Yamaha PoE switch installed at Teikyo University Hospital, Mizoguchi

Placing the least stress on a patient’s body is a key part of all medical procedures. In X-ray fluoroscopy, a new examination format uses cutting-edge technology to bring the information from multiple devices together, allowing medical staff to easily see everything they need to know. At a Japanese hospital, Yamaha intelligent PoE switches are playing a vital role.

Teikyo University Hospital, Mizonokuchi in Kawasaki, Japan, is a community hospital with advanced facilities. It works in unison with welfare and other medical organisations to place the highest value on community healthcare.

In recent years, emphasis has been placed on increasing minimally invasive treatment, which places less burden on the patient’s body. Fluoroscopy - which uses X-rays to obtain real-time moving images within the body – has evolved from conventional X-ray examinations to a comprehensive format which utilizes multiple devices such as endoscopic and diagnostic ultrasound equipment. This has meant multiple displays are installed in examination rooms to display information, such as live moving images during examination, from several pieces of equipment.

The most important aspect of the new technique is the real-time display of instant, high-quality moving images. With very thin stents and catheters being used for treatment, any delay in the display of the images could be life-threatening for the patient.

In 2023, Teikyo University Hospital, Mizonokuchi planned to replace its X-ray fluoroscopy system with one equipped with the latest functionality. At the same time, it was considered whether it would be possible to display medical information from multiple sources on a single display, as had been requested by the fluoroscopy team.

Safe and reliable operation is also obviously a key requirement for such a system, alongside being able to be operated quickly and intuitively by staff.

Investigation showed that an optimal solution could be based on the IP-based Software Defined Video-over-Ethernet (SDVoE) standard. As well as meeting the needs of the challenge, it would also have the advantages of supporting future expansion and reducing installation costs.

The project required a L2 Power over Ethernet (PoE switch), which would support the high-speed, high-capacity communication requirements of the new video integration system. This would feature transmission equipment from Mediaedge, which has a wealth of experience of manufacturing systems for the medical market.

The Yamaha SWX2322P-16MT, 10 Gigabit/multi-gigabit intelligent L2 PoE switch was chosen because it can receive and distribute increasingly large volumes of medical information, it is fully compliant with the SDVoE standard and it has been tested to work with Mediaedge products. The network configuration is also very easy to use, requiring only the ‘SDVoE Optimal Settings’ function to be activated.

The new system means it is possible to instantly show any necessary medical information on one large display, with very simple operation. This means the amount of eye movement required medical staff is significantly reduced, enabling them to fully concentrate on the examination and treatment without any distraction. CT, MRI and other past images can be checked while performing examinations and treatment, with patients’ vitals monitored on the same screen in real time.

Since installation, more than 530 tests and treatments have been carried out for various departments in the hospital, including respiratory medicine and gastroenterology, with the system well received by the medical staff. Similar systems are being also considered for use in other medical departments, such as operating theatres and angiography rooms.

The Yamaha SWX2322P-16MT also has a full range of security measures, which can be activated if expansion for future collaboration with related facilities at Teikyo University and other local medical institutions is needed.

The hospital is also looking at combining this system with Yamaha’s Dante-compatible IP audio system, with a view to using it as an integrated system for video and audio communication throughout the hospital.