David Bernard
THINKING OF BUYING ...
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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4
HD Video Displays
The latest models offer a lot more than incredibly sharp pictures.
E
ven without clinical studies showing that clearer, crisper images
improve patient outcomes, there's no disputing the advantages
of HD in the OR.
The arrival of high-definition video displays in GI endoscopy,
laparoscopic cholecystectomy, arthroscopic joint repair and other
minimally invasive procedures brought surgeons more detail, sharp-
er pictures, greater color accuracy and a better sense of depth per-
ception. You've benefited, too, since the technology attracts physi-
cians' cases and, in lending confidence to surgical techniques, fos-
ters workflow efficiency.
However, enhanced vertical-by-horizontal screen resolution isn't the
be-all and end-all of video technology. Other recent advances have
made the displays easier on the eye, safer to use and even more
informative. Here's how:
• Better backlighting.
LEDs aren't just revolutionizing overhead
lights. Video displays that incorporate individual light-emitting
diodes for each pixel provide brighter images than traditional LCD
displays, in which a single light source illuminates all of the pixels.
• On-screen multitasking.
Large screens that can display images and
input from more than one device simultaneously let surgeons observe
and monitor a range of information quickly, conveniently and with
consistent quality.
• Visual aids.
Displays designed with anti-glare screens and wide-
angle visibility make it easier for surgical personnel to watch the
action, no matter where in the room they're standing. A display that
produces high-contrast images may lessen the need to dim the lights
during its use, which supports staff safety, as do display systems that
can receive signals from imaging equipment wirelessly.