Newly Combined Philips and Stereotaxis Technologies Improve Precise Navigation During Complex Heart Surgery.

Philips' X-ray imaging technology combined with Stereotaxis magnetic solution installed at University of California San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, and St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Boston

ANDOVER, Mass. -- Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHI) today announced installations of new cardiac electrophysiology (EP) labs at University of California San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, and St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Boston, designed to improve catheter navigation within the heart's chambers. Pairing the ceiling-mounted Philips Allura Xper FD10 X-ray system together with the Stereotaxis Niobe system using magnetic navigation capabilities, the combined solution provides better reliability, flexibility and improved catheter stability for physicians during complex interventional cardiovascular procedures.

The combination system dramatically enhances care for patients and staff by enabling operators to treat complex lesions with greater confidence and is expected to speed up procedures through precise, accurate and reproducible navigation of catheters and guide wires to targeted locations. Cardiac electrophysiology is the study of the electrical properties of the heart's cells and tissues. According to the Heart Rhythm Society, electrophysiology is the fastest growing of all the cardiovascular disciplines.

Creating a magnetic field through the patient that interacts with a small magnet tip in the catheter, this integrated platform allows operators to precisely align and place catheters and guidewires through the heart and the coronary vasculature. This is necessary for routine procedures such as surgical treatment of rapid rhythm of the heart (supraventricular tachycardia), as well as complex procedures such as treating a fast heartbeat originating in the ventricles (ventricular tachycardia) or irregular muscle contractions in the heart (atrial arrhythmias)1 2

"We use the Niobe system in 40 percent of cases in the lab, and in that time the combination Allura Xper and Niobe system has proven to be highly reliable and has helped our staff to better manage the lab," said Dr. Charles Haffajee, director of cardiac electrophysiology program, St. Elizabeth's Hospital. "Our clinicians are also able to use a rotational scan, which gives a 3D-view of the coronary vasculature, instead of standard 2D projections from one angle. As published studies by Drs. John D. Carroll and James T. Maddux indicate, rotational scans help solve 2D's misrepresentation of reality and provide an interventional tool, which helps to reduce contrast and dose." (John D. Carroll, MD, James T. Maddux, MD, et al. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions 62:167-174 (2004))

"We are very excited to provide such a comprehensive system for our patients and staff," said Dr. Jeffrey Olgin, associate professor of Medicine and chief of Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center. "The ceiling-mounted system reduces the footprint in the lab and allows the possibility of using both interventional cardiology and electrophysiology procedures. Another important benefit of this system is increased patient accessibility during the procedures, which improves the work environment of patient and staff."

Improving patient care by simplifying lab operations and reducing exposure to X-ray radiation

An added value of the magnetic device navigation in the combined Philips and Stereotaxis interventional environment also helps reduce X-ray exposure the patient3. Control of the Niobe system is handled in an adjacent room, meaning that physicians are not exposed to X-ray radiation and are able to work without wearing heavy lead aprons that can cause back injuries.

"Philips' dedicated EP business program is committed to improving the lab environment, enabling new, more complex procedures and integrating the EP workflow process across the complete patient care cycle," said Ronald Tabaksblat, vice president, electrophysiology, for Philips Medical Systems. "Our continued partnership with Stereotaxis illustrates our strategy of collaborating with best-in-class vendors to develop complete EP product offerings. The new magnetic navigation technology is a result of this effort and promotes our vision of leading the EP market through better, more enhanced patient care and treatment solutions."

In addition to the magnetic navigation solution, Philips breakthrough family of EP solutions can be integrated with EPMedSystems' EP-Workmate[R] computerized recording system, enabling display of EP-Workmate arrhythmia data on Allura monitors, sharing patient data between the two systems, and controlling some of EP-Workmate's key functionalities from the Allura tableside touch screen module. All these functions facilitate a more efficient use of the EP lab by allowing physicians to concentrate on their patients.

The Philips EP solutions also provide low EP X-ray dose settings, which are achieved through the MRC X-ray tube with DoseWise--a portfolio of technologies delivering significant dose reduction of X-ray to patient. This complete solution provides an excellent system to treat complex EP arrhythmias, tortuous coronary artery navigations and cardiac resynchronization therapy procedures. Although the integrated system represents the state-of-the-art and most powerful tools for therapeutic electrophysiology procedures for those diagnostic applications where magnetic navigation may not be needed, the Allura Xper FD10 provides the most advanced and full featured fluoroscopy system available.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lifestyle and technology, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of "sense and simplicity." Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 121,700 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of USD 34 billion (EUR 27 billion) in 2006, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

1 Burkhardt et al., Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology (JCE), 2006; Thornton et al., Heart Rhythm, 2006

2 Ernst et al., Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology (JCE), 2005: Euro pace 2005

3 Wood et al, Circulation supplement, 2006; Lindsay et al, Heart Rhythm supplement, 2006).