Java Database Connectivity (JDBC)

We have a j2ee application which keeps a copy of word documents on a web server. I have been instructed to find out and if possible implement a solution where by the word documents are stored as a blob in a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 database.

I know sql server doesnt have blobs but it has image fields which store binary data.

Is there a way to convert a word document to binary and store in the sql server database, and then at a later time retrieve the document.

Can anyone point me in the right direction please.

Thanks.