Olympus recognized for product innovation
By Park Ji-won
Three pieces of medical equipment from Olympus, a leading Japanese optics and medical product-maker, won prestigious American awards for innovation and business leadership, Olympus Korea said Wednesday.
The three products ― the Endoeye Flex 3D, Thunderbeat and the BF-190 Bronchoscope ― received awards at the Edison Awards in the category of science and medicine in mid-May.
The Edison Awards were founded in 1987 and named after Thomas Edison in honor of his innovative achievements. The winners of the awards were judged by a panel of more than 3,000 individuals, including members of seven different associations representing a variety of industries and disciplines.
“Olympus is fully committed to helping healthcare organizations meet the requirements of healthcare reform aimed at improving the quality of services and enhancing patient satisfaction at lower costs,” said Takeshi Tamai, head of Olympus Korea’s medical business division in a statement.
The awards are recognition of its efforts, he said.
“Olympus will continue efforts to contribute to innovation in medical technology,” Tamai said.
The Endoeye Flex 3D, recipient of a Silver Award in the Surgical Aids category, is the world’s articulating HD 3D laparoscopic surgical imaging system, which improves the speed, accuracy and precision of surgical procedures when compared to 2D surgical systems.
The Thunderbeat, recipient of a Bronze Award in the Assistive Devices category, is the world’s only platform that combines advanced bipolar and ultrasonic energies into a single multifunctional instrument. This allows surgeons to simultaneously cut and seal vessels, minimizing instrument exchanges and reducing procedure time.
The BF-190 Bronchoscope, recipient of a Bronze Award in the Surgical Aids category, is the world’s only fully rotatable HD bronchoscope, offering unparalleled maneuverability and flexibility through the combination of their its rotary function and wider tip angulation. This advanced maneuverability potentially give physicians access to areas of the lung that may not be easily reached with current-generation bronchoscopes.