Okyanos Heart Institute, whose mission is to bring a new standard of care and better quality of life to patients with coronary artery disease using cardiac stem cell therapy, announces that it has selected International Med-X and Philips Healthcare as its partner to establish the country’s first cath lab for stem cell therapy.

Philips is a global leader in cardiac imaging and has the largest share of the market of cardiac cath labs worldwide. International Med-X is the distributor for Philips Healthcare equipment in most of the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean including The Bahamas offering sales and service for all Philips Healthcare products. Chief Medical Officer Howard T. Walpole, Jr., M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.C., F.S.C.A.I. made the decision to go with Philips equipment specifically for the treatment of adult stem cell therapy.

When you visualize a heart, you need to be able to get a complex angle to be able to see the back side of the heart. This enables the cardiologist to deliver the stem cells where they are most needed.

Dr. Howard Walpole, MD

“The most important functions of this equipment are to provide high quality images and to obtain the right projections of the image.” said Walpole. “When you visualize a heart, you need to be able to get a complex angle to be able to see the back side of the heart. This enables the cardiologist to deliver the stem cells where they are most needed. The size of the image detector is smaller and the more flexible positioner makes it easier to pivot around the patient’s body to obtain those difficult views.”

The cath lab was shipped from Holland and is currently in Miami awaiting delivery to The Bahamas. Okyanos Heart Institute plans to begin treating patients in early 2014.

About Okyanos Heart Institute: (Oh – key – AH – nos)
Based in Freeport, The Bahamas, Okyanos Heart Institute’s mission is to bring a new standard of care and a better quality of life to patients with coronary artery disease using cardiac stem cell therapy. Okyanos adheres to U.S. surgical center standards and is led by Chief Medical Officer Howard T. Walpole Jr., M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.A.I. Okyanos Treatment utilizes a unique blend of stem and regenerative cells derived from one’s own adipose (fat) tissue. The cells, when placed into the heart via a minimally-invasive catheterization, stimulates the growth of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. The treatment facilitates blood flow in the heart and supports intake and use of oxygen (as demonstrated in rigorous clinical trials such as the PRECISE trial). The literary name Okyanos (“Oceanos”) symbolizes flow. For more information, go to www.okyanos.com.

Royal Philips is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2012 sales of EUR 24.8 billion and employs approximately 116,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter .