Advancement of HD imaging in Medical Electronics - Deep-Color displays and CCD cameras with Full-HD resolution demonstrated
Advancement of HD imaging in Medical Electronics
Deep-Color displays and CCD cameras with Full-HD resolution demonstrated
High-definition video has been increasing for electronics in the medical sector as well. In digitization of medical images, doctors can already browse digital images taken with medical devices such as CR*1, CT*2, and MRI*3, in order to explain to the patients and diagnose the potential diseases. In recent years, even high-resolution image displays and software that converts medical images to three-dimensional have also appeared.
At Computex Taipei 2008 also, held early last month in Taipei, Taiwan, such trend was reflected, and there was the Medical Electronics Pavilion set up for the first time (Figure 1). Exhibitors demonstrated their products in response to high-quality imaging, attracting the attention of visitors.
Full-HD resolution and Deep-Color to display and process medical images
IEI Technology Inc. demonstrated medical PCs and displays supporting full-HD resolution and HDMI 1.3 standard in their booth (Figure 2-1).
Currently, in the "High-Color" or "True-Color" specifications used in the display equipment for medical images, the image data consist of 8 bits for each RGB color component, making 24 bits in total. IEI Technology argues that the "Deep-Color" specification, in which the image data are extended to 10 bits for each color (or 12 bits or even 16) with 30 bits in total (or 36 bits or 48, respectively) will enable to display high-definition medical images that provide subtle and correct diagnostics (Figure 2-2).
Full-HD CCD camera to shoot medical images
It was OPCOM Inc. that demonstrated medical CCD cameras within the Medical Electronics Pavilion in the Computex venue this time.
OPCOM provides CCD cameras towards a variety of applications, including consumer electronics, industrial electronics, security, automotive, and medical electronics. Demonstrated in the front of their booth at Computex this time was a CCD camera that allows to take full-HD medical images (Figure 3). The features of this CCD camera include 5-megapixel resolutions, zooming up to 160x, and a remote head, allowing to take full-HD video or still images of affected areas.
High-Definition trend in medical imaging accelerates further
At the Computex venue this time, the Medical Electronics Pavilion seemed rather small and subdued, compared with booths of UMPC*4s and showy gaming PCs. Nonetheless, the tendency of high-definition trend in the medical imaging applications was apparent.
Along with evolution in advanced medical applications such as surgical navigation and surgical robot, we can expect that medical CCD cameras, displays, and PCs that support high-definition image recognition or processing will be more popular in the future.
*1: CR = Computed Radiography
*2: CT = Computed Tomography
*3: MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging
*4: UMPC = Ultra Mobile Personal Computer
