Royal Philips Electronics this week launched the new Philips HD11 XE cardiology ultrasound system during the European Society of Cardiology, hosted in Stockholm. Seen for the first time by cardiologists worldwide, the system is the latest version of the popular HD11 ultrasound system with a flat panel monitor, and is designed to meet the specific needs of cardiologists through more powerful cardiac capabilities that allow advanced quantification to make faster and more specific treatment decisions.

The new Philips HD11 XE adds a variety of features to help physicians more accurately measure heart chambers, wall motion and ejection fraction. The system also features QLAB quantification software to help physicians improve their diagnostic capability by providing non-invasive assessment of cardiac anatomy and function, including:

• Strain Quantification, using Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) provides tools to quantify velocity and evaluate patients for synchronization therapy
  
  
• Automated intima media thickness (IMT) measurements of carotid and other superficial arteries Region of Interest (ROI) quantification to analyze pixel intensities from 2D or colour Doppler data sets in up to 10 user-defined regions, and graph them over time

As of September 1, 2005 Philips Medical Systems has shipped more than 1,000 iE33 intelligent echocardiography systems throughout the world-less than eleven months after its introduction. The Philips iE33 is a new generation of cardiac ultrasound equipment that uses high-definition imaging to help physicians better diagnose heart disease and incorporates data analysis tools to help support treatment decisions and monitor treatment success.  Physicians around the world have praised the Philips iE33 for its extraordinary 2-D image quality, powerful 3-D measurement of cardiac function and anatomy, Live 3D imaging of the beating heart, and user-centric ergonomics. The iE33 system also offers a wide range of high-performance features including voice-activated control and automated image optimization technologies.

"The Philips iE33 is a demonstration of the expanding role of ultrasound in the management of cardiac patients.  Now physicians have the tools to look at the heart beating in three dimensions and make a more accurate measure of heart function, in less than a minute." said Kurt Kelln, director, ultrasound, for Philips Medical Systems, Europe.