We have developed a prototype of a needle-sized rigid endoscope using graded-index plastic optical fiber (GI-POF) technology. With highly accurate control of refractive index within a GI-POF, we can utilize it for an ultra-fine lens as a replacement for a relay lens in rigid endoscope. The rigid endoscope with GI-POF lens has a possibility to allow doctors to directly observe a patient's inner affected area before and after surgery in a minimally invasive procedure, enabling rapid and accurate assessment of the patient's condition and efficient post-operative follow-up.
Currently, the need for telemedicine is increasing all over the world. At the same time, the resolution of various medical images has become higher than before, and resolution of surgical endoscopes in particular have reached 8K Ultra-High-Definition (UHD). We conducted demonstration experiments of 8K-UHD medical image remote transmission with low-latency encoding and decoding between two sites (Tokushima Prefectural Central Hospital and Tokushima Prefectural Miyoshi Hospital) 68km apart. The two sites were connected by a 10-Gbps cable TV network, and on the transmitting side (Tokushima Prefectural Miyoshi Hospital), 8K-UHD endoscope image was compressed from 48 Gbps to 300 Mbps for the local cable TV network by ELL 8K HEVC Encoder. On the receiving side, the compressed image was decoded in real time into 8K-UHD uncompressed 48-Gbps image by ELL 8K HEVC Decoder and displayed on a 70-inch 8K-UHD monitor. The latency between the two sites (from 8K-UHD camera to 8K-UHD monitor) was shortened to about 0.15 second, and we and hospital doctors were able to have a two-way conversation on the 4K video conference system (Vidyo) while watching 8K-UHD medical image without any discomfort. In the future, we will improve latency not only in 8K-UHD encoders/decoders but also in peripheral systems such as various interface conversions on the system and monitors.
We have developed 8K-ultra high definition (UHD) endoscopic system and 8K-UHD microscope system to reduce the burden on surgeons and contribute to improving medical safety. On the other hand 8K-UHD video has large data size than the conventional one such as HD and 4K-UHD videos, and it is difficult to secure sufficient recording time. Moreover these systems are expected to be used only in operating rooms, and extra technical supports and special player devices are required for presentation of 8K-UHD surgical movies by surgeons at academic meetings. Therefore, by applying video compression encoding technology (H.265/HEVC), we have developed the 8K-UHD video recorder “RESTAR R8” that achieves both 8K-UHD image quality and ling-time recording. This new recorder enables medical professionals not only to record 8K-UHD video in the same way as conventional medical recorders in the operating room, but also to record, edit and play back outside the operating room with utilizing the network connection. We would like to continue working on technology and solution development so that we can utilize the recorder not only in the operating room and medical education fields, but also in a wide range of solution fields such as digital video, security and manufacturing inspection fields where 8K-UHD video is expected to be used in the future.
Using our 8K ultra-high definition (UHD, 7680 x 4320 pixels) video technology with 16-times resolution compared with the conventional HD endoscopic/microscopic camera (1920 x 1080 pixels), not only surgeons but also all medical staff in the operating room could observe small suture thread, capillaries, lymphatic vessels, thin membrane structures and important nerve fibers which have been hard to see clearly. We believe that our 8K-UHD surgical devices are very likely to lead to major changes in the future of medical practice, not only in typical endoscopic/microscopic surgery but also in novel surgical fields.
We have developed an 8K4K liquid-crystal display (LCD) with diagonal size of 55 inch with the backplane based on an amorphous silicon (a-Si) technology. The 8K4K-LCD has high frame frequency at 120 Hz, which is enabled by a unique technology to compensate the charging voltage of pixels. The achievement of a high resolution of 8K4K including high frame frequency of 120 Hz with a-Si backplanes is ground-breaking for LCDs. Furthermore, a backlight system with laser diode as light source expands the color gamut dramatically. This backlight system enables covering 99% of color space recommended in BT.2020. What is more, the 8K4K-LCD has evolved into a three-dimensional (3-D) display device by attaching a 3-D polarizing film. The vertical viewing angle of the 8K-3D LCD prototype is 8.6 deg at its optimal viewing position set to 1.2 m.
An 8K4K-LCD with the diagonal size of 55 inch has been developed. The backplane is based on an amorphous silicon (a-Si) technology and can operate at 120Hz, which is achieved by developing a technology to compensate the charging voltage of pixels. The realization of a high resolution of 8K4K and a high frame frequency of 120Hz is the world first for LCDs with a-Si backplanes. Moreover, a backlight system with laser light sources expands the color gamut. The newly developed LCD covers 99% of color space defined in BT.2020.
Additionally, we have established three dimensional 8K4K technology. A 3D polarization filter is attached on the 55-in. 8K4K LCD. The vertical viewing angle of 8K-3D LCD prototype is 8.6 degrees at its optimal viewing position set to 1.2m.
We have started clinical application of 8K ultra-high definition (UHD; 7680 x 4320 pixels) technology to a rigid endoscopic system for advanced minimal invasive surgery. Our 8K UHD endoscopic system consists of an 8K UHD camera head with a lens adapter, rigid endoscope, xenon light source, 8K UHD monitor, and 8K UHD recorder. The first model of an 8K UHD camera head was developed based on a broadcasting camera in 2014, and the weight was 2.2 kg. The second model of an 8K UHD camera head was our original achievement in 2016, and the weight was 450 g. In 2017, we finally succeeded in developing the world’s smallest 8K UHD camera head of 370 g weight for mass production. We were able to achieve clinical success using the first model in two cases of cholecystectomy in 2014. Furthermore, after downsizing and weight saving of the 8K UHD camera head, we performed four cholecystectomies with higher maneuverability in the abdominal cavity using the second model in 2017. These experimental and clinical studies revealed the engineering and clinical feasibility of the 8K UHD endoscope. The 8K UHD endoscope promises new possibilities for intricate procedures including anastomoses of thin blood vessels and identification of thin nerves, as well as more confident surgical resections of various types of cancer tissues. We believe that our 8K UHD endoscopic imaging is very likely to lead to major changes in the future of medical practice, not only in typical endoscopic surgery but also in new heads-up surgery.
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