Medical Equipment News

Philips Electronics continues to increase its presence in the medical equipment market by acquiring Respironics, a major player in the respiratory medical device industry.

Two years ago Philips launched a big restructuring project, Vision 2010, intended to reshape the company from its position as a diverse electronics conglomerate to a company with legs in medical equipment, lighting equipment and consumer gadgetry.

Respironics is a respected manufacturer of respiratory medical devices, including the well-know Tidalwave 715Sp Handheld Monitor. Philips will pay $5.17 billion for the company, which reports annual revenues of $1.2 billion per year.

Philips Electronics, which manufactures the popular Philips HeartStart AED, is already a significant competitor in high-tech medical equipment, such as diagnostic scanners for hospitals, where it competes head-on with industry giants Siemens and General Electric (who owns the popular Datex Ohmenda brand, among others).

A Vietnam hospital that was struggling to provide medical services due to poor medical facilities has received a much-needed donation of medical equipment. The hospital of Na Ri district in Bac Kan province received a donation of an anesthesia machine and two patient monitors, valued at over VND 300 million.

The unexpected donation was made by Trang An hospital, which is owned by Medtech. The company has also promised to provide 60 beds to the Na Ri hospital in 2008. In addition, Trang An hospital will continue to provide other necessary hospital equipment as well as free surgery and testing training for doctors in Bac Kan province.

This donation will allow the hospital at Na Ri to improve health care for local people, especially ethnic minority groups. The hospital is currently understaffed, with only 14 doctors and one pharmacist.

Philips Electronics, a leading manufacturer of portable defibrillators, is reorganizing its business to focus on medical equipment products and consumer electronics.  This follows the company’s decision to last year to sell its semi-conductor business.

As part of its commitment to its renewed focus on medical equipment, Philips has bid to take over U.S. medical services company Visicu Inc., and expects to receive approval from both shareholders and regulators. Philips hopes to close the deal in the first quarter of 2008.

With the integration of Visicu, Philips plans to expand the company’s offerings of patient monitors.

As announced in November of 2007, Philips is also in the process of completing the acquisition of US-based medical software manufactuer Emergin, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is a world leader in the manufacturing of portable defibrillators. One of their most popular products, the Philips HeartStart OnSite AED Defibrillator, is the first AED defibrillator available to commercial users without a prescription.