Audio Visual Operating Room
The ideal solution for providing training, simulation or transmission of medical work (interventions, therapeutic sessions, etc.) to hospitals, doctors, nursing staff, health professionals and the medical education and healthcare sector in general. The Audio Visual Operating Room installation implemented at the Athens Naval Hospital, enables audiovisual interconnection and communication between hospital rooms on different floors. Specifically, image and sound are transferred from an operating room to a conference room.
Only audio is transferred from the conference room to the operating room. Additionally, there is the possibility of using the entire image and audio of the session as input for teleconference software, such as Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, etc.
Real Time Interface
The exchange of information between the two rooms in real time is also important, something that would be impossible to happen due to the seriousness of the medical procedures, but also the limited space, which does not allow a large number of people to be present.
Audiovisual storage
It is also possible to save the image and audio of the session on an external memory card for future use. The purpose of the installation is to make it possible to monitor the medical procedure, for educational or other reasons, by any interested party (student, resident, visiting physician) as well as to study the recording later, to improve the final result.
Operating room equipment
A PTZ camera was installed on the ceiling in the operating room, which captures an overall view of the medical procedures, as well as a headset for doctors to communicate with the conference room.
From the anteroom of the operating room, it is possible to operate the camera that records the medical procedures, and the following signals are transferred: image (NDI), audio (dante) and the output of a computer containing medical-imaging software. All signals are transferred via a fiber optic network, to the conference room area.
The operator of the equipment in the anteroom has the ability, through an image controller (multiviewer), which is connected to a monitor, to select the image output and therefore what will be sent to the conference room. That is, whether the operation being performed will be shown on the entire screen, whether only the imaging program will be shown, or whether the two screens will be juxtaposed simultaneously.
In detail:
- PTZ camera that captures images from medical procedures
- Network switch that receives a signal from optical fiber and powers the devices
- Interfaces for converting audio to network signal and vice versa
- Recorder for saving sessions on external memory cards
- Camera signal to NDI converter
- PTZ camera control panel
- Device to convert video output to USB for recording on a computer
- Multiviewer monitoring monitor
- Multiviewer control, control device
Conference room equipment
From the conference room side, there is the possibility of audio communication with the operating room. A microphone is available in the center of the conference table, through which participants can talk to the doctors performing the operation, and a speaker allows those present to hear the doctors respectively.
Both devices use Dante protocol to transfer the audio signal over the network. There is also equipment to receive the image via NDI and convert it to HDMI, to power a 70-inch TV.
In detail:
- Network switch that receives a signal from the optical fiber and supplies power to devices that need network and power
- Interfaces that convert audio to network signal and vice versa
- Device that converts NDI signal to HDMI
Training & Support
Although the logic of the implementation is simple (the power supply is turned on and all devices automatically "communicate" with each other, since they are pre-configured), training was provided to the hospital staff who will operate the equipment.
A detailed explanation of the functionality of the devices and their management by the users was given and instructions for use were delivered in digital format. The system is supported by the technical department of Comart.
Comart
Comart is Authorized Reseller of Blackmagic Design, Lumens, Lacie, Adobe, Multicam, etc. and has long-standing experience and a specialized sales and support department as well as high expertise in audiovisual facilities covering training, events, conferences, video, post and broadcast.