At Pathology Meeting, Olympus Demonstrates Commitment to Helping End Colorectal Cancer

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., February 25, 2011 — Olympus, a world leader in imaging technology, is demonstrating its full line of imaging systems designed to support the vital work of pathologists at the U.S. and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to showing its microscopes and two new virtual slide systems at the meeting, the company also is focusing on its commitment to working with researchers, doctors, surgeons and the public to help eradicate colorectal cancer (CRC). Olympus provides microscopes, virtual slide technology, endoscopy solutions and surgical instruments to hospitals and laboratories across North America.

At the conference, the Olympus “Working Smarter Together theme illustrates how the company is helping support research, diagnosis, treatment and awareness of CRC, the second leading cancer killer in the United States. In Booth 237, Olympus is demonstrating the types of equipment, innovation and commitment it offers to help fight CRC and other diseases, including a complete surgical suite, virtual slide scanning systems for research and education, pathology and research microscopes, and a Find It First kiosk, where members of the public (including pathologists) can commit to CRC screening or to encouraging others to be screened.

Among the systems on display in the Olympus booth will be advanced tools that can be used for a wide variety of specialties within pathology and histology research and education, such as the new VS800® and VS110-Fluorescence virtual slide systems. Within the booth’s operating/procedure room area, Olympus will demonstrate its integrated, ergonomic ENDOALPHA® Systems Integration Solution – a new, advanced suite designed to help improve efficiency and optimize workflows. In addition, Olympus is showing its new line of BX3® microscopes for pathologists and researchers, along with snares, endotherapy systems, audio recorders and cameras.

Attendees can use the Find It First kiosk in the booth to sign up for more information about CRC, one of the most preventable and beatable cancers if detected and treated early. Booth visitors also can sign a commitment to being screened or encouraging others age 50 or older to do so as part of the Find It First campaign, an effort Olympus is undertaking to help improve the CRC screening rate. Olympus is donating one dollar for each of the first 50,000 people who take the screening pledge to leading CRC advocacy and awareness organizations, including the Colorectal Cancer Coalition and the Colon Cancer Alliance.

“Fifty thousand lives were lost in the US last year due to colon cancer. Screening could help save many of those lives,” said Osamu Joji, Vice President and General Manager of the Scientific Equipment Group at Olympus America Inc. “Olympus is working to support physicians and educate the general public about this treatable and preventable disease.”

For more information about Olympus products for pathology, gastroenterology and the surgical suite, visit www.olympusamerica.com
To learn more about colorectal cancer or make an online commitment to be screened, visit www.finditfirst.com

About Olympus America Inc., Scientific Equipment Group
Olympus America Inc., Scientific Equipment Group provides innovative microscope imaging solutions for researchers, doctors, clinicians, engineers and educators. Olympus bioscience microscope systems offer unsurpassed optics, superior construction and system versatility to meet the ever-changing needs of microscopists, paving the way for future advances in life science. Olympus industrial microscopes and metrology systems play a leading role in precision R&D, engineering and manufacturing applications in fields as diverse as aerospace, the automotive industry, electronics, materials science/metallurgy, medical devices, photovoltaics and semiconductors.

About Olympus
Olympus is a precision technology leader, creating innovative opto-digital solutions in healthcare, life science and consumer electronics products. Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its affiliates worldwide to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. These include:

• Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
• Advanced clinical and research microscopes;
• Industrial research, engineering, test, inspection and measuring instruments; and
• Digital cameras and voice recorders.

Olympus serves healthcare and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers to efficiently, reliably and more easily achieve exceptional results. Olympus develops breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality for the consumer and professional photography markets, and also is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com

In the U.S., the VS800 and VS110-Fluorescence are for research and educational use only.

Olympus, VS, ENDOALPHA and BX are trademarks or registered trademarks of Olympus Corporation, Olympus America Inc., and/or their affiliates iin the U.S. and/or other countries.

www.olympusamerica.com