KKH and Philips in clinical collaboration to improve mammography imaging for faster and simpler breast cancer detection - Philips Healthcare installs next-generation digital mammography system in KKH – a first in Asia. System designed to improve image quality and reduce radiation dosage.

Singapore – Philips Healthcare and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) today announced a two-year clinical collaboration to test Philips’ state-of-the-art digital imaging system, MammoDiagnost DR.

MammoDiagnost DR is the latest full-field digital mammography equipment designed around the needs of women and offering improvements in imaging technology, design, quality and speed of output. This is Philips’ first MammoDiagnost DR installation in Asia Pacific.

“In an ever-increasing effort to provide the best medical care possible, KKH is pleased to partner with Philips Healthcare in enhancing the hospital’s breast imaging expertise with MammoDiagnost DR – a next-generation digital mammography system that provides enhanced image quality and quicker output, and therefore lessens patient discomfort.  Our mammography radiologists are impressed with the outcome and user-friendliness of the system,” said Professor David Stringer, Head and Senior Consultant, Diagnostic Imaging, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Mr Wayne Spittle, Senior Vice President, Philips Healthcare, Multi Country Region Asia Pacific, stated, “Philips is committed to improving the quality of people’s lives. We strive to improve the health and quality of women’s lives worldwide by considering their whole body needs, throughout all stages of life and by innovating solutions for woman-specific conditions and diseases. Philips provides a robust portfolio with best-in-class products and services for earlier detection and less traumatic interventions for our women patients, families and their care providers. We are privileged to collaborate with KK Women's and Children's Hospital to continue to improve our products to better meet the needs of patients and healthcare providers in Asia and Singapore and to raise the bar on clinical excellence”.

Enabled by a “second generation” detector technology and Philips’ UNIQUE image processing, the system provides superior quality of digital images. The high resolution of 85 micrometre pixel size improves the detailed perceptibility of any micro calcification in the images. This is of utmost importance in breast screening procedures as the quality of images translates to faster detection and diagnosis, resulting in lower radiation dose and enhanced patient safety.

MammoDiagnost DR is expected to improve KKH’s workflow efficiency as it provides faster diagnosis with minimal waiting time between projections, a quick 1.3 seconds readout time, and shorter patient waiting durations. The customisable user interface of the Philips Eleva acquisition workspot enables quick and intuitive navigation via touch screen.

“Over the last three weeks that the MammoDiagnost DR has been in operation at KKH, we have found that the procedure time has been reduced by 30 percent. Patients find the compression, in this system, less painful,” said Ms Ang Mui Ee, Principal Radiographer, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Philips’ MammoDiagnost DR has won the internationally acclaimed iF design awards 2008, in the healthcare category, for its ergonomic and patient friendly design. The iF design award is one of the most prestigious recgonitions given by the International Forum Design in Hannover, Germany.

This marks the first time that Philips is collaborating with a hospital in Singapore on clinical testing in the field of digital mammography. Feedback from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital will go into product development and improvements in future digital mammography solutions.

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 approximately 121,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 26 billion in 2008, 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.

About KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital

KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) specialises in care for women, babies and children. Since its inception in 1924, the hospital has grown from a 30-bed maternity hospital into an 830-bed hospital. The hospital offers a full range of tertiary services for women in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Neonatology, through its 300 medical specialists combined with some of the most advanced medical technology and innovative equipment. KKH is committed to providing quality care, equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment technology for the benefit of its patients.