Overview
When a world-leading research institute needed uncompressed 4K video across four interconnected endoscopy suites, every millisecond of latency mattered. The Quadrum Institute in Norwich, England, became the first endoscopic facility in the world to build its entire AV infrastructure on an SDVoE (Software Defined Video over Ethernet) backbone, powered by ZeeVee’s ZyPer4K platform and NETGEAR 10G managed switches.
The deployment delivers pixel-perfect, uncompressed 4K 4:4:4 video over a 10 Gigabit optical fibre network. It enables real-time clinical collaboration, remote viewing for students and researchers, and simultaneous monitoring across multiple procedure rooms. Audio Visual Distributors (AVD) is the authorised Australian and New Zealand distributor for both ZeeVee and NETGEAR ProAV, giving healthcare integrators access to the same proven SDVoE platform for hospital, clinic, and medical research AV projects.
The Challenge: Mission-Critical Video for Clinical Environments
The Quadrum Institute is a centre of excellence for food and health research, operating advanced endoscopy suites where diagnostic imaging quality directly impacts clinical outcomes. The AV system needed to meet standards far beyond those of a typical corporate or entertainment deployment.
- Near-zero latency for real-time clinical decisions. Endoscopic procedures require instantaneous video switching between sources. Even small delays between a live feed and the displayed image could compromise clinical workflows and collaboration between specialists monitoring from different rooms.
- Uncompressed 4K for diagnostic accuracy. Compressed video introduces artefacts that are acceptable in entertainment but unacceptable in medical imaging. The system demanded full 4K 4:4:4 colour depth to preserve every detail captured by endoscopic cameras.
- Simultaneous multi-suite monitoring. Four interconnected endoscopy suites needed to share video feeds in real time. Clinicians, students, and researchers required the ability to view any procedure from any room, with multiple sources visible on screen simultaneously.
- 100% optical fibre for electrical isolation. Medical environments require galvanic isolation between rooms to protect both patients and sensitive diagnostic equipment. Copper cabling was ruled out entirely, making a full fibre infrastructure mandatory.
- Remote viewing for education and research. The institute’s role as a research centre meant that medical staff, students, and visiting researchers needed to observe live procedures from outside the suite without compromising sterility or workflow.
Snelling Business Solutions, a UK-based AV integrator with deep healthcare expertise, was engaged to design and deliver a system that met every requirement without compromise.
The Solution: ZeeVee ZyPer4K SDVoE over 10G Fibre
ZeeVee’s ZyPer4K SDVoE platform was selected as the foundation for the entire AV network. The architecture delivers uncompressed 4K video, two-way audio, and control over a dedicated 10 Gigabit optical fibre Ethernet network, purpose-built for the clinical environment’s exacting requirements.
Products Deployed
| Component | Product | Function |
|---|---|---|
| SDVoE Encoder/Decoder | ZeeVee ZyPer4K (Fibre) | Encodes and decodes uncompressed 4K 4:4:4 video over 10G optical fibre with near-zero latency |
| Network Switching | NETGEAR 10G Managed Switches | Pre-configured AV-over-IP switches providing the 10 Gigabit fibre backbone across all suites |
| AV Management | ZeeVee Management Platform (ZMP) | Centralised API-driven control for source routing, multiview configuration, and system monitoring |
| Control System | Crestron (Custom GUI) | Intuitive touchpanel interface for clinical staff to switch sources and manage displays during procedures |
How It Works
ZyPer4K encoders capture uncompressed 4K video from each endoscopic camera and source device, transmitting it over 10G optical fibre to the NETGEAR switching backbone. The SDVoE architecture means every pixel is delivered without compression, preserving full 4:4:4 colour depth for diagnostic accuracy.
ZyPer4K decoders at each display receive and render the video with near-zero latency. The built-in multiview capability allows clinicians to monitor up to four simultaneous uncompressed 4K sources on a single screen, eliminating the need for external video processors or windowing hardware.
NETGEAR 10G managed switches form the network backbone, pre-configured with AV-specific profiles that simplify deployment for integrators. The all-fibre topology delivers the bandwidth required for multiple uncompressed 4K streams while providing the galvanic isolation mandated in clinical environments.
Crestron control integration via the ZeeVee Management Platform API gives clinical staff a simple, custom touchpanel interface. Source routing, display selection, and multiview layouts are managed through an intuitive GUI that requires no AV engineering knowledge to operate during live procedures.
Key Outcomes and Results
- World’s first SDVoE endoscopy facility. The Quadrum Institute became the first endoscopic facility globally to build its AV infrastructure entirely on an uncompressed 4K SDVoE platform over 10G fibre, setting a new benchmark for clinical video distribution.
- Pixel-perfect diagnostic imaging. Full 4K 4:4:4 uncompressed video eliminates compression artefacts that could affect clinical interpretation. Every detail captured by endoscopic cameras is preserved from source to display.
- Near-zero latency switching. SDVoE’s sub-frame switching enables real-time source changes during live procedures. Clinicians can switch between cameras and monitoring views without perceptible delay.
- Simplified infrastructure with multiview. ZyPer4K’s built-in multiview capability eliminated the need for dedicated video processing hardware behind each display, reducing rack space, power consumption, and system complexity.
- Complete electrical isolation. The 100% optical fibre topology provides galvanic isolation between all rooms, protecting patients, staff, and sensitive diagnostic equipment from electrical interference.
- Future-ready with 10-Bit HDR support. The platform’s built-in HDR capability ensures the infrastructure can support next-generation endoscopic cameras and display technologies without hardware replacement.
“Cutting-edge video technology was critical to our vision. Snelling proved its merit as a partner who helped us realise it with zero compromise.” — Andrew Chapple, Quadrum Institute.
“This level of performance would not have been possible using HDBaseT or compressed SDVoE solutions.” — Kevin Medeja, Snelling Business Solutions.
Why ZeeVee ZyPer4K for Healthcare AV
- Uncompressed 4K preserves clinical detail. Full 4:4:4 colour depth ensures diagnostic imaging is displayed exactly as captured, with no compression artefacts that could affect interpretation.
- SDVoE delivers real-time performance. Sub-frame latency and instant source switching support the speed required in clinical workflows where timing directly affects patient outcomes.
- Fibre-native design for medical compliance. ZyPer4K’s fibre Ethernet connectivity provides the galvanic isolation required in healthcare environments, eliminating electrical safety concerns between rooms.
- Built-in multiview reduces hardware. Displaying multiple sources on a single screen without external processors simplifies the AV rack, lowers costs, and reduces points of failure in mission-critical environments.
- Scalable IP architecture grows with the facility. Adding new suites, displays, or source devices requires only additional encoders and decoders on the existing network, with no matrix switcher upgrades or re-cabling.
Partner With AVD
Audio Visual Distributors (AVD) is the authorised distributor for ZeeVee and NETGEAR ProAV across Australia and New Zealand. Whether you are designing AV systems for hospitals, clinics, research facilities, or any environment where uncompressed video quality and reliability are critical, AVD provides local stock, technical support, and project consultation.
Contact the AVD team to discuss ZeeVee ZyPer4K SDVoE solutions for your next healthcare or mission-critical AV project.
