The Pro-AV world and Medical world are enjoying a sort of renaissance these days. BCI has seen an influx of medical operating room applications in the past year. Traditionally a copper domain, operating rooms are now being forced to implement fiber optic transmission solutions because of a number of factors.

Factor #1: Video bandwidth requirements are increasing.

In the recent past, Surgeons were typically only able to view procedures via cameras outputting S-Video, which has limited resolution and bandwidth. Endoscopy Camera Manufacturers are now building new HD camera heads that output high resolution RGB or DVI or HD-SDI. These high bandwidth signals become increasingly difficult to manage over copper cabling even through the relatively short 75’ cable runs. Video noise and ground loop issues are magnified with these high resolution video types.

Factor #2: The number, quality and size of displays are increasing within the operating room.

In the past, most operating rooms only had 1 or 2 CRT displays to view their video. Now, with the advent of LCD technology, multiple displays are being installed on to operating booms to provide surgeons and their staffs live video of a procedure, no matter where a person is standing in the room. Additionally, LCD screen resolutions are now available in HD resolutions to complement the new HD camera heads being manufactured. Wide 16:9 aspect ratio displays are also being provided as a choice to surgeons. Screen sizes have also increased because “bigger is better”.

Factor #3: Live video is being used as a teaching aide.

Since the quality of the video displayed has increased, display applications are being implemented to remote live video of an operating room procedure to other areas of the hospital to be viewed by students and doctors interested in learning or to be recorded and stored for future playback. These long cable runs exceed the transmission distances of copper within the hospital. Frequently, large plasma screens are installed for such a purpose.

Factor #4: “Digital” is the “hot” buzz word.

All of the large medical company’s are marketing the concept that “digital” is the best. In order to provide something new to market to hospitals and increase revenues, medical company’s are installing and upgrading cameras and displays and touting that fully “digital” is better. Thus, an increase in the number and frequency of DVI, HD-SDI, and RGB applications is being enjoyed by Pro-AV integrators.

Summary: All of these factors add up to one thing; increased opportunities for selling fiber optic transceivers into hospital operating room applications.

BCI will be exhibiting in the following shows this year. Come by and see us!