The Philips software analyses PET brain-scan images, and combines them with MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans, to detect the characteristic patterns of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, Frontotemporal Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia, and then quantifies the degree to which they resemble reference images of known dementia sufferers. The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf - co-developer of the system - has been using the software alongside its existing diagnostic procedures for the last year to evaluate its feasibility and usability in a clinical setting.

"The results of the study have been truly excellent," says Dr. Ralph Buchert of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. "With most steps performed automatically, operating the software is very straightforward and only adds a couple of minutes to the procedure time. When we made it available to referring physicians who were not skilled in reading FDG-PET and MRI images, they were able to analyze images and interpret the results within a few minutes."


"Computer-based clinical decision support is regarded as one of the best ways of enabling physicians to optimally use available data and knowledge so that they can consistently deliver evidence-based medicine to their patients in a timely manner," says Dr. Henk van Houten, senior vice president Philips Research and head of the Healthcare research program. "Ultimately, such systems will be judged by the people who use them, and that is why it is important to develop this decision support software to aid the diagnosis of dementia in close collaboration with leading dementia research institutes."

Following on from the encouraging results of these studies, Philips Research is conducting additional studies involving the software in collaboration with the University of Washington (Seattle, USA).

Read a synopsis of dementia diagnosis issues and a technology backgrounder here.

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 128,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2007, 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.


Back to HCB News

More Industry Headlines