NTT & Olympus: World's First Cloud Endoscopy System
NTT Corporation and Olympus Corporation have announced the establishment of a cloud endoscopy system, utilising IOWN APN technology, following a joint experiment initiated in March.
This pioneering system processes endoscopic videos in the cloud and has demonstrated the ability of APN technology to address network challenges associated with cloud endoscopy. The collaboration aims to enhance performance and functionality in endoscopy systems, ultimately improving access to advanced medical care.
Olympus and NTT collaborate to advance cloud-based endoscopy solutions
Olympus is a medical technology leader which builds solutions for the healthcare industry. For more than 100 years, Olympus has focused on making people’s lives healthier and safer by preventing and treating diseases, conducting scientific research and uplifting public safety. Olympus is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with over 31,000 employees globally.
NTT – a part of NTT Group – is a global innovator of IT and business services, based in Tokyo. The company supports clients through consulting, industry solutions, business process services and managed services. NTT DATA’s healthcare-focused offerings include its integrated data and analytics platform, Business Insights Engine and Nucleus for Healthcare platform, which deliver value for healthcare businesses with its data integration, automation, advanced analytics and AI.
An endoscope is a flexible medical device used for examinations and tissue sampling, gaining popularity due to its minimally invasive nature. However, traditional endoscopes face limitations in performance and maintainability since they handle all functions internally.
The shift towards cloud-based processing is driven by the need for real-time remote diagnostics and treatment capabilities. To facilitate cloud-based image processing, a robust network connection between the endoscope and the cloud is essential.
Any network lag can lead to delays in image transmission, affecting the operator's experience. This demonstration integrated Olympus' advanced endoscope technology with NTT's high-speed APN technology to achieve real-time video processing.
Olympus and NTT achieve cloud endoscopy breakthrough
In the experiment, a video processing server located 150 km from the endoscope device was connected via the APN, forming the cloud endoscopy system. The video captured by the endoscope was transmitted without compression to the server for AI-enhanced processing before being sent back for display.
Olympus is dedicated to improving health outcomes through innovative medical technologies, while NTT focuses on sustainable societal contributions through technological advancements.
The roles in this experiment were clearly defined: NTT evaluated network quality, while Olympus assessed the cloud system's performance.
Results showed that data transfer latency was achieved at just 1.1 milliseconds over 150 km, significantly below the target of 16 milliseconds. This indicates that high-quality video processing can be effectively managed across large distances without compromising performance.
The successful demonstration of this technology paves the way for future implementations of cloud endoscopy systems, addressing technical challenges such as data security and real-time diagnostics across multiple hospitals. NTT aims to create a model for medical device networks that resolves these issues, while Olympus will focus on optimising network solutions for cloud-based endoscopy systems.
NTT: Many companies will not meet their net zero goals
Outside of the healthcare sector, research from NTT Corporation has shown how sustainability leaders are utilising advanced technologies, such as AI, IoT and photonics to reach their emissions targets. Yet 68% of global enterprises have self-reported they are not currently on track to meet their net zero carbon emissions goals. Further evaluation also indicates that as many as 95% of respondents may fall behind on the sustainability plans.
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