PARK RIDGE, N.J., Nov. 17, 2006 – Sony Electronics today introduced an optical HD recorder to capture and store high-definition video of medical procedures in 1440 x 1080i resolution.  The device can record and store up to two hours on a 23GB PFD-23 XDCAM® disc, which is sealed to help prevent scratches and preserve data with minimal degradation for more than 50 years, based on Sony’s accelerated testing.

The PDW-70MD XDCAM HD recorder integrates a 3.5-inch (viewable area measured diagonally) color LCD screen that allows users to view thumbnail-sized stills of footage accessible through random access memory.  This enables users to quickly identify points of interest without manually winding through hours of footage.

With more than 20 years of experience in medical imaging, Sony knows how to design technology to help doctors and surgeons capture, record, view and transmit high-resolution images, and this HD technology is no exception.

“Sony’s HD products are helping to improve all levels of medical visualization,” said George Santanello, Sony Electronics’ director of marketing for medical products.   “With the advent of surgical HD camera systems, the recorder will prove to be an invaluable tool offering the bandwidth and storage capacity required for recording HD content.”

The recorder has a compact design and can be positioned horizontally or vertically to improve integration within existing digital operating rooms.

The PDW-70MD recorder is available through Sony resellers at a suggested list price of $14,995.