Philips Launches New Endovascular Therapeutic Hypothermia System To Help Enhance Patient Care

ANDOVER, Mass., March 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) announced today its launch of the Philips InnerCool RTx Endovascular System for cooling and warming, which provides advanced whole body temperature modulation therapy in a closed-loop system from the inside out. The InnerCool RTx is a high-performance system that can rapidly raise and lower the body temperature of certain non-paralyzed, awake patients of all sizes in the intensive care setting.

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The RTx cools and warms patients with a unique integrated temperature sensor catheter, which is placed below the heart via the femoral vein. Once in place, the closed-loop system modulates whole body temperature without fluid introduction or exchange by circulating cool or warm saline. This allows for precise temperature control while offering the fastest cooling and warming rates of any temperature management system currently on the market. This approach to therapeutic hypothermia rapidly achieves maximum cooling. It also allows for cooling of awake patients, which helps to avoid the risks inherent with paralytic agents such as masking seizures or inadequate levels of sedation. In addition to the new InnerCool RTx Endovascular System, Philips also offers the InnerCool STx Surface Pad System for cooling and warming, which provides a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution with an advanced design for non-invasive temperature modulation therapy.

Philips is leading the way in advanced temperature modulation therapy with comprehensive, science-driven solutions. Clinical research and technological developments are expanding the potential applications in which this innovative approach can help improve outcomes. As the only company to offer both endovascular and surface cooling and warming systems, Philips InnerCool family of products addresses the specific needs of patients, hospitals and clinical practices.

"The Philips InnerCool RTx Endovascular System brings significant advancements in temperature modulation therapy and makes this technology even easier to use," said Mike Miller, senior vice president and general manager, Cardiac Care, Philips Healthcare. "Because the InnerCool RTx has the fastest cooling and warming rates in the industry, it will be able to provide high performance in multiple clinical applications and settings."

The InnerCool RTx includes a programmable console with an intuitive touch screen interface.  It can be used with both a standard catheter and the Accutrol™ Catheter – the only temperature modulation catheter with an integrated temperature sensor. The average cooling rates for the RTx are 4-5 C/hr and the average warming rates are 2-3 C/hr.

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 more than 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 23 billion in 2009, 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 flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE Philips Healthcare