Storz 4K Endoscopes Enter Clinical Practice, Posing New Technical Demands for Endoscope Camera Modules
You are here:Home » About Us » News » Knowledge » Storz 4K Endoscopes Enter Clinical Practice, Posing New Technical Demands for Endoscope Camera Modules
Recently, the news that the Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China completed a high-difficulty skull base minimally invasive surgery using Karl Storz’s 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) endoscope system has once again brought high-end endoscope technology into the industry spotlight. As a benchmark enterprise in the global rigid endoscope field, the 4K endoscope system applied by Karl Storz this time has achieved clinical milestones—with intraoperative blood loss of less than 50ml and patients able to get out of bed within 24 hours—thanks to its ultra-high-definition vision and intelligent functions. Its technological breakthroughs are forcing upstream endoscope camera modules to accelerate upgrades.
Technical Core Behind Clinical Breakthroughs
The Storz 4K endoscope system featured in this surgery demonstrates three core competencies of high-end endoscopes. In terms of imaging precision, its 4K UHD display capability presents 0.2mm-level neurovascular details, allowing surgeons to clearly identify life-critical structures such as the internal carotid artery and laying the foundation for precise operations. The innovative real-time dual-mode fluorescence navigation technology acts like a "vascular safety map," avoiding the risk of vascular damage through special spectral imaging—a function that has become a must-have for complex surgeries. Additionally, the 4K surgical live streaming and multi-center consultation functions enable the system to radiate technical capabilities remotely, promoting the homogenization of regional diagnosis and treatment standards.
These performance breakthroughs are not isolated cases. As an enterprise with multiple industry-founding technologies (such as cold light sources and cylindrical lenses), Karl Storz has always led the industry through technological iteration—from the first FDA-approved LED endoscope light source to automatic defogging systems and confocal fluorescence microscopic endoscopes. Its product evolution continues to define performance standards for high-end endoscopes. The clinical application of this 4K system is essentially a concentrated reflection of the trends toward high definition, functional integration, and intelligence.
Camera Modules Face Three Core Technical Challenges
The performance leap of endoscopes essentially relies on technological breakthroughs in camera modules. Aligning with the development direction of high-end products like Storz’s, endoscope camera modules are now confronting three key technical propositions:
The ultimate balance between ultra-high definition and high resolution has become a basic threshold. 4K resolution (3840×2160) is already standard for high-end endoscopes, but medical scenarios demand higher "effective clarity"—requiring modules to output over 5MP pixels while maintaining a stable Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) value above 0.8 to reproduce microstructures such as nerve fibers and vascular textures. This requires modules to adopt CMOS sensors with higher pixel density, paired with precision lens groups of 4P+RI or above, while eliminating optical deviations through the Active Alignment (AA) process.
Multi-spectral compatibility and precise light control technology have become core functional requirements. The fluorescence navigation function of Storz’s system requires modules to support dual-channel imaging of visible light and near-infrared (NIR) light. Designs like 4K-4CMOS (RGB+IR) camera heads have gradually become prevalent. In the future, modules need to further optimize spectral separation technology to enable simultaneous identification of dual fluorescent dyes (ICG and MB). At the same time, they should integrate miniaturized LED fill light units with graded brightness adjustment to avoid imaging quality issues caused by strong light reflection or low-light noise.
Dual constraints of miniaturization and high reliability are becoming increasingly stringent. Minimally invasive scenarios such as skull base surgery require endoscope probe diameters to be controlled within 10mm, which means the corresponding camera module diameter needs to be reduced to approximately 5mm—a mainstream goal in the industry. Additionally, modules must obtain medical-grade biocompatibility certification (complying with the YYT 1587-2018 standard), be waterproof and resistant to disinfection corrosion, and achieve latency of less than 50ms in remote transmission scenarios to ensure smooth surgical live streaming and teleconsultation.
Domestic Modules Accelerate Breakthroughs in High-End Markets
In response to these technical demands, domestic module enterprises have begun to make breakthroughs. Companies like OFILM, leveraging their accumulated optical technology from consumer electronics, have transferred processes such as ultra-thin resin packaging and ultra-small PAD soldering to the medical field. They have successfully achieved mass production of 5mm-level modules, and their 4K products are approaching international standards in resolution and miniaturization. This path of "consumer electronics technology empowering medical care through dimensionality reduction" is driving domestic modules to rapidly replace imported ones in niche areas such as disposable endoscopes and specialized endoscopes.
Industry insiders point out that as giants like Karl Storz continue to promote the clinical penetration of 4K, fluorescence, 3D, and other technologies, the technical competition for camera modules will focus on integrated innovation of "high definition + multi-modality + intelligence." For domestic enterprises, establishing patent barriers in core links—such as sensor customization, spectral calibration, and miniaturization processes—is essential to achieve the leap from "following" to "keeping pace" in the high-end market.
SincereFull Factory is a Leading high-tech enterprise in integrated optical device manufacturer and optical imaging system solution provider since 1992's foundation.
