Sony has brought 4K technology to the medical industry with the launch of two new 4K medical-grade monitors - the 31-inch (LMD-X310MD) and 55-inch (LMD-X550MD) models.
With the introduction of the monitors, Sony also plans to unveil a line of 4K products designed to complement every step in the surgical workflow. The other new products scheduled to release over the next several months include a 4K medical grade recorder, 4K Video over IP converter and a content management system[1].
"As the highest resolution available today for surgery, 4K gives physicians and their teams advanced visualisation with virtually no pixilation, especially during up-close viewing," said Amanda Aldridge, Medical Solutions Product Manager at Sony Australia.
"4K technology gives a better view of general anatomy and blood vessels, allowing nurses, clinicians and surgeons to see in far more detail compared to HD resolution. This is important for minimally invasive and general surgery procedures, and for more immersive education and training."
4K delivers four times the resolution of HD resulting in enhanced clarity, higher contrast, and more accurate colour reproduction. The increased number of pixels creates more defined images compared to HD which improves surgical vision, making it ideal for operating rooms in hospitals, surgical centers, clinics, and other medical facilities.
Further, medical teams using 4K displays have the capability to simultaneously see a "quad-split" view of four full HD images (1920x1080 resolution), from other sources, in addition to images from endoscopic camera systems. Surgeons can also zoom in on a 4K image without experiencing the pixilation normally associated with lower resolution technologies.
Sony’s development of a full line of 4K products will help create compatibility among visualisation technologies and other devices in the medical workflow. The increased bandwidth of 4K requires products that can properly display, distribute and store the larger 4K files.
Working with other medical industry companies, Sony is committed to develop new products and accessories that complement the 4K workflow, giving medical organisations more options in choosing the right 4K solution for their facilities.
Sony's New 4K Monitors
Sony leads the development of medical visualisation for more than 30 years and 4K is its next generation of imaging technology. Based on the advanced technologies in Sony’s 4K consumer TVs and professional production monitors for the medical community, the clarity, resolution and detail of 4K images displayed by LMMD-X310MD and LMDX550MD hold great potential for increased visualisation during and after a surgical procedure.
The new monitors can display images from a surgical endoscopic camera system as well as other medical imaging systems, and allow up-scaling of HD videos to 4K. Using the industry's brightest panel technology, the new 4K monitors feature a unique slender chassis, front bezel and OptiContrast panel™ that provides edge-to-edge screen protection and corner-to-corner uniformity. OptiContrast technology replaces the layer of air between the panel and the glass with a layer of resin specially formulated to match the refractive properties of the glass. The OptiContrast panel helps establish dark backgrounds for high-contrast images, even in brightly lit rooms. It also reduces glare and reflection and helps eliminate internal dew condensation.
The monitors feature an extremely wide colour gamut which results in higher contrast and more accurate colour reproduction. Both LMD-X310MD and LMD-X550MD offer Quad view picture display so surgeons can see 4 full HD (1920 x 1080) images at the same time with different display modes namely Mirror Image, Side-by-Side, Picture-in-Picture, and Picture-out-Picture.
The LMD-X310MD and LMD-X550MD feature Advanced Image Multiple Enhancer (A.I.M.E.), a unique Sony technology that lets users adjust views to enhance structure and colour for more comfortable viewing. The FPGA also improves visibility and features four contrast modes and eight colour modes. In addition, the front panel of the monitors is water resistant and designed for easy cleaning.
Sony’s 4K Workflow
Sony is developing a range of new 4K technologies for use in medical environments. These technologies are not commercially available yet, and are being designed to offer medical teams enhanced imaging, training and collaborative capabilities.
Sony's 4K medical recorder is being designed to record 4K and 3D, and to support HD video and stills simultaneously. It will also allow users to upload 4K signals directly to Sony’s new Content Management System.
A new 4K IP Converter (IPC) is being designed to convert video to IP for easy cabling and routing. The IPC’s intended use is to distribute images acquired from modalities within a hospital or clinical environment with minimal latency, and send audio and visual signals to displays or recording devices in a medical procedure room or operating room. The new device will simplify cable management by changing signals from SDI (four cables) to fiber optic (using only a single cable) with very low latency conversion delay. By using one additional cable, users will also be able to transmit uncompressed 4K signals at 12Gbps. The encoder will also support HD as well as 4K.
Sony's HD/4K content management system will allow surgeons to store, access and share surgical video, to review procedures or for education and training. The system will also archive 4K and HD video, still images, and documents and enable easy access to them throughout a hospital network. Users with appropriate access will be able to browse the content and edit using standard web browsers. The system’s web-based interface will allow surgeons to easily share surgical video and stills for education and training.
The new LMD-X310MD and LMD-X550MD 4K monitors are available in Australia and New Zealand from November 2015.
