Philips Showcases New Cardiovascular Imaging Technologies, Delivering Enhanced Image Quality, Increased Efficiency and Excellent Clinical Performance.

ANDOVER, Mass. -- Specialized CT Package, Allura Xper FD20, and New Allura 3D-Coronary Angiography Tool Allow Faster, More Confident Diagnoses and Better-Designed Treatment Planning for Clinicians and Patients

Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHI) announced today the introduction of enhanced cardiovascular X-ray and computed tomography (CT) systems designed to meet the cardiovascular market's demanding clinical requirements for interventional procedures. Presented at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation's (CRF) Annual, Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics Scientific Symposium (TCT 2004), in Washington, D.C., the new systems include the Philips Allura Xper FD20, which captures and processes information at a resolution up to four times greater than that of conventional angiography systems. The company also introduced the customized, fast and reliable Philips Brilliance CT Private Practice CV configuration, targeted toward cardiologists, and the Philips Allura 3D-Coronary Angiography (3D-CA) tool, which obtains three-dimensional images of the coronary arteries. Both technologies were recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Both the Allura Xper FD20 and the Allura 3D-CA tool provide unparalleled detail representation of the condition of the heart's coronary vessels. The Allura Xper FD20 is the first cardiovascular system on the market empowered with Philips unique 2k x 2k imaging chain, which enables physicians to see the vasculature at up to four-times the resolution of other systems. It also includes StentBoost, Philips exclusive interventional tool providing a clear view of stent deployment in coronary arteries, which allows clinicians to immediately take corrective action, potentially eliminating the need for additional costly procedures.

"In the last 10 years, procedure rooms have transitioned from film to digital-based technology, and Philips has been focused on leading that transition while continuing to partner with our customers to develop cutting-edge medical technology for better patient care," said Richard Fabian, director, cardio/vascular X-ray, for Philips Medical Systems. "The introduction of products like the Allura Xper FD20 and Allura 3D-CA are a result of that vision and reinforces Philips commitment to continually improving patient care."

Philips newest interventional tool, the Allura 3D-CA, was created in collaboration with scientists at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. The 3D images of coronary vessels from multiple viewpoints and angles produced by the system will enable clinicians to make faster decisions, more clinically confident diagnoses and design better treatment-planning methods. This can result in enhanced care, potentially shorter procedure times and less contrast and radiation exposure for patients.

"Traditionally, cardiologists have relied on their own expertise in visualizing the coronary artery tree in order to determine severity of lesions and vessel lengths, which are unique to each patient," said John Carroll, M.D., chief of cardiology, director of Cardiac & Vascular Center at University of Colorado Hospital. "Philips Allura 3D-CA is a breakthrough interventional tool that will now deliver 3D images of the heart's complex anatomy, which are unavailable with 2D imaging. By viewing the heart's arteries in 3D, cardiologists can better understand its true structure, which benefits patients not only in treatment, but also shortens exam times, reduces the need for additional invasive procedures and lowers potential exposure to radiation and contrast agents."

Philips will also showcase the Brilliance CT Private Practice CV configuration, which assists cardiologists in the examination and treatment of cardiac patients with fast, noninvasive, highly accurate insight. Specifically designed for, and restricted to, the analysis of cardiac and peripheral vasculature, the Brilliance CT Private Practice CV configuration can non-invasively assess heart disease and help reduce reliance on and expense of other tests. The user-friendly system provides an exciting new tool for cardiologists, while preserving the clinical practice of traditional CT for radiologists.

"Our new specialty system gives cardiologists a fast and consistent CT unit to help determine within minutes if the correct treatment approach is medication, catheterization lab examinations or surgery," said Phil Prather, director, global cardiology CT, for Philips Medical Systems. "With the potential time savings, cardiologists can increase patient volume, increase efficiency and provide better, more precise patient care."

Additionally, the clinical advantages of Philips Rate Responsive(TM) CVCT technologies are currently being confirmed through a landmark comparative study of cardiac CT imaging versus Quantitative Catheter Angiography (QCA). Coronary Assessment by Computed Tomographic Scanning and Catheter Angiography, called CATSCAN, is currently in an advanced stage of patient enrollment. As a large, international multi-center, prospective and double-blind study, CATSCAN is intended to substantiate that CT systems employing Rate Responsive(TM) CVCT technologies are a suitable alternative for many patients previously sent for a diagnostic catheterization procedure. Results of this study are expected at this year's American Heart Association (AHA) and Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meetings.

Other Philips interventional tools on display at this year's TCT meeting include:

--Electrophysiology (EP) software - Empowers electrophysiologists with knowledge of the heart's complex anatomy, offering detailed insight into a patient's left atrium, pulmonary veins, coronary sinus and cardiac veins. This will allow doctors to pre-plan the EP study, thereby having the potential to shorten the procedure time.

--RapidView 20 - The RapidView 20 feature helps efficiently manage the multislice CT data explosion by reconstructing images at up to 20 images per second. This unique feature can save precious time during trauma evaluation - when every second counts.

--Improved Cardiac Review(TM) - Provides a comprehensive set of CT user tools that allow quick visualization of one or more multiple cardiac phases, and adding a quick measurement of cardiac output and ejection fraction. Globe View, a new feature within Cardiac CT Angio, enables better visualization of the coronary arteries.

--2k(2) imaging - The Allura Xper FD20 is the first cardiovascular system on the market to provide a 2k x 2k imaging chain up to four-times the resolution of currently marketed systems.

--StentBoost - A simple, quick, and cost effective tool to improve visualization of stents in coronary arteries, StentBoost helps the clinician to enhance stent visibility during interventions and improves clinical outcomes.

--Xper - Xper integration provides advanced functionality that boosts the efficiency of procedures and workflow before, during and after the intervention. Users can easily personalize the system to access any type of medical image or patient information - from CT to MR and Ultrasound - during the intervention while Xper settings make it easy to combine all relevant clinical images for PACS or CD archiving.

--Xres - Philips award-winning real-time imaging algorithm, Xres reduces noise in clinical images, producing sharp, accurate images.

Philips products and technologies will be displayed at TCT booth #1212.

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 29 billion in 2003. With activities in the three interlocking domains of healthcare, lifestyle and technology and 165,600 employees in more than 60 countries, it has market leadership positions in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, color television sets, electric shavers, lighting and silicon system solutions. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.