For our valuable customer in the medical segment, we have designed an FPGA for a video system that converts multiple video sources to multiple video screens.
The key contribution was implementing the PCIe interface that allowed the processing and storing of video streams to and from a Linux-based PC.
Our Task and Challenge
Develop Real-Time Video Module for Surgery
Every modern hospital surgery department is always equipped with many important instruments.
Today, operations are preferred in the form of laparoscopy due to its lower stress on a patient. Therefore, special cameras are needed to display the inner part of the patient’s body. Multiple video streams are used to display the whole situation in the body cavity, especially in complex medical operations.
A surgeon needs an easy and fast way of configuring the video streams to watch every detail that may impact the medical operation's further success.
Solution
Video Matrix and Format Converter in FPGA
The existing system was a complex switching matrix of inputs and outputs that was able to route any HDMI and SDI input to any HDMI or SDI output.
Our team enhanced the system by implementing a high throughput, low-latency PCIe interface to a PC that enables process input streams in a PC and stream the processed streams back to the system.
The team created both the PCIe cores and the low-latency Linux drivers. Part of the delivery was also the Picture-in-Picture functionality implemented in FPGA that enabled insert streams into other streams running in the background.
The team also implemented various supporting features for video processing, such as HDMI DDC (Display Data Channel), that enables the streaming system to find out which formats are supported by HDMI monitors. The same feature was also ported to SDI streaming ports, i.e., coding and decoding of auxiliary channels.
Business Value
Compact Video Converter as Part of Whole Medical System
In the medical field, making electronic equipment compact, easy to use, and highly reliable is essential. Our design fitted into the FPGA chip can be easily integrated into a multi-functional medical instrument because all components have been designed as reusable IP cores.
Recording and detailed snapshotting possibility represents a valuable tool for post-operation review and serves as a base for a decision on next treatment steps.
How It Is Made
Our FPGA team developed components where each has its specific functionality encapsulated into a reusable IP core. Each FPGA component was written in SystemVerilog – a powerful hardware description language (HDL).
Client
One of the world’s top leaders in medical instrumentation.
In 2019-2020, we created the HDL design, cooperated very closely with our customer, and assisted with the integration of our FPGA design to the complete instrument.
Next Solutions
Since the foundation of Consilia in 2004, we have finished and supported dozens of projects.
Services Used in this Case
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