Olympus Announces Full Market Release of AI-Powered Emphysema Screening Program

SeleCT™ Screening Automatically Reviews Existing CT Scans to Help Identify Potential Emphysema Patients

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus Corp., a global medical technology company committed to making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling, announced today the full market release of its AI-driven emphysema screening program, SeleCT™ Screening.

The SeleCT™ Screening AI platform, powered by 4DMedical, helps identify severe emphysema patients who may benefit from a clinically proven and minimally invasive procedure to improve lung function called bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR).ⁱ

SeleCT Screening automatically reviews existing chest computed tomography (CT) scans throughout a health system to help identify patients who may benefit from BLVR with endobronchial valves such as the Spiration™ Valve System. Physicians are notified if a potentially qualified patient is identified so that they can be contacted for further evaluation for the Spiration Valve.

"This use of AI technology is an exciting opportunity for us to help more emphysema patients in the communities we serve," said Dr. Niral Patelⁱⁱ, interventional pulmonologist with UC San Diego Health. "Matching the right patients to the right treatment opportunity is not easy – the process takes time, and that's a resource that a lot our severe emphysema patients don't have. Getting to them faster is critical."

Emphysema is a progressive form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) characterized by a loss of elasticity and enlargement of the air sacs of the lung. The diseased lobes of the lungs become hyperinflated, causing significant challenges with breathing.

"Emphysema can have a debilitating effect on a person's life. Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction is a way to help those dealing with the disease to reclaim some of the freedoms they may have lost," said Dr. Kyle Hogarth with University of Chicago Medicine². "Technology like SeleCT™ Screening is an effective way to more quickly identify those who could most benefit from treatment and experience an improved quality of life."

Struggling with emphysema

When Russ Welchert began noticing about 20 years ago that he would become easily winded, he was diagnosed with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, a rare genetic disorder that can cause emphysema. He immediately quit smoking, started walking daily and lost about 40 pounds. But despite the changes and medication to treat AAT, Russ recently found himself with low lung function.

His pulmonologist recommended the BLVR procedure, and since receiving treatment with the Spiration™ Valve System, Russ has experienced improved lung function, allowing him to more easily tackle his daily walks and enjoy activities like camping with his family.

"Faced with the prospect of carrying oxygen with me wherever I went, I opted for lung volume reduction and the possibility of an improved quality of life," Russ said. "Treatment with the Spiration Valve System has transformed my life, allowing me to do the things I enjoy."

Millions affected

More than 3 million people in the United States are diagnosed with emphysemaⁱⁱⁱ, and COPD affects nearly 16 million adults in the U.S.^iv COPD remains critically under-diagnosed with studies showing that as many as 80% of adults with COPD worldwide are undiagnosed.^v

"Access is an important factor when it comes to procedures like bronchoscopic lung volume reduction, so we are excited for the full launch of an AI-powered tool to help connect patients to procedures that offer the possibility of an improved quality of life," said Swarna Alcorn, Business Unit Vice President, Respiratory, Olympus America, Inc. "Coupling technologies like SeleCT Screening and Spiration Valve represent the intersection of Olympus' core values of patient focus, innovation and impact."

The Spiration Valve System includes an umbrella-shaped device that is placed in targeted airways of the lung during a short bronchoscopic procedure. Once in place, the device allows air flow to be directed from diseased parts of the lung to healthier parts, allowing the healthier lung tissue to expand and function more effectively. With a potential reduction in lung volume, a patient may be able to breathe more easily and experience improvement in their quality of life.

Potential adverse events which may be associated with the use of the Spiration™ Valve System may include, but are not limited to, pneumothorax, worsening of COPD symptoms, pneumonia, and dyspnea. A full list of prescriptive information and additional information on indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions and potential complications is available here.

For more information, visit the Spiration Valve System patient education page or visit the pulmonology product page for more information about the entire Olympus product portfolio.

The trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

About Olympus

At Olympus, we are committed to Our Purpose of making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with healthcare professionals to provide solutions and services for early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states.

Olympus Corporation of the Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Corporation, is headquartered in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, USA, and employs more than 4,500 employees throughout locations in North and South America. For more information, visit olympusamerica.com.

ⁱ Criner GJ, Mallea JM, Abu-Hijleh M, et al., "Sustained Clinical Benefits of Spiration Valve System in Patients with Severe Emphysema: 24-Month Follow-Up of EMPROVE." Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2024;21(2):251-260. doi:10.1513/AnnalsATS.202306-520OC
ⁱⁱ Drs. Patel and Hogarth are paid consultants for Olympus Corp. of the Americas
ⁱⁱⁱ American Lung Association, "Key Facts About Emphysema."
^iv U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "About COPD," Rev. May 15, 2024
^v Lin CH, Cheng SL, Chen CZ, Chen CH, Lin SH, Wang HC. Current Progress of COPD Early Detection: Key Points and Novel Strategies. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2023;18:1511-1524. Published 2023 Jul 19. doi:10.2147/COPD.S413969

SOURCE Olympus Corporation of the Americas