Olympus Corporation has launched the NBI+TXI observation mode, which integrates Narrow Band Imaging and Texture and Color Enhancement Imaging into a single view for its EVIS X1 endoscopy system. Sales of the system featuring this combined imaging capability will begin in Japan in November 2025, with subsequent launches in other regions pending local regulatory approvals. The EVIS X1 endoscopy system has supported healthcare professionals with advanced imaging technologies since its initial launch in April 2020, contributing to more precise observation and treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases including cancer.
The new NBI+TXI mode enhances the diagnostic capabilities of the EVIS X1 system by improving brightness correction and contrast information of NBI mode. This advancement enables clearer visualization in darker image areas and sharper definition of vascular and mucosal patterns, potentially leading to improved detection and diagnostic accuracy for lesions associated with cancers. The development addresses significant healthcare challenges in Japan, where 2021 statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare show colorectal cancer has the highest incidence rate among all cancers with 154,585 cases, followed by lung cancer (124,531 cases) and stomach cancer (112,881 cases). These cancers also rank among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths.
NBI mode, first introduced globally in 2006, revolutionized endoscopic imaging by improving visibility of previously difficult-to-detect features. The CV-1500 video system center incorporates the latest NBI mode with improved brightness compared to the original version. TXI mode, introduced with the CV-1500, enhances lesion visibility through image enhancement technology when used with conventional light observation. The combination of these technologies in the NBI+TXI observation mode is expected to further optimize contrast information in NBI mode images, supporting more precise endoscopic examinations and treatments.
TXI mode supports better visibility of potential and existing lesions by enhancing texture, brightness and color to define subtle tissue differences more clearly. This includes areas of inflammation, flat or depressed lesions, and tiny precursor lesions. With its advanced imaging technology, TXI mode has the potential to reinvent white light in endoscopy and may contribute to higher detection rates and improved qualitative diagnosis. NBI mode creates strong contrast between vessels and surrounding mucosa using specific blue and green wavelengths, supporting earlier lesion detection and providing more detailed, higher-contrasted visualization.
Kurt Heine, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Gastroenterology at Olympus, emphasized that early detection improves patient care and outcomes. The company is committed to providing advanced endoscopic imaging that enables physicians 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/.
