Many purchasers usually ask “Is this medical-grade?” when buying medical screens. This indeed puts many suppliers in a difficult position: directly answering “yes” seems to lack persuasiveness, while providing verification to purchasers leaves them unsure of what certifications to obtain. In today’s article, we will teach everyone how to purchase the desired medical screens through parameter analysis and scenario application, and also help suppliers explain to customers whether their products can meet the customers’ display needs.
As the “information window” for clinical diagnosis and treatment, the parameter selection of medical screens directly affects the accuracy of diagnosis and operational safety. However, it is not about pursuing the highest parameters, but about matching one’s own usage scenarios.
First, understand the basics: Some fundamental parameters of medical screens
Before purchasing, it is necessary to clarify the basic attributes, which determine whether the device can integrate into the existing medical system:
Size and form: Ranging from 3.5-inch laryngoscope screens to 27-inch imaging diagnosis screens, the size must match the device (e.g., monitors are mostly 10-15 inches, while CT workstations require 21 inches or larger); forms are divided into fixed (e.g., large screens in operating rooms) and portable (e.g., mobile ward rounds terminals), which affect installation and operational convenience.
Interfaces and compatibility: Must support medical-grade interfaces such as HDMI 2.0/USB4 to ensure seamless connection with PACS systems, monitors, and other devices, avoiding data transmission delays or resolution degradation due to incompatible interfaces.
Touch and interaction: Operating room scenarios require capacitive screens that support glove operation; emergency devices need anti-misoperation designs (e.g., no screen jumping when operated with wet hands); ordinary diagnosis screens can be simplified to button operation.
Analysis of core parameters: These three indicators determine “clinical reliability”
1. Resolution: The “bottom line” of image details, matching the probe is key
Core impact: Insufficient resolution will lose subtle structures (such as vocal nodules under a laryngoscope, tiny lesions in CT images), but blindly pursuing high resolution (e.g., using a 4K screen with a 2-megapixel probe) will cause resource waste.
Selection logic:
Diagnostic-grade equipment (e.g., DR, endoscopes) requires “1:1 matching between probe and screen resolution” (example: a 4K laryngoscope probe must be paired with a 4K screen to avoid edge blurring caused by pixel compression);
For monitoring equipment (e.g., ECG monitors), 2K resolution is sufficient, with the focus on the clarity of multi-parameter on-screen display.
2. Brightness: Guarantee of “visibility” under sunlight
Core impact: Insufficient brightness will cause the screen to whiten in strong light environments (such as operating room shadowless lamps, outdoor first aid), making it impossible to identify key data; however, excessively high brightness (over 1500 nits) may cause eye fatigue, especially in long-term surgical scenarios.
Selection logic:
Operating room/outdoor scenarios: Need 600-1200 nits high-brightness screens, paired with anti-glare coating (e.g., AG matte treatment);
Indoor conventional scenarios (e.g., ward monitoring): 400-600 nits is sufficient, balancing energy efficiency and visual comfort.
3. Operating temperature
Core impact: Exceeding the operating temperature range will cause a series of failures (delayed response due to low temperature, black screen due to high temperature), which is particularly critical in scenarios such as mobile medical care (ambulances) and unheated clinics in northern winter.
Selection logic:
Fixed indoor scenarios (e.g., imaging departments): A conventional temperature range of 0-50°C is sufficient;
Mobile/extreme environments (vehicle-mounted equipment, plateau clinics): Need wide-temperature designs of -20~70°C, -30~80°C to avoid slow cold start or high-temperature crashes.
Scenario-based selection: Not pursuing “top configuration”, but seeking “compatibility”
The parameter requirements of medical screens vary greatly with scenarios; blindly pursuing high-end parameters will only increase costs. Choose according to the scenario:
1. Operating room/interventional therapy scenarios
Core needs: Anti-interference, high stability
Key parameters:
Brightness ≥ 1000 nits (to counteract strong light from shadowless lamps);
Response time ≤ 25ms (no afterimages in dynamic images, such as laparoscopic operations);
IP65 waterproof rating (resistant to frequent wiping with disinfectants).
2. Imaging diagnosis scenarios (CT/MRI/DR)
Core needs: Accurate restoration of details
Key parameters:
Resolution ≥ 5MP (5 million pixels, meeting the display of subtle structures such as pulmonary nodules);
Grayscale ≥ 10bit (1024 levels, distinguishing tissue images of different densities);
Support for DICOM calibration (ensuring consistent image grayscale displayed by different devices).
3. Mobile medical scenarios (ambulances, community consultations)
Core needs: Vibration resistance, wide temperature adaptation
Key parameters:
Operating temperature -20~60°C (to cope with outdoor high and low temperatures);
Vibration resistance grade ≥ IEC 60068-2-6 (avoiding screen loosening during transportation);
Low power consumption, outdoor mobile power supply can support operation for more than 4 hours.
4. Ordinary monitoring scenarios (wards, ICU)
Core needs: Clear display of multiple information
Key parameters:
Size 10-15 inches (balancing portability and display area);
Contrast ratio ≥ 1000:1 (ensuring data visibility at low brightness at night);
Anti-blue light design (reducing eye fatigue for medical staff during long-term viewing).
Essential testing requirements: Let suppliers “speak with data”
Meeting parameter standards does not equal actual reliability. It is necessary to require suppliers to provide the following test reports to avoid hidden risks:
1. Reliability testing
Aging test: Require a 72-hour high-temperature (60°C) full-load operation test to verify the screen brightness attenuation rate (qualified standard: ≤10%);
Drop test: For mobile devices, need to pass a 1.2-meter drop test (simulating accidental dropping) to ensure normal touch and display functions.
2. Environmental tolerance testing
Electrostatic test: Pass ±8kV contact discharge test (IEC 61000-4-2 standard) to avoid screen breakdown by static electricity in dry environments;
Temperature cycle test: After 100 cycles of -20°C to 70°C, there is no significant change in brightness and resolution (suitable for equipment in extreme environments).
Conclusion: A good medical screen is “exactly sufficient” rather than “a pile of parameters”
The core logic of purchasing medical screens is: clarify your own scenarios (fixed/mobile? Strong light/normal temperature? Diagnosis/monitoring?) → lock in 2-3 core parameters → verify reliability with test reports. Do not blindly pursue top configurations, but only choose “compatible” parameter combinations to achieve optimal cost under the premise of ensuring clinical safety.
If you are unsure about the parameter details of specific scenarios, you can leave a message about your usage environment to get targeted suggestions~
