Atsugi, Japan, October 21, 2026
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation has announced the upcoming release of its IMX742 CMOS image sensor, a compact imaging component developed for medical single-use endoscopes. Measuring just 1 mm × 1 mm, the sensor combines approximately 0.51 effective megapixels with digital image output and stable signal transmission over a cable measuring up to five meters under Sony’s evaluation conditions. The technology is designed to support smaller endoscope cameras while improving image clarity and video transmission during minimally invasive medical procedures. Sony reports that the IMX742 is the first CMOS image sensor for medical endoscopes to support digital output and transmission over a five-meter cable. Sample shipments are planned for November 2026. The development expands Sony’s medical imaging technology portfolio into the growing single-use endoscope market.
Compact IMX742 Sensor Supports Smaller Endoscope Designs
The IMX742 features a 1 mm-square chip with 720 × 720 effective pixels, delivering approximately 0.51 megapixels. Its small dimensions are intended to help manufacturers develop thinner endoscope cameras for procedures in which access to narrow anatomical spaces is important. Sony achieved this compact design by miniaturizing peripheral circuits, including the analog-to-digital converter (ADC), while preserving sufficient space for the image sensor’s pixel array. Single-use endoscopes are increasingly used in healthcare because they can help reduce cross-contamination risks associated with reusable instruments and eliminate the need to reprocess the endoscope itself between patients. These devices are relevant to procedures involving areas such as the respiratory and urinary tracts, where compact camera assemblies and dependable visualization are essential. The IMX742 is intended for integration into endoscopes such as bronchoscopes and ureteroscopes. Its design supports the development of smaller camera modules without sacrificing the digital imaging functions needed for modern visualization systems. The sensor also uses a six-pin wafer-level chip-scale package and proprietary bidirectional communication technology. This enables control and video signals to travel through the same cable, helping simplify system architecture and supporting more compact endoscope designs.
Digital Transmission Improves Image Clarity and Stability
A central feature of the IMX742 is its ability to digitize image signals directly on the sensor. Compared with conventional analog output, this approach is designed to reduce image noise and improve visibility in low-light environments. Such performance is particularly relevant inside the body, where illumination may be limited by the small LED light sources used in thin endoscopes.The sensor supports frame rates of 30 and 60 frames per second (fps). The 60 fps mode is intended to provide smoother video during examinations and procedures involving movement, helping clinicians observe anatomical structures in real time. Sony has also designed the sensor to transmit digital video over a five-meter cable, with the transmission distance confirmed in the company’s evaluation environment using an AWG44 cable. Digital transmission can help maintain signal quality over the specified connection and provide greater flexibility when configuring endoscope systems. The company reports that the new sensor reduces graininess and vertical-line artifacts compared with conventional analog output. These improvements are intended to make image details easier to distinguish, although the final image quality will also depend on the endoscope’s optics, lighting, processing electronics and overall system design.
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Sony Expands Medical Imaging Technology Portfolio
The IMX742 represents Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ expansion from image sensors for reusable endoscopes into components designed specifically for single-use medical endoscopy systems. The company aims to support manufacturers developing devices with smaller insertion diameters, improved visualization and more flexible operating-room configurations. The technology may help endoscope manufacturers address competing design requirements: reducing camera size while maintaining adequate image resolution, low-light performance and stable data transmission. These capabilities are important as medical device developers continue to refine minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment tools. However, the IMX742 is an imaging component rather than a complete medical device. Sony states that the sensor itself has not been evaluated or approved for medical applications and is intended to be incorporated into larger systems. The safety, performance and regulatory status of any finished endoscope will therefore depend on the complete device and its intended use. With sample shipments planned for November 2026, the next step will be integration and evaluation by endoscope manufacturers. The sensor’s contribution to clinical visualization and usability will ultimately depend on how it performs within finished products. Sony’s IMX742 highlights ongoing innovation in miniaturized medical imaging, combining a very small chip footprint with digital transmission and high-frame-rate video. The technology could help enable the next generation of compact single-use endoscopes, subject to system-level development and validation.
Source: Sony Semiconductor Solutions press release
