Olympus Launches Combined Imaging Mode to Enhance Cancer Detection Capabilities
Olympus Corporation has introduced a new NBI+TXI observation mode for its EVIS X1 endoscopy system that combines two advanced imaging technologies to improve detection and diagnostic accuracy for gastrointestinal and respiratory cancers, addressing Japan's high cancer incidence rates.
Olympus Corporation announced the launch of the NBI+TXI observation mode, which combines Narrow Band Imaging (NBI mode) and Texture and Color Enhancement Imaging (TXI mode) into a single view for the EVIS X1 endoscopy system. Sales of the system featuring this new combined mode will begin in Japan in November 2025, with launches in other regions to follow pending local regulatory approvals.
The NBI+TXI mode strengthens the EVIS X1 endoscopy system's diagnostic capabilities by enhancing the brightness correction and contrast information of NBI mode. This technological advancement enables clearer visualization in darker areas of the image and sharper definition of vascular and mucosal patterns, which can contribute to improved detection and diagnostic accuracy for lesions, including those associated with cancers. The development comes at a critical time, as 2021 statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare show colorectal cancer has the highest incidence rate among all types of cancer in Japan, with 154,585 cases, followed by lung cancer (124,531 cases), and stomach cancer (112,881 cases).
NBI mode, first introduced globally in 2006, brought revolutionary changes to endoscopic imaging by improving visibility of features that were previously difficult to detect. The CV-1500 incorporates the latest NBI mode, achieving improved brightness compared to the original NBI mode. TXI mode, introduced with the CV-1500, further improves the visibility of lesions through its image enhancement technology when used with conventional light observation. The combination of these two technologies in the NBI+TXI observation mode is expected to further enhance and optimize contrast information in NBI mode images, supporting more precise endoscopic examinations and treatments.
TXI mode supports better visibility of potential and extant lesions, such as areas of inflammation, flat or depressed lesions, or even tiny precursor lesions, by enhancing texture, brightness and color to define subtle tissue differences more clearly. NBI mode creates strong contrast between vessels and surrounding mucosa that allows for high-confidence optical diagnosis using specific blue and green wavelengths. Kurt Heine, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Gastroenterology at Olympus, stated that early detection improves patient care and outcomes, emphasizing the company's commitment to providing advanced endoscopic imaging physicians need to clearly visualize the GI tract and provide timely diagnoses and treatment. Physicians attending JDDW, scheduled for October 30–November 1, 2025 at the Kobe Convention Center will have the opportunity to see the combined NBI+TXI imaging mode firsthand. For more information about Olympus and its medical technology innovations, visit https://www.olympus-global.com/.