasound, for Philips Healthcare. "The new CX50 xMATRIX is a versatile system that provides hospitals with high quality portable imaging to promote better patient care."

Related news articles:

• 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 meaningful innovation. 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 approximately 122,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 22.6 billion in 2011, 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.