Olympus Corporation is harnessing AI and cloud innovation to transform early cancer detection and patient care.
By Bernard Thompson and Daniel De Bomford
A gastroenterologist looks intently at the endoscopy monitor. Subtle, almost imperceptible, a lesion flickers across the screen. A green highlight flashes into view: Olympus’s OLYSENSE™ platform has done its job—working alongside the endoscopist to catch a hard-to-detect lesion. The physician acts swiftly, preventing potential cancer before it has had a chance to grow. Just as Olympus revolutionized medicine with the world’s first commercial gastrocamera (1), it is transforming gastrointestinal care again and ushering in a future where digital intelligence has the ability to help physicians make life-saving detection more precise, more consistent, and more accessible than ever before.
This innovation arrives at a pivotal moment as aging populations, rising incidences of cancer, and mounting cost pressures demand more efficient and effective healthcare solutions. Colorectal cancer (which begins in the colon or rectum) is a critical focus: more than 5,000 new cases are diagnosed, and over 2,500 lives are lost worldwide each day (2). By 2030, global cases are projected to exceed 2.2 million, with more than 1.1 million deaths (3). “This is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, yet it remains one of the most preventable,” says Miquel Àngel García, SVP and General Manager, Endoscopy Solutions Ecosystem, Olympus. “Early detection is paramount: the earlier cancer is identified, the better the treatment options and patient outcomes.”
AI Detection with Cloud Scalability
This urgency drives Olympus’s investment in cloud-based, AI-powered solutions such as the OLYSENSE™ platform and its clinical centerpiece, the CADDIE computer-aided detection software powered by artificial intelligence. The OLYSENSE™ platform is designed to connect Olympus’s suite of endoscopic devices with a sophisticated cloud-based infrastructure that unites imaging, data, and AI technology while integrating into existing clinical workflows. Cloud-based systems like the OLYSENSE platform are designed to enable the latest software updates and AI enhancements to hospitals remotely, reducing the need for costly hardware implementations. “Today, hospitals do not just purchase a device as a static product; they invest in a connected system that can continuously evolve,” says Slawek Kierner, PhD, SVP Smart Connected Care and Chief Digital Officer, Olympus. “It’s about unlocking new value in health care by connecting devices with data.”
This digital integration transforms manual processes into real-time support, enabling clinicians to detect abnormalities, streamline tasks, and elevate care. Integrated monitoring and security protocols enable efficiency, compliance, and broaden the impact of these innovations across the healthcare ecosystem. “Digital technology empowers us to improve clinical workflows and, most importantly, save lives,” Dr. Kierner explains. “By embedding AI into a connected, cloud-based patient care ecosystem, we support a continuous and integrated care pathway that benefits both clinicians and patients.”
The AI-powered CADDIE™ software assists endoscopists in the real-time detection of colorectal lesions and is central to the OLYSENSE platform. Developed by Odin Medical Ltd., an Olympus group company, the CADDIE™ software applies supervised learning on more than 160,000 image frames (4) to highlight suspected polyps with a transparent green rectangle (5). “Particularly for hard-to-detect and high-risk lesions, AI assistance increases detection effectiveness compared to human observation alone,” Dr. Kierner notes. A European randomized controlled study showed a 7.3 percent absolute increase in adenoma detection, with relative increases of 136 percent for large polyps, 93 percent for large adenomas, 57 percent for flat adenomas, and 230 percent for sessile serrated lesions (6). The message is clear: even the hard-to-detect precancerous lesions may be found by endoscopists with the help of a well-trained AI assistant.
Aiding the Clinician Is Just the Start
For clinicians and administrators alike, this integration to increase operational and clinical efficiencies is critical. Endoscopy is demanding: studies show more than half of gastrointestinal specialists report burnout (7). For administrators, the benefits are equally tangible. By integrating data from all phases of patient care, hospitals may be able to simplify workflows, reduce operational burdens, and cut costs. The OLYSENSE™ platform is being designed to automate routine tasks such as note-taking and procedure reporting, allowing clinicians to focus more time on their patients. “Our vision is to provide an integrated and AI-powered platform that elevates care quality and operational efficiency far beyond what fragmented innovations can achieve,” Mr. García explains.
What seems to be only a fleeting green rectangle on the screen represents Olympus’ mission to help save lives by illuminating a path to earlier detection, safer care and fewer lives lost prematurely. “We are unlocking the power of AI to help patients get better diagnoses and treatment. By combining steadfast quality standards, deep integration expertise, and cutting-edge cloud innovation, Olympus is well-positioned to help hospitals overcome the complexities of digital transformation in healthcare,” Dr. Kierner concludes.
1. Olympus Global, Birth of Gastrocameras https://www.olympus-global.com/technology/museum/endo/gastro.html?page=technology_museum
2. Bray Freddie, Laversanne Mathieu, Sung Hyuna, Ferlay Jacques, Siegel Rebecca L., et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 2024 (3), 229-263 DOI: 10.3322/caac.21834
3. International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2024, August 2). Cancer Tomorrow. Global Cancer Observatory. https://gco.iarc.fr/tomorrow/en/dataviz/trends
4. Data on file with Odin Medical Ltd., OD-007599-BT - ODIN-CADDIE-CER-FDA-BT Polyp Detection Bench Testing Report V1.4.13
5. Data on file with Odin Medical Ltd., TCU-003
6. Data not peer-reviewed/published at time of document creation, Data on file with Odin Medical Ltd, EAGLE Trial — NCT05730192
7. Carbajal E. 29 physician specialties ranked by 2022 burnout rates. www.beckershospitalreview.com. Published February 1, 2023. https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/29-physician-specialties-ranked-by-2022-burnout-rates.htm
To hear more from President Slawek Kierner of Olympus Corporation, check out this interview with him.
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