Royal Philips Electronics announced it has acquired Shanghai Apex Electronics Technology, a leading Chinese manufacturer of ultrasound transducers, key determinants of image quality for ultrasound systems. The acquisition strengthens Philips’ portfolio of high-quality transducers specifically aimed at the value segment in emerging markets.
Royal Philips Electronics announced it has acquired Shanghai Apex Electronics Technology, a leading Chinese manufacturer of ultrasound transducers, key determinants of image quality for ultrasound systems. The acquisition strengthens Philips’ portfolio of high-quality transducers specifically aimed at the value segment in emerging markets.
“As healthcare infrastructure develops in emerging markets such as China, the need for imaging solutions in the value segment of the market is growing rapidly,” said Steve Rusckowski, CEO of Philips Healthcare. “Strengthening our ultrasound capabilities in these markets is essential, as ultrasound is a critical yet affordable and mobile modality for early diagnosis and real-time imaging.”
The purchase of Apex underlines Philips’ conscious decision to step up investments in these markets, he said.
“(The acquisition) will allow us to deliver on our commitment to deliver healthcare solutions that meet the diagnostic requirements and budgets of our customers in emerging markets,” Rusckowski said.
Ultrasound is a widely used diagnostic procedure that provides a noninvasive and real-time method of observing soft tissue anatomy.
The acquisition marks another step in Philips’ expanding presence in emerging markets, following the earlier acquisitions of Meditronics and Alpha X-Ray Technologies in India, Shenzhen Goldway Industrial in China, and VMI Sistemas Medicos and Dixtal in Brazil. In 2009, Philips also announced the establishment of an industrial and R&D facility for imaging systems in Suzhou, China. Most recently, in 2010, Philips acquired healthcare informatics company Tecso Informatica in Brazil and established a partnership with medical equipment manufacturer Electron for the development of healthcare products in Russia.
Founded in 1998 and employing over 130 employees, Shanghai Apex Electronics is one of the leading manufacturers of ultrasound transducers for medical equipment companies in emerging markets. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.
The Reading Room: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Cancer Screenings, and COVID-19
November 3rd 2020In this podcast episode, Dr. Shalom Kalnicki, from Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, discusses the disparities minority patients face with cancer screenings and what can be done to increase access during the pandemic.
Study Finds Transvaginal Ultrasound Unreliable for Detecting Endometrial Cancer in Black Patients
July 3rd 2024Utilizing a threshold of less than 5 mm of ultrasound-measured endometrial thickness, the authors of a new study noted an 11.4 percent false-negative probability for endometrial cancer in Black patients.
New Study Shows Non-Radiologists Interpreting 28 Percent of Imaging for Medicare Patients
June 28th 2024While radiologists interpreted approximately 99 percent of all non-cardiac CT, MRI and nuclear medicine studies in hospital and emergency department settings for Medicare beneficiaries, new research shows significantly less radiologist review of cardiac imaging and office-based imaging.
FDA Clears Pocket-Sized ECG System and AI Technology for Detection of Cardiac Conditions
June 27th 2024Using a reduced leadset and deep neural network algorithms trained on more than 175 million electrocardiograms, the KAI 12L technology reportedly detects up to 35 cardiac determinations, including acute myocardial infarction.