Olympus Launches Combined NBI+TXI Imaging Mode for Enhanced Cancer Detection

Olympus Corporation has 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 CV-1500 Video System Center. Sales of the EVIS X1 endoscopy system featuring the NBI+TXI mode will begin in Japan in November 2025, with launches in other regions to follow pending local regulatory approvals. This development represents a significant advancement in endoscopic imaging technology with important implications for cancer detection and diagnosis.

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 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 timing of this innovation is particularly relevant given cancer statistics from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showing 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). These cancers also rank among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths.

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. With its advanced imaging technology, TXI mode has the potential to reinvent white light in endoscopy. NBI mode is a powerful and proven optical technology creating 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, emphasized that early detection improves patient care and outcomes, stating the company is committed 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/.