Philips Unveils Transcend Plus: Next-Gen Cardiovascular Ultrasound with FDA-Cleared AI and Enhanced Imaging for Smarter, Faster Cardiac Care

Royal Philips has announced the launch of Transcend Plus, the next-generation upgrade to its EPIQ CVx and Affiniti CVx cardiovascular ultrasound systems. The new platform delivers significant improvements in image quality and artificial intelligence integration, including FDA-cleared enhancements for both 2D and 3D imaging, and expands Philips’ portfolio of AI-powered clinical applications to 26, the most in the industry. Transcend Plus is designed to help cardiology teams meet growing demands in cardiac care, where rising patient volumes, increasing clinical complexity, and staffing shortages challenge workflow efficiency. The system enhances image clarity with improved sharpness, contrast, and anatomical detail, enabling more confident diagnoses—even in difficult cases with poor acoustic windows or complex anatomy. A key addition is the 2D Auto EF Advanced feature, which uses AI to automatically quantify left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in both contrast and non-contrast studies. This is especially valuable for patients who cannot receive contrast agents, such as those with kidney impairment. The technology reduces operator dependency, ensures reproducibility, and supports consistent, high-quality assessments across different care settings—from hospital echo labs to outpatient clinics and long-term follow-up. Philips emphasizes that AI is a tool to augment, not replace, clinicians. Dr. Akhil Narang, Director of Echocardiography at Northwestern University, highlighted the value of AI integration, noting that tools like 3D Auto CFQ and 3D Auto TV automate time-intensive manual processes, delivering faster, more reliable results. “Human plus AI is going to be better than human alone or AI alone,” he said. With 26 FDA-cleared AI applications now fully integrated, Transcend Plus streamlines workflows, accelerates decision-making, and improves diagnostic accuracy. These tools support the entire cardiac care continuum, from initial assessment to ongoing monitoring, helping providers deliver timely, evidence-based care. The system’s advancements are particularly impactful for left ventricular function assessment, a cornerstone of cardiac evaluation. Automated, AI-driven measurements reduce variability and enhance consistency—critical in high-pressure environments where speed and accuracy are essential. Transcend Plus also supports advanced 3D imaging, including the Mini 3D TEE transducer, enabling detailed visualization of cardiac structures during complex procedures. Philips’ ultrasound systems perform approximately 1.33 billion diagnostic and interventional procedures annually, serving 654 million unique patients worldwide. Transcend Plus will be showcased at the European Society of Cardiology 2025 Congress in Madrid (August 29 – September 1) and the American Society of Echocardiography annual meeting in Nashville (September 5 – 7), offering clinicians real-time demonstrations of the technology in action. Philips continues to reinforce its leadership in cardiovascular ultrasound by combining cutting-edge imaging with intelligent automation, empowering clinicians to deliver more precise, efficient, and patient-centered care.