AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands – Dutch-based Royal Philips Electronics has acquired Traxtal, a Canadian innovative medical technology company in the field of minimally-invasive instruments and software for image-guided intervention and therapy.

Traxtal's navigation solution functions as a GPS for medical instruments, designed to make interventional radiology procedures more accurate while aiming to reduce contrast, radiation dose and interventional time.

Coupled with Philips's strong position in medical imaging, this acquisition enables Philips to become one of the leading healthcare solutions providers for image-guided procedures.

"Image-guided procedures are one of the most important breakthroughs in the healthcare industry in decades. This acquisition allows Philips to significantly enhance its abilities in this rapidly-emerging field, and will help us further realize our ambition to offer the best quality of care in the most efficient way possible," said Steve Rusckowski, Chief Executive Officer of Philips's Healthcare sector.

"Philips is already a leader in providing solutions that enable the opening of obstructed arteries under X-ray guidance. The acquisition of Traxtal, with its innovative technologies in image-based navigation, opens up great opportunities for further cutting edge, minimally-invasive intervention and therapy solutions in combination with our other leading diagnostic and imaging products in Ultrasound, CT and MR.

"This is consistent with our care cycle approach in key strategic areas such as Women's Health, Oncology and Cardiology, extending our solutions beyond diagnosis into image guidance and therapy," Rusckowski said.

Traxtal complements Philips's offering in the area of minimally-invasive procedures. Traxtal's navigation solution displays - during the procedure - the instrument's position, orientation and trajectory on medical images such as Ultrasound or CT. An example is the radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors � during this procedure Traxtal's PercuNav system helps guide and monitor the positioning of the ablation needle towards the center of the lesion.

Philips has had a partnership with Traxtal to provide integrated soft tissue therapeutic and diagnostic navigation solutions since 2006.

Traxtal will become part of the Ultrasound business within the Philips Healthcare sector.

Financial details of this agreement were not disclosed.