The Future of 4K Video Is Now: Maximize Current Technology

Tips for getting the most out of critical systems.

When thinking about the resolution and clarity afforded to providers by an upgrade to a 4K video platform, one could argue that greater resolution is always the best choice for the OR.

Since 4K — horizonal display resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels — is already pretty darn good, doesn’t that mean that upgrading to 8K will mean an exponential improvement? The answer at this stage is a firm... maybe.

A different angle

“What we really could use now is details on how we best take advantage of the technology that’s already out there,” says Keith Mignault, MSBE, senior medical equipment planner at IMEG Corp., a U.S.-based engineering design company.

While the difference in going from a 1K to 4K video platforms is easily discernible, Mr. Mignault describes the gap between 4K and 8K as significant but much less pronounced than a 1K-4K jump, likening it to the difference between a good CD player that costs $150 and one that costs $1,000. Compare that to the difference between 1K and 4K, with the former being a cassette player and the latter a CD player — an undeniably significant upgrade. “8K is of course the next jump, but 4K is capable of getting pretty good resolution,” says Mr. Mignault. “I’ve always been a proponent of pushing the envelope, of going further, but there is another angle to this — and that is how do you maximize the technology that’s already there to increase your flexibility and performance?”

In other words, most facilities shouldn’t be in a rush to move to 8K but should instead focus on fully capitalizing on the many benefits of 4K. And if they haven’t made the switch from standard HD to 4K, they’ll probably want to push that task to the front of the to-do list.

Looking for vendors

OUTCOME IMPROVEMENT? Better visualization gives surgeons the ability to assess tissue quality and easily determine the nature of the patient’s problem, which in turn could lead to more precise arthroscopic surgeries and better overall outcomes.  |  Pamela Bevelhymer

When searching for the right technology vendor, the best approach to evaluating 4K systems is simply to put them side by side and see which has the best image quality, according to Shane J. Nho, MD, MS, FAAOS, co-director, division of sports medicine and co-director, sports medicine fellowship at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in Chicago.

Of course, there are other considerations for facility leaders as well. “The more pragmatic way to answer that is, ‘Which vendor will provide the best value for my surgery center or hospital?’” says Dr. Nho. “In many cases, because it’s such a competitive marketplace, companies will compete for your business, not just in terms of the lease of the [arthroscopy] tower, but also in terms of discounts on items many of the companies have in their portfolios.”

Dr. Nho adds that 4K technology gives surgeons better visualization in terms of being able to highlight the anatomy they need to see during surgery — and it provides better diagnostic information. “I think you can say the advanced technology helps you to avoid certain structures that might be harder to see. It allows you to perform your surgery with a little bit better precision,” he says. “All of this benefits the patients tremendously.”

When choosing potential vendors, Mr. Mignault recommends the same apples-to-apples concept in addressing a surgery center’s routing system, basing your decision on how easy it is to control and manage the flow and functions of the OR system as well as how a particular system could potentially minimize case times.

Additionally, when vetting potential technology such as a new surgical video platform, Mr. Mignault offers these tried-and-true best practices:

• Attend trade shows and host lunch-and-learns where companies come in and make presentations to decision-makers.

• Have personal conversations with vendors regularly to stay on top of the latest trends.

• Test drive prospective systems and look at all the players in the field before making a decision.

• Take the time to carefully assess. Choose the technology that gives the best bang for the buck, not just at the beginning or right after the purchase, but also down the road. You should expect short- and long-term ROI.

Making it a priority to follow each of these steps will guarantee an informed decision.

When to go to 8K

So when is the right time to consider going to 8K? That decision may be much further into the future for many outpatient facilities, according to Mr. Mignault. He points out that current 8K components are costly. Ideally, he says, hospitals and surgery centers should have a 4K platform that is 8K-capable. “Maximize the 4K use for now, then consider six or seven years out changing to the next platform,” says Mr. Mignault. “It’s going to be a while before 8K is really prevalent.”

One way to maximize the current technology for performance enhancement, for example, is through wireless arthroscopy. Current technology has eliminated the fiber-optic cable going into the tower that displays the image. “Wireless benefits the surgeon because you’re not tethered by the cords specifically when doing procedures — at least for arthroscopy,” says Dr. Nho. “We have a light fiber-optic cable, and we have a cord that then displays it to our monitors. But improved technology has replaced the cable with a phosphorus-contained light source. Instead of using a cable to display the image to the screen, it’s used like a military-grade Bluetooth.”

8K is of course the next jump, but 4K is capable of getting pretty good resolution.
Keith Mignault, MSBE

From the surgeon’s perspective, Dr. Nho says wireless is a vast improvement because the cord has some weight to it, there can be sterility issues with it and it can be obstructive. The other issue is that the fiber-optic cable used in traditional wired arthroscopy can overheat and cause burns to surgical draping, whereas the phosphorus-based light source is not as prone to overheating in flammable situations.

“Frankly, it just kind of gets in the way when we’re doing a procedure,” says Dr. Nho. “We’re constantly having to move the cord into a different position so it doesn’t get in the way of our instruments and other equipment that we’re using.”

In addition to wireless arthroscopy systems with sterling visualization, Dr. Nho suggests technology that provides more magnification in harder-to-reach places; technology that affords surgeons with a bit more depth perception by highlighting areas in the foreground; and systems with augmented and virtual reality capabilities.

“The technology will run in parallel to what we’re doing in our everyday lives,” says Dr. Nho. “The 8K in the marketplace will eventually make its way to the OR. These advancements will benefit surgeons and patients alike.”

EFFICIENT UPGRADES

Three Keys to Maximizing Current Technology

What can hospitals and surgery centers do right now to maximize the current imaging technology they have in place or set themselves up for the future? According to Keith Mignault, MSBE, senior medical equipment planner at IMEG Corp., it comes down to the following:

• Plan ahead. Don’t buy anything that isn’t already 4K-ready because there are so many options currently on the market that are capable of 4K.

• Expect seamless routing. Make sure the 4K system can route signals without loss of image quality. “From an integration perspective, if you can buy a product that can go into the room, you certainly do not want to route it at a lower resolution. Right off the bat, the end user would ask, ‘Why did we invest in this?’” says Mr. Mignault.

• Prepare for tomorrow. Buy for the needs of the moment but hedge it by looking toward the future. Maximize the technology for a useful life — somewhere in the seven-year range.

—Mike Morsch

The future is here

Before getting too excited about future technology, Mr. Mignault advises surgical leaders to maximize what they currently have — in a way that sets them up for future advances. “I think you’re going to see some big jumps in how people take the technologies and bring them all together and intertwine them. To me, that really is coming more into focus in the next few years,” he says. “You want to have a platform that is future-flexible, and you want to look at the companies that are willing to work with others in investing in the technologies.” OSM