SHERIDAN, WYOMING – August 27, 2025 – Royal Philips has unveiled Transcend Plus, the next-generation upgrade to its EPIQ CVx and Affiniti CVx cardiovascular ultrasound platforms, featuring FDA-cleared artificial intelligence (AI) tools and imaging enhancements that promise to accelerate cardiac workflows and boost diagnostic precision across care settings.
Breakthrough Imaging Enhancements Backed by FDA Clearance
The Transcend Plus upgrade introduces sharper 2D and 3D image quality, now cleared under multiple new FDA 510(k) designations. By improving contrast, resolution, and diagnostic visibility, the system enables clinicians to identify cardiac abnormalities more reliably—even in patients with complex anatomies or technically challenging cases. A new 2D Auto EF Advanced feature expands AI capabilities for contrast imaging, essential in left ventricular function assessments.
These enhancements directly address one of cardiology’s biggest operational pressures: delivering accurate, reproducible results under high patient volumes and persistent staff shortages.
AI-Driven Workflow Efficiency at Scale
Philips now integrates 26 FDA-cleared AI applications into its cardiovascular ultrasound suite—the largest in the industry. Applications such as 3D Auto CFQ and 3D Auto TV automate previously manual measurements, cutting down on operator variability and freeing clinicians to focus on higher-value tasks.
Key benefits for providers include:
- Faster, standardized left ventricular function assessment.
- Automated quantification tools for both contrast and non-contrast studies.
- Reliable imaging in patients with poor acoustic windows or renal impairment where contrast agents cannot be used.
By embedding these tools, Transcend Plus positions itself not only as a diagnostic platform but also as a scalable workflow solution for hospitals and outpatient networks.
Industry Perspectives on AI in Echocardiography
“Artificial intelligence is a tool, not a threat, and I always maintain that human plus AI is going to be better than human alone or AI alone – the 3D Auto CFQ and 3D Auto TV AI applications are examples of this, taking manual, time-consuming processes and automating these measurements in a fast, easy and reproducible way,” said Akhil Narang, MD, Director, Echocardiography Laboratory and Associate Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University and Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute.
Such perspectives underscore a wider industry shift: AI in cardiology is increasingly being viewed as augmentation rather than replacement, with emphasis on consistency, speed, and reducing diagnostic errors.
Strategic Implications for Hospitals and Providers
For healthcare systems balancing growing demand with tight resources, Transcend Plus delivers three primary strategic benefits:
- Enhanced image quality: clearer visualization improves diagnostic precision.
- Automated workflows: reduce manual workload and operator dependence.
- Faster insights: actionable results minimize delays in treatment decisions.
These advances align with broader health system priorities around operational efficiency, evidence-based care, and cost containment. With an estimated 1.33 billion diagnostic and interventional ultrasound procedures performed annually on Philips systems, the company’s updates have significant scale implications for cardiology practices worldwide.
Market Context and Competitive Landscape
Philips’ launch of Transcend Plus highlights a growing competitive race among imaging vendors to deliver AI-powered ultrasound solutions. While rivals are pursuing similar FDA clearances, Philips’ ability to integrate the largest portfolio of cardiovascular AI applications differentiates it as a market leader. With cardiology teams under mounting pressure, vendor solutions that combine automation with clinical reliability are likely to see accelerated adoption.
Looking Ahead
Philips will demonstrate Transcend Plus at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Madrid (Aug. 29–Sept. 1) and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) meeting in Nashville (Sept. 5–7), offering clinicians first-hand experience of its capabilities. The company’s continued investment in AI-powered echocardiography signals a strategic commitment to positioning ultrasound as not just a diagnostic tool but an essential platform for future-ready cardiac care.
Learn more at Philips Cardiovascular Ultrasound.