EINDHOVEN, Netherlands – A range of clinical procedures can benefit from Philips' new portable, compact ultrasound system, touted as a solution to reduce failed bedside exams caused by low image quality.

The CX50 CompactXtreme from the Dutch-based IT vendor can enable quicker treatment decisions and ultimately reduce healthcare costs, according to a company release. Radiology, vascular, women's health, emergency medicine, regional anesthesia and critical care are among the purported clinical applications for the high-resolution 2D imaging device.

Philips says providers indicated in the development phase a need for high-performing compact systems for portable studies at the patient bedside or in the ICU.

"The first step was to get a better understanding of the needs of clinicians," said Anne LeGrand, CEO of Philips Ultrasound. "Through our insight process we learned that they wanted premium performance from their compact system. As a result, we have created the CX50, a new category of compact product, to address this need."

"The quality of results we get when carrying out a scan with the CX50 are close to what we'd expect from the best cart-based systems," said Dr. Etienne Danse from the Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Brussels. "We've been using the system in daily practice, particularly in the Critical Care Unit, where we regularly need high performance sonograms for color Doppler evaluation of the liver and the kidneys. Due to the smaller size of the device it is more convenient to use in this challenging environment, but still provides diagnostic information that enables us to make the right decision for the patient."

The CX50 CompactXtreme incorporates features of the Philips iE33 and iU22 premium cart-based systems, the release stated. This includes PureWave transducers, which have been clinically proven to improve image quality across the patient population, especially on technically-difficult patients, and SonoCT real-time compounding technology and XRES adaptive image processing for artifact- and noise-free images.

The system also features SonoCT real-time compounding technology and XRES adaptive image processing for images that are virtually free from artifacts and noise, displaying well-defined anatomy and pathology. The CX50 supports SmartExam system-guided protocols, an integrated guidance tool that streamlines and speeds exams for clinicians and patients.

The system is available across Europe and Asia, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and India, with release scheduled for North America later this year.