Philips Digital Pathology Solution Receives CE Mark for Diagnosis to Help Advance Oncology Diagnosis

CE mark includes diagnosis for routine pathology

BEST, The Netherlands—Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) today announced that it has acquired the CE mark for diagnostic use of its Philips Digital Pathology Solution. European pathologists will now be able to use the full digital solution as an aid in diagnosis for routine pathology, such as primary diagnosis of oncology.

With the aging population and the increasing knowledge of the complexity of cancer cases, improving the efficiency and quality of cancer diagnostics has become a critical concern. By digitizing the images pathologists normally view through a microscope, Philips’ solution offers high-quality images that could enable a more objective and quantitative diagnosis than currently possible. These digital images could also enable new ways to mine information from tumor tissue for further data analysis. Additionally, enhanced collaboration capabilities may speed up consults and second opinions which could improve diagnostic confidence.

“Pathologists play a critical role in the increasing demand for cancer diagnosis and care, and digital pathology looks promising in its ability to support faster, more confident diagnosis,” said Perry van Rijsingen, General Manager of Philips Digital Pathology Solutions. “Helping improve workflows and collaboration could increase efficiency and productivity, and we believe that digitization will arm pathologists with the resources they need to successfully improve diagnostics.”

The CE mark includes diagnosis for routine pathology including Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and special stained tissue sections.

Through the Digital Pathology Solution, Philips strives to enable a faster and simplified pathology workflow and improved outcomes to make pathology labs more efficient. The digitization of pathology workflow is expected to ease logistical burdens and enables new ways of working, such as real-time collaboration between pathologists, the creation of virtual networks and the use of dedicated software tools.

Note: CE mark is not applicable in several markets outside Europe such as the USA.

About Royal Philips:
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of EUR 23.3 billion and employs approximately 113,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare.

SOURCE: Royal Philips