while they typically support the system for several years after that peri-
od, buying later in the life cycle may cause you to miss out on the
newest and most advanced technologies. Consider whether you want to
upgrade to 3D or 4K systems in the future, and determine how the pur-
chase of an HD system fits into that plan.
Dr. Kenney notes that you should look for a system that has some
level of modularity to it, so that if you find a game-changing technolo-
gy down the road, you can easily swap it in without having to buy a
whole new system. "Our rooms were about $350,000 per room," says
Dr. Kenney. "You don't want to have to do that every 2 years."
Immersive 4K technology
4K, with 4 times the resolution and color reproduction of standard
1080p high-definition, provides doctors an immersive experience.
Currently, only one manufacturer, Arthrex, has a full 4K endoscopic
system on the market, although others are expected to follow. Barry
Schaeffer, RN, CNOR, helped lead the trial of the system at the
Reading Hospital – SurgiCenter at Spring Ridge in Wyomissing, Pa.,
that ultimately led to it being one of the first centers in the country to
adopt the technology.
Mr. Schaeffer says that after asking general, GYN and orthopedic
surgeons to trial the 4K system and a 1080p HD system from the same
manufacturer, the answer was clear: Surgeons wanted the 4K's clear,
crisp images. "The 4K was a major difference compared to the HD,"
he says. "Every surgeon loved it. A lot of them said it was like a 3D
view."
The clear images aren't the only big benefit. Compared to other
endoscopic systems that require separate pieces of equipment — a
computer or "brain," a light source and a camera — the 4K system
consisted of a single component that performed all those functions.
1 0 4
O U T P A T 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 5
