Cardiovascular disease remains the main cause of death in the European Union, claiming more than two million lives each year and costing the economy more than €100 billion annually.(1)

"Philips has been a consistent game-changer in the area of healthcare for almost 100 years, developing innovative and integrated patient-focused solutions, including some of the earliest X-ray technologies," commented Joris van den Hurk, general manager, Cardiology Care Cycle, for Philips Healthcare. "At this year's ESC, we want to highlight our vision of how future innovation will enable care-givers to transform the way cardiovascular disease is managed at each stage - from early detection and diagnosis, to hospital treatment and health care at home, in order to reduce the burden of cardiac disease for patients, doctors and society at large."

The Future of Cardiac Care

Solutions that will transform detection, diagnosis and treatment
This vision of future innovation is exemplified by the launch of the world's first sleep apnea mobile application ("app") designed specifically for cardiologists, and aiding early detection and diagnosis amongst their patients. It's estimated that over 100 million people worldwide are suspected to have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), of which more than 80% remain undiagnosed.(2)

OSA is particularly prevalent amongst people diagnosed with CVD and heart failure, and if untreated can contribute to the development of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack and stroke. The new app, called Sleep & Cardio aims to help expand cardiologists' knowledge of sleep apnea and CVD, providing simple steps for identifying patients who are at risk, a summary of existing guidelines and access to the latest clinical information and training.

From diagnosis to treatment, Philips' commitment to the advancement of CVD care is also being showcased at the ESC in the area of heart modeling - technology that is in development and aims to produce highly accurate and detailed models of a patient's heart structure. Through ongoing research and development, the hope is that this future technology can provide information to clinicians quickly; to support them in planning and refining the execution of complex interventions based on an individual's specific anatomy; and that it can calculate the likelihood of a successful outcome while reducing overall procedure time.

Addressing the human and economic costs of hospital readmission
At ESC, Philips will be showcasing an innovative new discharge planning model and patient education system, currently being developed in collaboration with Professor John Cleland, Head of the Department of Cardiology, Castle Hill Hospital, Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdom. This work is designed to address the burden of hospital readmissions of heart failure patients. Approximately one in four patients are currently readmitted to the hospital within 12 weeks of discharge, half of those within the first month, which accounts for approximately 75% of all heart failure costs.(3) Improved discharge planning, combined with better patient education, may help to significantly reduce the number of readmissions each year. And with the management of heart failure consuming approximately 2.5 percent of the total healthcare budgets of industrialized countries –the average length of a hospital stay is 11 days(4), and the cost per patient in Europe can run into several thousand euros for each hospitalization - the Philips discharge model and education system has the potential to save healthcare providers hundreds of millions of Euros each year.(5,6)

New product introductions designed to advance cardiac care
In addition to future innovations, Philips is also showcasing a number of new devices at this year's ESC, designed to further advance the management of CVD and associated conditions, in all stages of care.

For professional emergency responders, ESC will feature the highly anticipated launch of HeartStart FR3 (not available for sale in the U.S.), the smallest and lightest(7) professional-grade automated external defibrillator (AED) among leading global manufacturers. In addition, IntelliVue MX40, a wearable patient monitor that can be used for the monitoring of ambulatory patients and during patient transport, will be showcased. Designed with infection control in mind, the MX40 combines the benefits of the acclaimed IntelliVue X2 and Philips telemetry into a single, compact wearable monitor and helps clinicians to better manage patient alerts.

For professional emergency responders, ESC will feature the highly anticipated launch of HeartStart FR3 (not available for sale in the U.S.), the smallest and lightest7 professional-grade automated external defibrillator (AED) among leading global manufacturers.

Designed for use in the catherization lab, Philips is launching the Xper Flex Cardio Physiomonitoring System. This system ushers in a new era of hemodynamic assessment, offering seamless integration of Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) measurement and the power of 16-lead ECGs to interventional environments, alongside patented ST Mapping and Culprit Artery Detection. Using this system, physicians are able to assess a patient's condition before and during the procedure, saving valuable time and assisting with procedure planning.

In addition, Philips Heart Navigator allows clinicians to match a 3D image of the patient's cardiac anatomy with a live fluoroscopy image to show the position of catheters and the heart valve in real time, providing a procedure planning tool as well as live image guidance during the actual heart valve replacement operations.

Philips is also showcasing the ClearVue (not yet available for sale in the U.S.), a family of ultrasound solutions featuring innovative technology, smart design and ease of use to make high quality imaging available to a wider range of clinicians. The system features proprietary Active Array technology, an innovative solution that harnesses the power of larger ultrasound systems, enabling superb 2D, color and Doppler image quality for increased diagnostic confidence.

And for the management and treatment of sleep apnea (particularly prevalent in CVD patients), the BiPAP autoSV Advanced System One, a new servo-ventilation device that not only effectively treats patients with sleep apnea, but also provides improved real-time access to data, including compliance and efficacy, helping clinicians to assess future treatment.

"ESC provides us with the opportunity to highlight our continued resolve to providing meaningful innovations that can help to address the significant impact CVD has across the world," said van den Hurk. "From the launch of new devices that improve patient monitoring and tackle sleep apnea and cardiac arrest, to future innovation in heart modeling and patient discharge planning, Philips is blazing a trail in the current and future management of cardiac health."

iPhone application launch for Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular disease

• Sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA), affect approximately four percent of the adult population. They are particularly prevalent amongst people diagnosed with CVD and heart failure (evidence suggests that between 33 and 42 percent of patients with heart failure have predominant CSA) and are characterized by repetitive cessation of ventilation for at least 10 seconds during sleep. If untreated, sleep apnea can contribute to the development of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. As a result, cardiologists play a central role in the screening, identification and diagnosis of sleep apnea.
• The launch by Philips of the world's first sleep apnea iPhone app designed specifically for cardiologists ('Sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease', available from August 27th on Apple Store as 'Sleep & Cardio') will help to increase awareness of sleep apnea in the cardiologist community. It offers a wide range of functionalities and provides detailed information for the cardiologist, whatever their level of knowledge on sleep apnea. It also provides a useful tool for communicating with patients about the disease. There are likely to be several releases per year as the app is fine-tuned and enhanced in response to user feeback.

BiPAP autoSV Advanced System One

• Philips' BiPAP autoSV Advanced System One is a new servo-ventilation device specifically designed to provide physicians with the peace of mind that it's not only effectively treating their patients with sleep apnea (a condition which is particularly prevalent amongst people diagnosed with CVD), but that it's also managing their future needs, in a cost-efficient manner. This is achieved by providing physicians and home healthcare providers with improved real time access to the individual patient's data, including daily patient usage, compliance and efficacy data that helps to assess the success of treatment.

IntelliVue MX40 patient monitor

• Philips' IntelliVue MX40 patient monitor brings mobility, convenience and safety to the progressive hospital environment. The MX40 combines the benefits of the acclaimed IntelliVue X2 and Philips telemetry into a single, compact wearable monitor. Many patients can benefit from mobile monitoring in the hospital, including those who can be monitored in a progressive care area or during supervised recovery from an acute event or surgical procedure. Mobile monitors also help clinicians spend more time with patients: one hospital estimates that its nursing staff saves an average of 40 minutes every day by using the MX40 display to check patients' ECG rhythms, instead of calling a technician at the central station monitor. IntelliVue MX40 offers a comprehensive package of benefits including continuous monitoring over a greater range in the hospital, access to the industry-leading IntelliVue Smart-hopping Network and a color touch screen display that presents the patient's name as well as easily accessible vital information such as ECG, SpO2 and non-invasive blood pressure. MX40 can help clinicians to better and more systematically manage patient alerts both at the patient and at the hospital's central monitoring station. The solution supports the monitoring of ambulatory patients, meaning those capable of walking and not bedridden, and improves clinician workflow by providing local alarms to alert clinicians of patient condition changes no matter the patient's location in the hospital The IntelliVue Information Center is an integral part of the MX40 solution, providing real-time surveillance, reporting, data storage and interfacing with the hospital's electronic medical record (EMR) system. The MX40 is also interoperable with the entire IntelliVue family of products.

Xper Flex Cardio Physiomonitoring System

• Philips' Xper Flex Cardio Physiomonitoring system is a next generation, fully-integrated hemodynamic system designed for the interventional X-ray lab, with seamless integration of Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) measurement. Designed to advance ECG analysis in the cath lab, the system benefits from the power of 16-lead ECGs with Philips' patented ST Mapping and exclusive DXL algorithms. In addition, Culprit Artery Detection provides suggestions on the probable site of an occlusion prior to a cath procedure, saving valuable time and assisting with procedure planning. Physicians are also able to assess and evaluate a patient's condition both prior to and during the procedure.

Philips Heart Navigator

• The Philips Heart Navigator allows clinicians to match a 3D image of cardiac anatomy with a live fluoroscopy image to show the position of catheters and the heart valve in real time, providing live image guidance during heart valve replacement operations. During planning, the software suggests the best projection for the procedure and provides virtual device templates so that the most appropriate device size can be selected. This ability to accurately plan for and then guide highly complex cardiac interventions has the potential to significantly improve cardiac care and patient outcomes.

Philips ClearVue 550

• The ClearVue 550 is a new, reliable, entry level color ultrasound system with good image quality and workflow features. The system is designed to make affordable health care accessible to a larger audience and bring increased confidence in diagnostic imaging to the emerging markets. ClearVue's intuitive user interface provides flexibility to serve patients in any care setting across a wide range of applications including abdominal, OB/Gyn, fertility, vascular, breast, musculoskeletal and cardiology, and exemplifies Philips' commitment to more cost effective, simplified, patient-focused health care solutions.

HeartStart FR3 Defibrillator

• The Philips HeartStart FR3 is an automated external defibrillator (AED), designed for professional responders who treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). As the smallest and lightest7 professional-grade AED among leading global manufacturers, the rugged and reliable HeartStart FR3 is designed to help make lifesaving faster, easier and better. The HeartStart FR3 is not currently available for sale in the USA and requires a prescription and medical direction.

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 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 over 120,000 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.

* Heart Modeling is a topic of ongoing research for Philips, and as such, its use in planning and refining complex interventions based on an individual's specific anatomy, may or may not be realised as a product and brought to market

1. Health-EU Portal. The Public Health Portal of the European Union. http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/health_problems/cardiovascular_diseases/index_en.htm. Last accessed July 2011
2. Global Sleep Apnea Diagnostic and Therapeutic Devices Market Projected to Reach U.S. 5.8 Billion by 2015, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Nov. 2010
3. Cleland JG, Swedberg K, Follath F et al. The EuroHeart Failure survey programme - a survey on the quality of care among patients with heart failure in Europe. Part 1: Patient characteristics and diagnosis. Eur Heart J 2003; 24(5):442-463
4. Cleland JG, Swedberg K, Cohen-Solal A et al. The Euro Heart Failure Survey of the EUROHEART survey programme. A survey on the quality of care among patients with heart failure in Europe. The Study Group on Diagnosis of the Working Group on Heart Failure of the European Society of Cardiology. The Medicines Evaluation Group Centre for Health Economics University of York. Eur J Heart Fail 2000; 2:123–132.
5. SHAPE (Study on Heart failure Awareness and Perception in Europe). www.heartfailure-europe.com/index1.php?item=273. Last accessed July 2011
6. Bundkirchen A, Schwinger R. Epidemiology and economic burden of chronic heart failure. Eur Heart J Suppl 2004; 6 (suppl D): D57-D60
7. Data on file with Philips Healthcare