Electronic displays such as LCDs and CRTs are widely used in the healthcare industry for diverse applications including:
- Clinical Patient Monitoring
- Imaging Diagnostics – MRI, PET,
X-Rays, Mammography - Surgical Support
- Emergency Medical Care
Image quality is critical to both the clinical and diagnostic integrity of patient care, and must meet a wide range of optical, electrical and mechanical performance standards.
Dontech, Inc. designs and manufactures a variety of optical coatings, substrates and display solutions that can be used to improve ergonomic and regulatory performance of displays and touch screen monitors used in medical applications. Dontech products are integrated into display systems to enhance contrast, reduce reflections, suppress radio frequencies (e.g., EMI/RFI shielding), provide impact and chemical protection, and increase the thermal operating range of displays.
Coatings/Substrates for enhancement of medical display performance
Coating/substrate | Application | Regulatory Criteria |
Antiglare (AG), anti-reflective (AR), AG/AR coatings | Reflection reduction | AAPM – varies with ambient lighting. System reflection should not degrade contrast by > 20% |
AG, AR, AG/AR coatings, polarizers | Contrast enhancement | AAPM for primary displays, 250:1; 100:1 for secondary displays |
Transparent conductive coatings (ITO, TCO), or FCG | EMI/RFI shielding, electromagnetic compatibility | IEC-60601, CISPR11, BSEN-55011; System dependant |
Polycarbonate or chemically strengthened glass | Impact resistance | UL60950, UL60601; ability of display to withstand 0.5 kg, 50mm ball dropped from 1.3 m |
Scratch, abrasion, chemical resistant coatings | Improve durability of medical display | MHRA decontamination requirements; system dependant |
IR blocking coatings | Reduction of thermal loading on display | System dependent |
Antimicrobial coatings | Reduction of bacteria and infectious agents | MHRA guidelines |
Reference: Medical Physics,
Vol. 32, No. 4, April 2005)
The modification of COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) displays to achieve compliance frequently includes the addition of coatings to address the following display performance issues: 1) reduction of specular and diffuse reflection to improve high ambient light readability; 2) reduction of EMI/RFI emissions and susceptibility to achieve electromagnetic compatibility; 3) impact resistance to meet UL requirements; 4) resistance to chemicals, scratches and abrasion; 5) resistance to bacteria and fungus (antimicrobial); 6) resistance to thermal loading (IR blocking coatings); 7) viewing angle modification to increase or restrict viewing angle.
Dontech – Enhancing Optical and Environmental Performance of Medical Displays
Dontech Enhanced Display Solutions (EDS) specialize in the application of optical films, coatings and components to improve the performance of electronic displays in demanding environments such as military, aerospace, medical and outdoor environments.
Dontech integrates optical products into LCDs and bezels for its customers. COTS displays and touch screens can be customized to improve the optical performance, operating thermal range, EMI/RFI emissions/susceptibility, and mechanical durability. Dontech enhanced display solutions allow the display to function properly in demanding situations, such as direct sunlight, low or high temperatures, or in harsh environment applications.
Optical Filters for Medical Display Enhancement
Dontech engineers and manufactures a broad range of custom display filters for:
- EMI/RFI shielding via transparent conductive coatings, optical fine conductive grids (woven plated mesh and etched conductive grids)
- Contrast enhancement – antiglare and antireflective coatings, colored filters (band pass filters) and polarizers
- Therma Klear™ transparent heaters for camera and low-temperature display operation
- Heat Shield™ – solar and IR blocking filters to reduce thermal loading
Wide Spectrum of Display Enhancement Products
- Optical Substrates & Laminations
- Optical Coatings
- Colored Filters
- Transparent Conductive Coatings & Fine Conductive Grids
- Conductive Films
- Special Application Products
- Ancillary Products and Services
Services include:
- IMO-bond™ optical bonding of conductive and AR cover glass, heaters and films
- Active LCD enhancements, such as supplemental CCFL or LED lighting
- NVIS compatibility, sunlight readability, passive thermal management