Sony Brings 4K to the Medical Industry With New 31- and 55-inch Monitors

Sony is bringing 4K technology to the medical industry, with two new 4K medical-grade monitors -- the 31-inch (LMD-X310MD) and 55-inch (LMD-X550MD) models.

Sony also plans to unveil a line of 4K products designed to complement every step in the surgical workflow. The new products, planned to be available over the next several months, include a 4K medical grade recorder*, 4K Video over IP converter* and a content management system*.

“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 Sunil Krishnani, Head of Business development, Sony Professional Solutions MEA. “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.”

4K delivers four times the resolution of HD, resulting in enhanced clarity, higher contrast, and more accurate color reproduction. The increased number of pixels in a 4K image means that objects displayed are more defined compared to a high-definition image. The sharper, more detailed picture helps improve surgical vision, making it ideal for ORs in hospitals, surgical centers, clinics, and other medical facilities.

Medical teams using 4K displays have the capability to simultaneously see a “quad-split” view of four full HD signals (1920x1080), from other sources, in addition to signals 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 visualization 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.

Sony is committed to working with other medical industry companies to develop new products and accessories that complement the 4K workflow, giving medical organizations more options in choosing the right 4K solution for their facilities.

Sony’s New 4K Monitors

Sony has lead the development of medical visualization for more than 30 years and 4K is its next generation of imaging technology. Sony already has 4K consumer TVs and professional production monitors on the market and these new medical monitors are modified versions for the medical community. The clarity, resolution and detail of 4K images hold great potential for increased visualization during and after a surgical procedure.

Sony’s two new 4K medical monitors -- the 31-inch (LMD-X310MD) and 55-inch (LMD-X550MD) models – can display images from a surgical endoscopic camera system, or other medical imaging system. These monitors allow for up-scaling of HD video to 4K. 

Advanced Image Multiple Enhancer (A.I.M.E.) is a unique Sony technology that lets users adjust views to enhance structure and color for more comfortable viewing. FPGA improves visibility and features four contrast modes and eight color modes. The monitors’ front panel is designed for easy cleaning and water resistance.

The new 4K monitors are planned to be available in fall 2015.