Philips

The company began in lighting and founded its first research lab in 1914. Applying its technical knowledge to healthcare, Philips introduced a medical X-ray tube in 1918. This marked the point when the company began to diversify its product range and to systematically protect its innovations with patents in areas stretching from X-ray radiation to radio reception. Along the way, we've been responsible for some truly ground-breaking discoveries and standards, such as the Rotarix X-ray tube, the high-pressure mercury lamp, the triple-headed dry electric razor, the Compact Cassette, the Brilliance 40-slice CT scanner, CD, DVD, Ambilight TV, and more recent innovations such as the AirFloss, Lumify portable ultrasound, and the all-digital Vereos PET/CT scanner.