New Monitors Bring 4K to the Medical Industry

The Sony (Tokyo, Japan) 31-inch (LMD-X310MD) and 55-inch (LMD-X550MD) 4K monitors feature a unique slender chassis and front bezel to provide edge-to-edge screen protection and corner-to-corner uniformity, while reducing glare and reflection. An added feature, 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; this 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 gamut of colors which results in higher contrast and more accurate color reproduction. Both models offer Quad view picture display, so surgeons can see four full high definition(HD, 1920 x 1080) images at the same time. Users can also select different display modes, including Mirror Image, Side-by-Side, Picture-in-Picture (PIP), and Picture-out-Picture. Zoom control allows enlarging a 4K image without experiencing the pixilation normally associated with lower resolution technologies.

Images can also be adjusted using the advanced image multiple enhancer (AIME), a technology that lets users enhance structure and color for more comfortable viewing. A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) board improves visibility and features in four contrast and eight color modes. Sony is also developing of a line of 4K products to create compatibility among visualization technologies and other devices in the medical workflow, including a 4K medical grade recorder, a 4K video over IP converter, and a content management system that will allow surgeons to store, access and share 4K and HD video, still images, and documents with easy access to them throughout a hospital network.

“4K provides the highest resolution available today for surgery, giving physicians and their teams advanced visualization with virtually no pixilation, especially during up-close viewing,” said Julie Holodak, senior marketing manager at Sony’s Medical Systems Division. “4K technology gives a better view of general anatomy and blood vessels, allowing nurses, clinicians, and surgeons to see in far more detail than even possible with HD. This is important for minimally invasive and general surgery procedures, and for more immersive education and training.”

The increased number of pixels in a 4K image provides a sharper, more detailed image with four times the resolution of HD, resulting in enhanced clarity, higher contrast, and more accurate color reproduction.

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