MONTREAL -- Olympus, a precision technology leader in designing and delivering innovative solutions in healthcare and consumer electronics worldwide, announced the launch of a new high definition endoscope platform from its EVIS EXERA II 180 series, which provides unprecedented image quality. This new high definition system, which is the world's first to deliver both high definition (HDTV) and narrow band imaging (NBI) technology, is being presented at World Congress of Gastroenterology (WCOG), held at Palais des Congres de Montreal, September 11-14. The unique, high definition system from the new Olympus 180 series is pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance and should be available for purchase in January 2006.
"High definition imaging was once the exclusive domain of professional cinematography and the consumer electronics world," said F. Mark Gumz, president and chief operating officer of Olympus America Inc. "With the introduction of this ground-breaking system from Olympus, physicians will be able to see a greater level of detail during examinations, which may help to enhance patient diagnoses."
At 1,080 lines, the HDTV signal from the new CV-180 video processor more than doubles the number of scan lines produced by conventional systems, when used in conjunction with the new high definition GIF-H180 gastroscope or CF-H180A/L colonoscope. The resulting life-like images will offer gastroenterologists remarkably clear views of anatomical structures and fine capillaries.
NBI is a real-time, on-demand technology that Olympus has developed to enhance visualization of the capillary network and mucosal morphology during endoscopic observation of the gastrointestinal tract. It is similar in nature to chromoendoscopy without the messiness associated with the application of dye. Normally, it is difficult to distinguish the capillary patterns of the mucosal surface layer from the background mucosa, and conventional chromoendoscopy does not improve upon this. NBI, however, does enhance visualization of the capillary network in the surface layer. NBI works by limiting the light source to specific wavelength bands, which is more effective in illuminating the surface layer vessels and providing greater contrast to capillaries and other fine anatomical structures making them easier to observe.
"We've been using the high definition system with NBI technology for some time and our initial experience has been promising," stated Prateek Sharma, MD, associate professor of medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine. "In our ongoing studies, we've found it useful with our patient population of Barrett's esophagus. With NBI, in these studies, we've been able to differentiate areas of high-grade dysplasia from non-dysplastic lesions by looking at the mucosal and vascular patterns, which are not clearly visible on white light endoscopy. We believe this will allow us to target our biopsies and hopefully detect these lesions. Based on our initial experience, NBI has the potential to impact how we do endoscopy in the future."
The new 180 series HDTV system includes the CV-180 video processor and CLV-180 light source, the GIF-H180 gastroscope and CF-H180A/L wide-angle colonoscope, which, in addition to HDTV and NBI capabilities, also provides an unprecedented 170 degree field of view. This new high definition system joins the standard definition GIF-Q180 gastroscope, PCF-Q180 colonoscope, CF-Q180A wide angle colonoscope and GIF-N180 gastroscope that were launched in May 2005. All six endoscopes of the 180 series are compatible with the CV-180 video processor and CLV-180 light source.
About Olympus
Olympus is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering innovative solutions in healthcare and consumer electronics worldwide. Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its parent company, Tokyo-based Olympus Corporation, to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines.
Source: Olympus America
