OmniVision this week launched its medical-grade image sensors for single-use and reusable endoscopes.

Santa Clara, Calif.-based OmniVision designed the sensors with an 8-megapixel resolution that can be used with the company’s Nyxel near-infrared (NIR) technology.

“Our next-generation OH08A/B 8MP image sensors are targeted at endoscopes with a 10-12mm outer diameters, such as gastroscopes, duodenoscopes, amnioscopes, laparoscopes and colonoscopes. They deliver higher image quality, up to 4K2K resolution at 60 fps, greatly improving the doctor’s ability to visualize the human anatomy during these important procedures,” Richar Yang, senior staff marketing manager, said in a news release. “In the OH08B, we’ve taken our sensor to the next level by adding Nyxel technology, which offers better performance in color and IR sensitivity, enabling doctors to see sharper video during NIR, fluorescence, chromo-endoscopy and virtual endoscopy procedures. Also, higher sensitivity results in less illumination, thus reducing the heat at the tip of the endoscope.”

The OH08A sensors have a 1/2.5 in. optical format, 1.4µm PureCel Plus-S pixel technology and a 4K2K resolution in a 7.1 mm by 4.6 mm size for chip-on-tip endoscopes. OmniVision’s OH08B sensors have a 1/1.8 in. optical format and uses a larger 2.0µm PureCel pixel technology in an 8.9 mm by 6.3 mm size.

OH08A’s sensor’s pixel technology helps improve image quality by reducing or eliminating fixed patter nose and has full well capacity, excellent low light sensitivity, zero blooming and lower power consumption. It also has a frame rate of 60 frames per second to provide crisp, stable images.

The OH08B has 3x quantum efficiency improvement at 850 nm and 940 nm NIR wavelengths, which allows for the use of lower-power IR illumination for reduced chip-on-tip power consumption.

OmniVision also designed to OH08A and OH08B sensors to have a 15.5º and 11º chief ray angle, respectively, to allow the lenses to be used in large field of view and short focus distance.