Initiatives
Creating Social Value through Technology in the Medical Field CEATEC Exhibition Report
Dec 24, 2019
CEATEC 2019* was held at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Mihama-ku, Chiba City from October 15 to 18, 2019.
Sony exhibited its technology and products under the theme of “Sony's Technologies x Medical/Life Science" in order to pursue the creation of a diverse range of social value through the power of technology. The exhibit targeted the front lines of medical care and research in the field of advanced medicine using three zones dedicated to Medical Imaging, Sony Olympus Medical Solutions, and Life Science.
The purpose of the exhibit was to give as many visitors as possible an understanding of Sony’s initiatives, technology, and products in the medical business field, where there are usually few opportunities to interact.
* In 2016, CEATEC declared its departure from a consumer electronics exhibition and changed course to become a General Exhibition for CPS/IoT. Since then, CEATEC has become a general exhibition for announcing a future driven by technology that transcends industry barriers. This year marked its 20th anniversary, and 787 companies and organizations exhibited under the theme of “Connecting Society, Co-Creating the Future.”
Medical Imaging Zone
In the Medical Imaging Zone, Sony exhibited an array of medical products — based on Sony’s fundamental technology — used in the world of medicine, from surgical cameras and monitors that record and display the surgical procedure to archive solutions, and printers. Sony also introduced NUCLeUS™, a new medical imaging platform that integrates images in real time from various devices in the hospital via an IP network. It allows images to be recorded, edited, managed, and utilized for a wide variety of applications.
For example, one of the most valued technologies for a medical-purpose monitor is the ability to display a wide color range. Blood within the human body appears in various tones of red, from brilliant tones of red that flow through arteries, to red after time has elapsed since bleeding. Images that clearly demonstrate this difference were shown on a monitor, giving visitors a hands-on experience that highlights the importance of high picture quality in the medical field, such as high resolution, wide color range, and high contrast ratio.
A 4K/HD surgical field camera equipped with a back-illuminated CMOS sensor to deliver high-sensitivity, low-noise images. Using signal processing technology cultivated in the development of cameras, it realizes natural and faithful color reproduction with high-quality sense of texture.
Medical organic El monitor with high contrast and excellent color reproducibility in low brightness areas
Medical recorder and optical disc archives as part of our archiving solutions. 4K video recorded by the medical recorder can be stored for a long term on Sony's high-reliability and robust next-generation professional optical discs.
NUCLEUS™ is a medical imaging platform that centralizes images in real time from various devices within hospitals via IP networks, enabling editing, management, and utilization of the images for a wide variety of purposes.
Sony Olympus Medical Solutions (SOMED*) Zone
In the SOMED Zone, Sony introduced how 4K, 3D, and other commonly known technologies are harnessed in medical devices by demonstrating a 4K surgical endoscope system and a 4K 3D surgical microscope system.
In the exhibition area for the 4K 3D surgical microscope system, visitors were able to see how intricate parts in the human body that are difficult to see with the naked eye can be observed as images with depth after being enlarged in high resolution. This was demonstrated by placing beads inside a brain model and having visitors pick up the beads while viewing a large 55-inch monitor. The demonstration gave participants a hands-on experience of the technical finesse required in medical care, such as the preciseness of a doctor performing microscopic surgery, and the importance of being able to view affected areas three dimensionally. Sony introduced how technology is used and what medical professionals need to be able to distinguish on the front lines of medical care, as well as the associated challenges and technological solutions.
Surgical microscope system, ORBEYE,* which incorporates 4K 3D video technology with high-definition digital image and three-dimensional field of view to support precision surgery.
4K surgical endoscope system with high resolution and rich colors to support surgery
* ORBEYE is a product name of Olympus Corporation. Medical device notification number: 13B1X00277000634. The technology is developed by Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
* SOMED (Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.)
SOMED was established to implement the 4K 3D surgical imaging business segment, and leverages the expertise of Sony’s imaging technology and Olympus’ optical technology and medical business. The company began developing surgical medical equipment in 2013. It launched the 4K surgical endoscopic system in 2015 and the 4K 3D surgical microscope system (ORBEYE) in 2017 through Olympus.
Life Sciences Zone
In the Life Sciences Zone, Sony introduced a cell sorter (which is a cell analysis system), a spectral cell analyzer, and a live cell imaging system.
The exhibit for the ID7000™ spectral cell analyzer featured an explanation of the internal mechanism, and a video that explained the theory of how a flow cytometer optically analyzes cells by analyzing light reflections and fluorescence from multiple laser beams radiated on individual cells flowing in a single line. Sony explained how the ID7000™ is useful for processing a complete suite of examinations on complex antigens that develop on cell surfaces, such as cancer cells and immune cells, all at once. The cell analyzer and cell sorter uses optical technology gained through Sony’s development of Blu-ray discs, and micro machining technology used to produce optical discs. The live cell imaging system applies image processing technology developed through Sony’s expertise in products such as televisions and video cameras.
Cell sorter that can automatically sort out targeted cells
Live cell imaging system to carry out quantitative analysis of cellular motion from videos
Sony will continue to leverage elemental technologies cultivated in the Sony Group and contribute to society through frontline medical care and advanced medical research field.
