Image quality affects the accuracy of the diagnosis
Specialists who carry out medical diagnostics using various visualization methods know that the accuracy of a diagnosis often depends on the quality of the images obtained. A doctor may prescribe complex and expensive treatments or even plan surgery based on what they see in the image. If the image is in colour, the nuances of the various colours will be particularly important for an accurate diagnosis. If, however, the image is black and white, it must accurately reproduce the full range of grey tones—with smooth transitions and the widest possible variety of shades—to enable a specialist to detect even the slightest abnormality. This is precisely why medical monitors are considerably more expensive than standard ones, and the quality requirements for paper print media used in medical printers are always very high.
List of current SONY print media models (as of June 2026)
Black and White (UPP)
Sony UPP-110S
Sony UPP-110HD
Sony UPP-110HG
Sony UPP-110HA
Sony UPP-210HD
Sony UPP-210SE
Sony UPP-84HG
Sony UPP-84S
Colour (UPC)
Sony UPC-21L
Sony UPC-21S
Sony UPC-55
Sony UPC-R80MD
Depending on the specific nature of your medical requirements, you may need various types of SONY print media
Type I (UPP-110S) - Standard / Normal grade. General-purpose black-and-white thermal paper. Lowest cost, everyday printing.
Type II (UPP-110HD) - High Density. Higher maximum black density and smoother grayscale reproduction. Commonly used for ultrasound images where detail is important.
Type III (UPT-210BL) - Blue thermal diagnostic film rather than paper. Often associated with radiology applications.
Type IV (UPP-110HA) - High Sensitivity (sometimes called Superior Density in older literature). Produces strong grayscale with lower print energy requirements. Supported only by certain older printer models.
Type V (UPP-110HG) - High Glossy. Photo-like glossy finish with improved resistance to fingerprints and moisture. Best appearance and durability.
Additional information :
Many modern printers support Type I, II, and V.
Type IV (UPP-110HA) is supported only by a limited number of models such as the UP-890MD and UP-D890 series.
In which areas of medicine are SONY print media used ?
UPP (black-and-white)
Diagnostic ultrasound
Mobile C-arm fluoroscopy
Dental radiography
General clinical imaging systems
Various point-of-care diagnostic devices requiring rapid grayscale image printouts
UPC (colour)
Endoscopy (gastrointestinal, bronchoscopy, arthroscopy, etc.)
Ophthalmology (retinal and anterior-segment imaging)
Microsurgery
Microscopy
Pathology
Ultrasound when color images are required
Other surgical and clinical imaging applications where color documentation is needed.
Non-genuine goods, equivalents, substitutes, "compatible" products and fakes
Recently, the term "equivalent or compatible" products has become increasingly common in the medical consumables market. Essentially, these are what are known as substitute products, and in some cases, they are simply counterfeits.
This product category has its own distinctive features :
The first thing that might catch your eye is the implausibly low price.
Secondly, the labelling may be incomplete or distorted. For example: "110-S" or "UPP-110S" without any mention of the brand (instead of the full model name "Sony UPP-110S").
Thirdly, the packaging of substitute products may be plastered with eye-catching slogans such as: "High quality" or "Compatible with / for".
And fourthly, such substitute products may be sold on various marketplaces and on websites that do not specialise in the medical field.
If you notice any of the above signs on the packaging of thermal paper, we advise you to be on your guard and to exercise the utmost caution and vigilance. Please note that consumer protection laws may vary from country to country. However, virtually all European countries have a clause stating that : " ... if non-genuine spare parts or consumables are used, the warranty may be voided".
A simple rule : To extend the life of your Sony printer, you should use genuine Sony thermal paper.
Benefits of genuine Sony’s UPP and UPC Medical Print Media
Minimal likelihood of white stripes appearing on prints
Have you ever wondered why you sometimes see vertical white stripes on printouts from a medical printer?
There could be two reasons for this
The first reason is simply that the print head is dirty. The surface of the print media may contain microscopic amounts of contaminants such as dust, sweat droplets, saliva droplets, grease from fingertips and ultrasound gel. All of this (even in insignificant quantities) can stick to the print head, build up and cause damage to the surface of the thermal paper during printing.
The second reason is static electricity.
Here’s how it works : the friction between the print head and the surface of the paper over a prolonged period leads to the build-up of static electricity. At a certain point (when a critical amount of static electricity has built up), a spark appears which starts to ‘short-circuit’ the print head. The print head (in particular its electronic components) becomes damaged and starts to scratch the surface of the thermal paper.
To address these two issues, Sony’s engineers have come up with reliable solutions
In addressing the first issue, the compatibility between the print head and the thermal paper surface is crucial. The chemical composition of the top layer of genuine SONY thermal paper is designed so that, during printing, the paper cleans the print head of any foreign matter that has become lodged there. To address the second issue, SONY's engineers incorporated a special antistatic layer into the thermal paper. This ultra-thin coating, applied to the reverse side, prevents the paper from accumulating static electricity.
Both of these technical solutions significantly reduce the likelihood of printhead problems, thereby extending the lifespan of your thermal printer.
Superb print quality that faithfully reproduces the full range and precision of grey tones
As we mentioned earlier, the accuracy of colour reproduction or shade accuracy on a medical printout can be critical to the accuracy of a diagnosis. Recognising this, engineers at SONY design medical printers and paper media from the outset to ensure the highest possible image quality. The carefully matched specifications of SONY printers and genuine print media enable the reproduction of the finest details through smooth grey-scale gradations.
High durability thanks to its resistance to moisture, high temperatures and fingerprints
A medical printout is a document that, ideally, should be kept for many years without any deterioration in image quality. However, during storage, prints may be exposed to factors such as high humidity, UV light, accidental splashes, high temperatures and fingerprints. To minimise the risk of premature ageing, SONY print media use paper with a unique chemical composition which, when combined with genuine SONY printers, ensures the highest quality and longevity of printed images.
The UPP-84HG and UPP-110HG models offer enhanced moisture resistance. They feature a high-gloss finish that provides additional protection against moisture, dust and fingerprints, thereby extending the lifespan of printed images. Models such as the UPC-R80MD, UPC-24LA and UPC-24SA have special ‘self-laminating’ properties.
Here is a list of self-laminating media compatible with SONY printers
Printer : >>> Self-laminating media :
UP-D25MD >>> UPC-24LA, UPC-24SA
UP-25MD >>> UPC-24LA, UPC-24SA
UP-DR80MD >>> UPC-R80MD
In essence, the above-mentioned printing media, when used in conjunction with printers, allow an additional protective layer to be applied to the image directly during the printing process. Given that it is strongly advised against laminating medical printouts using products available from general retailers, SONY’s self-laminating media is an excellent technical solution. Provided the storage conditions are followed correctly, the shelf life of self-laminating printouts such as UPC-R80MD can be 100 years or more.
Minimal curling of thermal paper
The tendency of medical thermal paper to curl is significant in three situations: storage, viewing and feeding into the printer. And whilst storage and viewing are purely a matter of convenience, when it comes to feeding paper into a printer, there is a risk of the paper getting jammed or stuck in the printer. SONY thermal paper is manufactured with the above factors in mind and exhibits minimal curling. Thanks to their minimal curl factor, UPP and UPC print media are easy to view and store, and ensure trouble-free printing.
A clean, neat tear line with no jagged edges
SONY print media is made from paper with special properties that ensure a clean, even tear. This effect is achieved thanks to the special composition and orientation of the paper fibres, which prevent tearing in the longitudinal direction whilst ensuring a clean tear in the transverse direction.
Recommendations for storing unused and printed Sony’s thermal print media
The storage conditions for SONY print media are very simple : it is recommended to store them (both unused and printed media) in a dark place at a temperature not exceeding 30 °C and a relative humidity not exceeding 60%.
If you have any further questions, we invite you to get in touch and discuss how we might work together. APEIRON's experts will be happy to answer any questions you may have.