Sony Revolutionises Medical Imaging Possibilities with the Launch of the Industry’s First Still and Moving Video DICOM Capture Station
10 October 2005
Basingstoke, October 10th 2005 – Sony today launches the next generation device for the medical industry, which will redefine the way in which surgical operations are recorded and visual medical information is used in today's operating theatres. The BZMD-1 is a tool that will empower and differentiate progressive hospitals, which focus on research, training and new treatment methods, as it will enable surgeons to acquire, simultaneously display and archive superior-quality still and moving images from surgery.
The BZMD-1 can capture visual material from a wide range of surgical cameras, including most current and future endoscopes and microscopes, and can record commentary about the procedure at the surgeon's discretion, as it features an easily muted audio input.
The Sony DICOM capture station is the first of its type to enter the market and to fully meet the DICOM MPEG2 standards for video capturing. Images can be stored on a variety of media including central storage (such as the Sony DICOM satellite server), CDs, DVDs or even in printed form. The CDs and DVDs produced are integrated with viewing software so that they can be accessed by any recipient.
The new product also represents a significant milestone in Sony's drive to bring true High Definition (HD) imaging to medicine and lays the foundation for full resolution 1080i HD as it can capture HD still images from HD video sources and will be able to capture HD video when DICOM embraces the technology.
"The expansion of networked storage into surgery will not only help the individual department but also the hospital to bring down costs, increase levels of efficiency, and eliminate the loss of media and important patient information." said Philip Vallender, Healthcare Solutions Marketing Manager, Sony Europe. "This new product will allow surgeons to capture, store, distribute and display real-time and long-term high quality images and ultimately improve the way in which hospitals treat patients."
"The BZMD-1 takes surgery into a new era, where hospitals can benefit from archiving both high-quality still images and long-term video content. Material can also be used for training, research and even litigation procedures," said Andy Kydd, Assistant Manager of BPRL (Broadcast and Professional Research Labs), Sony Europe.
"We have listened closely to the needs of our leading customers across Europe to develop this product," added Kydd. "It is a flagship concept that has drawn on world-class video expertise at BPRL, our R&D facility in Basingstoke, UK, and is a product that is already attracting interest for distribution beyond Europe alone."
