January 17,2007

Olympus Introduces Phase 2 of its EVIS LUCERA Gastrointestinal Tract Endoscopy System for Observation Using Specific Light Spectra World's First Gastrointestinal Videoscopes with Auto Fluorescence Imaging Capability -EVIS LUCERA GASTROINTESTINAL VIDEOSCOPE GIF Type FQ260Z- EVIS LUCERA COLONOVIDEOSCOPE CF Type FH260AZ Series

EVIS LUCERA GASTROINTESTINAL VIDEOSCOPE GIF Type FQ260Z   EVIS LUCERA COLONOVIDEOSCOPE CF Type FH260AZ Series

Olympus Medical Systems Corp. (President: Haruhito Morishima) is pleased to announce the launch of two new gastrointestinal video-scopes. Developed to support the early detection of minute lesions associated with cancer and other conditions, these new devices are the first in the world*1 to support Auto Fluorescence Imaging (AFI) *2. The AFI produces enhanced images showing differences in the coloration of tumorous and normal mucosa by irradiating blue light on mucosa.

The EVIS LUCERA GASTROINTESTINAL VIDEOSCOPE GIF Type FQ260Z (referred to below as “GIF-FQ260Z”) is for use in the upper gastrointestinal tract and the EVIS LUCERA COLONOVIDEOSCOPE CF Type FH260AZL/I (referred to below as “CF-FH260AZL/I”) for use in the colon. They will be released in Japan in February 1, 2007 and will be progressively introduced in Europe and in Asian markets, including China, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.

Both scopes are equipped with highly-sensitive CCDs that were specially designed for fluorescence observation, as well as normal light CCDs. In addition to Auto Fluorescence Imaging (AFI), the scopes also support HDTV imaging in normal light*3 and optical magnification function. Furthermore, they can be switched to Narrow Band Imaging (NBI)*4 simply at the touch of a button.

*1 This is based on Olympus research as of January 17,2007 and refers to gastrointestinal endoscopes. *2 See attached data.   *3 The CF-FH260AZL/I supports HDTV imaging.   *4 NBI is a special observation technology used to create enhanced images of surface capillaries and minute patterns on mucosal membranes by irradiating target areas with light in two narrow wave bands (390-445 nm and 530-550 nm), which are strongly absorbed by circulating hemoglobin.

Launch Overview (Japan)

Product Name Launch Date EVIS LUCERA GASTROINTESTINAL VIDEOSCOPE GIF Type FQ260Z*5 February 1, 2007 EVIS LUCERACOLONOVIDEOSCOPECF Type FH260AZ Series*5

*5 Can be used with EVIS LUCERA Video System Center CV-260SL and EVIS LUCERA Xenon Light Source CLV-260SL.

Main Features

1. The world’s first gastrointestinal videoscopes designed for　Auto Fluorescence Imaging (AFI) observation 2. Support for HDTV imaging and optical magnification function 3. Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) capability

Background

Japan’s cancer mortality rate, especially gastrointestinal cancers, such as colon and rectal cancers, has tended to rise in recent years in step with demographic aging. Endoscopes are being used increasingly to screen for lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, and these instruments have become essential tools for detailed examinations, diagnosis and treatment. A key advance in endoscopic diagnosis technology was the introduction of HDTV imaging in 2002 to provide high-definition images of subtle colors and minute irregularities, especially in mucosal membranes. Olympus has also developed the technology of specific light spectra for enhancing images of characteristic lesions in the superficial and deep layers of the mucosa. In June 2006 the EVIS LUCERA SPECTRUM video-scope System was launched for support the early detection of minute lesions associated with cancer and in the detailed diagnosis to ascertain the extent of lesions prior to therapy.

The EVIS LUCERA SPECTRUM system supports three types of special illumination imaging: Narrow Band Imaging (NBI), Auto Fluorescence Imaging (AFI) and Infra Red Imaging (IRI)*8. NBI provides enhanced images of capillary vessels in mucosal surfaces and minute patterns in mucosal membranes. AFI is used to obtain enhanced images of the different coloration in tumorous lesions and normal mucosal membranes. IRI provides enhanced images of blood vessels deep in the mucosa, together with information about blood flows. NBI was achieved by connecting the system to an existing Olympus video-scope*9. Following the introduction of a bronchial AFI video-scope in July 2006, Olympus has succeeded in creating the world’s first practical system capable of gastrointestinal AFI.

*8 This observation technology uses specific infrared light spectra. According to Japanese and foreign reports, it visualizes blood vessels and blood flows deep in the mucosal membranes, which are difficult to observe visually using normal light, together with information about blood flows, by intravenously administering a pigment that readily absorbs infrared light and then irradiating the target site with infrared light (790-820nm/905-979nm). *9 Olympus recommends the use of a high-resolution video-scope to obtain the full benefit of NBI technology.

Detail Description of Main Features

1．World’s first gastrointestinal video-scopes designed for Auto Fluorescence Imaging (AFI)

The auto fluorescence light produced is extremely weak and difficult to detect with a conventional miniaturized CCD. Olympus has created the world’s first gastrointestinal video-scope capable of enhancing auto fluorescence by equipping the scope with a newly developed high-sensitive CCD specially configured for AFI, in addition to a normal light CCD.

2．Support for HDTV imaging and Optical magnification function

The new video-scopes can be switched to normal light observation simply by pushing a button. For high-resolution viewing, the CF-FH260AZL/I is equipped with a HDTV-compatible CCD configured for observation using normal light. For added diagnostic precision, there is also a zoom function (GIF-FQ260Z: 85x*10, CF-FH260AZL/I: 75x*10 when displayed on a 19-inch monitor).

*10 Specification by Olympus Corporation

3．Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) capability

A simple button control puts the new video-scopes into the Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) mode. Olympus further enhanced diagnostic precision by combining AFI to support the early discovery of minute lesions caused by cancer and other conditions, with NBI for supporting diagnosis of the scope of lesions, and an optical zoom function.

*2　 Technical Explanation of Auto Fluorescence Imaging (AFI)

AFI supports the early detection of minute lesions and cancerous tissue. It produces enhanced images showing differences in the coloration of tumorous and normal mucosa by irradiating target sites with excitation light (390–470 nm) and light at a wavelength readily absorbed by circulating hemoglobin (540-560nm). The technology takes advantage of the fact that when tumorous tissue is irradiated with blue excitation light, the auto fluorescence produced by collagen and other fluorescent substances is weaker than that produced by normal tissue. This attenuation of the auto fluorescence results from (1) the absorption and scattering of light in the epithelium of mucosal membranes in tumorous tissue, and (2) from the absorption of light by circulating hemoglobin. However, lesions caused by inflammation also cause attenuation of auto fluorescence, and it was difficult to distinguish these from tumors with existing auto fluorescence imaging systems. AFI offers an easy way to distinguish between normal and tumorous tissue by combining an auto fluorescence image with the image of green reflected light which depicts the absorbed light of hemoglobin, so that normal tissue appears pale green, tumorous tissue magenta, and deep blood vessels dark green.

Early stomach cancer imaging under normal light Early stomach cancer imaging of chromo-endoscopy under normal light   Early stomach cancer imaging by AFI   Photos courtesy of Dr. Noriya Uedo, Departments of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Department of Gastroenterology , Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases

Potential Applications for AFI and Examples of Use

There have been numerous reports and conference presentations concerning the use of AFI in the gastrointestinal field, including examinations of the esophagus, stomach and colon.

Areas of application Potential applications Esophagus Early esophageal cancer, precancerous lesions in Barrett’s esophagus Stomach Detection of secondary lesions in stomach cancer*11, diagnosis of extent of lesions Colon Detection of intestinal tumorous lesions

*11 About 10% of stomach cancer cases are reported to be accompanied by simultaneous multiple cancers occurring in surrounding areas.

Principal Specifications

EVIS LUCERA GASTROINTESTINAL VIDEOSCOPE GIF Type FQ260Z

Optical system Viewing angle Normal light observation: Wide 140°/Tele 60° (direct vision)AFI observation: 140° (direct vision) Observation depth Normal light observation: Wide 7-100mm/Tele 2-3.5mm AFI observation: 5-100mm Lighting system Light guide Insertion tube Outer diameter 11.0mm Angulation section Angulation Up: 210°/Down: 90°/Right:100°/Left:100° Flexible section Outer diameter 10.5mm Effective length 1,030mm Total length 1,345mm Forceps Inner diameter of channel 2.8mm Minimum viewable distance Normal light observation: 3mm, AFI observation: 4mm

EVIS LUCERA COLONOVIDEOSCOPE CF Type FH260AZ Series

Optical system Viewing angle Normal light observation: Wide 140°/Tele 80°(direct vision)AFI observation: 140°(direct vision) Observation depth Normal light observation: Wide 7-100mm/Tele 2-3.5mm AFI observation: 5-100mm Lighting system Light guide Insertion tube Outer diameter 14.8mm Angulations section Angulations Up: 180°/Down: 180°/Right:160°/Left:160° Flexible section Outer diameter 13.2mm Effective length L: 1,680mm, I:1,330mm Total length L: 2,010mm, I: 1,660mm Forceps Inner diameter of channel 3.2mm Minimum viewable distance Normal light observation: 5mm, AFI observation: 7mm