Innovations Timeline

We’re committed to providing innovative technology and services that enable healthcare providers to achieve the highest level of clinical excellence. As a global leader in the growing medical device and diagnostic industry, we’re also well-positioned to deliver solutions with unique clinical benefits that meet healthcare's challenges today and in the future. Our portfolio is extensive and includes x ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, computed tomography, nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography, patient monitoring, information management and resuscitation products, as well as a complete range of medical supplies and services that include asset management, training and education, business consultancy, financial and document services and e care business services.

2006
In June, Philips announces it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Intermagnetics General Corporation.  Intermagnetics develops, manufactures, and markets high-field super-conducting magnets used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems and is viewed as the technological innovator in this market.

Philips inaugurates Asia Pacific's first Learning Centre for advanced medical diagnostics equipment training in Singapore.  The Centre will offer service engineers, sales engineers, and application persons in-depth knowledge of cutting-edge medical technology and will also provide medical communities across the region access to the most advanced medical diagnostics equipment and their operation, thereby acceleratingthe delivery of quality healthcare.

In May, Klein Biomedical Consultants announces that Philips takes over the number one position in sales of diagnostic ultrasound equipment in the United States.

Philips announces the U.S. commercial launch of Motiva -- a TV-based platform for remote patient management, which gives patients a friendly and familiar way-- the home television -- to connect to connect with their healthcare organizations and clinicians a way to track each patient'schronic condition. 

On April 27, Philips completed its acquisition of Witt Biomedical Corporation, the largest independent supplier of hemodynamic monitoring and clinical reporting systems used in cardiology catheterization laboratories (Cath Labs).

Philips introduces its new line of flexible care and in-hospital transport monitors, the SureSigns VM Series -- designed to provide essential monitoring for a wide variety of care environments.

Philips announces its new line of obstetrical care fetal and maternal monitors, Avalon FM20 antepartum and Avalon FM30 intrapartum.  Both monitors have advanced features that include high-quality ultrasound tracing and cross channel verification, a Philips safety feature that reduces the risk of confusing maternal and fetal heart rate signals.

2005
Philips announces that its entire line of HeartStart Defibrillators will meet the newly updated American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC). The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) also has released its Guidelines for Resuscitation 2005 and Philips will meet those as well.

Philips and Schering AG announce the formation of an alliance to research, develop and commercialize medical equipment and associated contrast agents for optical imaging. First development project is focused on the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

Philips announces FDA clearance of Q-CPRTM technology that provides real-time cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) monitoring and feedback for advanced life support (ALS)-trained responders. Developed by Laerdal and available only on the HeartStart MRx, Q-CPRTM offers medical professionals corrective feedback on the rate and depth of chest compressions, as well as the frequency and quality of ventilations (breaths), allowing for modification in their technique when administering CPR.

Philips announces FDA clearance for the HeartStart FR2+ with SMART CPR, the first automated external defibrillator (AED) to advise responders whether to initially treat cardiac arrest with a defibrillation shock or with CPR followed by a shock.

In August 2005, Philips acquires Stentor, Inc., a leading U.S.-based IT company specializing in products that store, manage, and distribute digital medical images. Stentor’s IT products are known in the medical field as PACS:  Picture Archive and Communications Systems. PACS digitize medical images – for example, X-rays, CT and MRI scans – and distribute them to wherever they are needed:  operating theater or emergency room, doctor’s surgery or medical insurance company.

World’s first ‘Ambient Experience’ Radiology suite opens at Advocate Lutheran General Children’s Hospital.  The suite is designed to create a soothing environment that enables children to relax while undergoing CT scans. Outfitted with a Brilliance 16-slice CT system, the suite also draws expertise from across the entire company – in design, lighting, consumer electronics and semiconductory technology as well as medical systems.

Philips and Achmea announce the launch of a 12-month pilot study of a TV-based system for chronic disease patients to manage their health at home.  Achmea, one of the largest healthcare insurers in The Netherlands, will assess how effectively Philips’ new broadband-based healthcare communications platform, called Motiva, can be cared for at home using the Motiva platform linked to Achmea’s Medical Service Center.

Philips Xtenity Enterprise is unveiled at HIMSS 2005. The solution, developed through the Philips and Epic Systems collaboration, includes clinical and administrative functions – computerized physician order entry (CPOE), decision support tools, registration, scheduling, admission/discharge/transfer (ADT), billing and a patient portal.  The enterprise-wide system represents the first Epic-powered IT solution designed for the significant mid-size hospital segment. 

Philips introduces the HD11 ultrasound system designed to give hospitals and clinics on a restricted budget access to advanced High Definition imaging and sophisticated features never before available in their price range. 

Philips announces HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator available for over-the-counter (OTC) sale without a prescription.  Philips is the first to market a defibrillator OTC to commercial users, which will help make it more easily available for the implementation of early defibrillation programs in communities, schools and businesses. 

2004
Philips announces that construction of the first ‘ambient experience’ radiology suite is complete. Located at Advocate Lutheran General Children’s Hospital in greater Chicago, it features a Philips Brilliance CT (computed tomography) scanner in a room with curved walls, creating a softer emotional environment.  Philips’ lighting and consumer electronics are also used to create a more patient-friendly environment for people undergoing medical scans.  Patients are able to choose a mood theme – or “ambient environment” – for the room in order to help make the experience less intimidating.
 
Philips launched a pilot study to test a secure, personalized healthcare communication platform that connects chronic disease patients at home to their care providers through their television. Philips began testing this platform – called Motiva – in the fall of 2004 with the Cardiovascular Associates of the Delaware Valley (CADV), a US-based physicians’ group that provides cardiovascular care. Comcast Corporation supports the pilot study by providing an IP data connection that enables patients participating in the study to communicate with CADV interactively and receive personalized information.
 
Philips announces U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of its HeartStart Home Defibrillator for sale without a prescription. The Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator is the first new-generation defibrillator specifically designed for home use.  It becomes the first defibrillator cleared for over-the-counter sale, a move that will help make the HeartStart Home Defibrillator more easily available to consumers for home use, where the majority of sudden cardiac arrests (SCA) occur.

Philips introduces its new generation of smarter ultrasound equipment with the release of the Philips iU22 system.  With its intelligent control and advanced ergonomic design the iU22 ultrasound system offers a wide range of high-performance features including next generation, real-time 4D imaging, voice-activated control and annotation, and automated image optimization technologies. 

Unveiled the first hybrid SPECT with multi-slice diagnostic CT system available on the market, Philips launches its Precedence SPECT/CT.  Advancing molecular imaging (MI), Precedence SPECT/CT combines SPECT and CT images into a single data set to characterize pathology and provides new opportunities to manage some of the world’s most challenging medical conditions, particularly in oncology and cardiology. 

2003
Philips introduces the world’s first Brilliance CT 40-slice scanner providing clinicians with in-depth information nearly three times faster than any other multi-slice scanner. Its additional coverage and acquisition speed create a new realm of clinical applications for CT, including enhanced organ perfusion studies, coronary artery imaging, pulmonary imaging and critical care.

Philips launches the Achieva family of MR scanners, a completely new range of MR scanners with scalable 32-channel architecture that enables faster scanning, expanded applications and enhanced workflow.

2002
Philips introduces the HeartStart Home Defibrillator - the first of a new generation of defibrillators designed specifically for the home.

To enable more effective patient diagnosis and treatment, Philips demonstrates its Integris Allura with Flat Detector, which provides excellent image quality leading to a dramatic increase in cardiac x-ray patient throughput.

To support the growing need for virtual colonoscopy tools, Philips launches a revolutionary visualization technique, called Endo 3D - Unfolded, which reduces the effort and time needed for diagnosis.

To enable clinicians to better visualize complex anatomic features, Philips develops Live 3D Echo, a technology that uses ultrasound imaging to provide true real-time, three-dimensional volume-rendered images of the heart.

2001
The world’s first 16-slice CT scanner, the Mx8000, is unveiled by Philips. The Mx8000 scanner features true volumetric CT, which facilitates cardiac imaging and early cancer detection.

For the first time, Philips utilizes algorithms-- first developed for MR imaging-- in ultrasound technology, providing further refinements in diagnostic image quality.

The world’s first combined positron emission tomography and CT imaging system with an innovative open layout, the GEMINI system, is introduced by Philips, to enable clinicians to quickly assess both the location and extent of disease.

Philips becomes the first company to receive FDA 510 (k) clearance to market its HeartStream FR2 automatic external defibrillator (AED), equipped with specially designed defibrillation pads, for use on infants and children under 8 years.

For routine cardiac assessment at the point-of-care, Philips launches OptiGo, a revolutionary, portable ultrasound device that enables physicians to image patients in any care setting.

2000
The Intera family of MR systems with shorter, lighter and more homogeneous magnets than other systems of equivalent field strengths, is launched by Philips.

SkyLight, the world’s first gantry-free nuclear medicine imaging system is introduced by Philips, using advanced robotics to provide outstanding imaging flexibility.

Setting a new standard in PET systems, Philips launches the Allegro, a PET product enabling a new level of performance and exceptional image quality.

1999
The Integris Allura 3D-RA cardiovascular x-ray system is launched by Philips. The system is a major advance in three-dimensional visualization of neuro and peripheral vascular pathologies from a single rotational angiographic acquisition.

Philips introduces the first real-time, spatial compound ultrasound imaging technology that drastically reduces formerly unavoidable artifacts resulting in significant image quality improvements.

The CPET Plus, the world’s first PET system with Curved Crystal Technology (CCT) is introduced by Philips. It provides excellent image quality and user efficiency.

The world’s first variable-angle triple-head gamma camera, the IRIX, is introduced by Philips. The system enables all types of nuclear medicine procedures from whole-body, planar and SPECT imaging to PET.

1997
Philips introduces SENSE (SENSitivity Encoding)– a technique that increases image acquisition speed by a factor of 2 (later, by a factor of 4 in 2002) -- following developments by K. Prüssmann et al of the University Hospital and ETH, Zürich.

Philips pioneers and patents Tissue Harmonic Imaging, providing clinicians with vital additional diagnostic data by using previously undetectable harmonic frequencies.

1995
X-ray grid-controlled fluoroscopy is introduced by Philips to reduce radiation dose by up to 80 per cent without loss of diagnostic information.

Philips introduces high-field interventional MR (IMR) – a breakthrough for interventional procedures.

1994
The world’s first XMR concept, the combination of MR imaging and C-arm x-ray examination facilities in one hospital suite, is announced by Philips.

Philips introduces EPIC, the world’s first PET-based digital rectangular imaging detector with direct radial drive gantry design providing unmatched image quality with optimal reliability and stability.

1993
Thoravision, the world’s first direct digital chest imaging system and the largest detector on the market, is launched by Philips.

1992
The first dual Multislice CT scanner is introduced by Philips, to enable the acquisition of volume data over a wide range in a short time frame.

1991
The first all-digital, broadband ultrasound system, capturing new levels of detail, tissue definition and hemodynamic flow data, is launched by Philips.

1990
Advanced MR angiography (MRA) images using 2D and 3D inflow techniques are presented by Philips.

1980-1989
Laying the foundation for today’s ultrasound image management solutions, the first ultrasound image management system providing on-line digital acquisition, storage, display, analysis and review of ultrasound information is launched by Philips.

Philips and Fuji Corporation co-operate in the development and introduction of the first Computed Radiography system.

The first clinical MR images are acquired on a Philips’ experimental 0.5T scanner at the University of Leiden Department of Diagnostics and Neurosurgery in the Netherlands.

Digital subtraction angiography is invented by Philips – representing a major breakthrough in x-ray vascular imaging.

1970-1979
The first pulsed Doppler ultrasound device, which provides coronary blood flow information to allow physicians to non-invasively evaluate heart function, is introduced by Philips.

The world’s first MR images of the human head on an experimental MR resistive system at the Philips Research Laboratories in the Netherlands are presented by Philips.

The first mobile C-arm x-ray system with rotating anode – a breakthrough in radiology procedures for surgery – is launched by Philips

1964
The first x-ray television subtraction images are shown by Philips.

1960
The first cardiac angiography system is launched by Philips.

1958
Philips is first to develop and install a comprehensive TV imaging chain, a breakthrough in improving x-ray procedures.

1957
Medical x-ray television is launched by Philips.

1955
The Philips BV20 is the first mobile surgical C-arm x-ray system to be installed in an operating room.

1953
The first surgical image intensifier is designed by Philips.

1934
The first x-ray generator with falling tube-load, the Rotalix-condenser SUPER D, is introduced by Philips.

1927
The first x-ray image intensifier is designed by Philips.

1896
The first x-ray tubes for medical applications are manufactured by Philips.