NOSCAR(R) Increases NOTES(R) Research with Olympus Medical Systems Corporation Grant

NOSCAR(R) Increases NOTES(R) Research with Olympus Medical Systems Corporation
Grant
Olympus funds an additional $250,000 in grants for research

OAK BROOK, Ill., July 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Natural Orifice
Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research(R) (NOSCAR(R)), a joint effort
of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society
of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), today announced
Olympus' continuing commitment to funding research in an emerging minimally
invasive transdisciplinary therapy known as Natural Orifice Translumenal
Endoscopic Surgery(R), with a $250,000 grant to the existing Olympus Research
Fund supporting NOTES(R) research. This grant increases Olympus' total funding
to $1.25 million.

NOTES, which is performed by using the patient's natural openings for surgery,
will be discussed among more than 250 medical experts, researchers and
physicians, from July 9-11, 2009 at the 4th International NOSCAR Conference on
NOTES in Boston, Massachusetts.

"NOSCAR is grateful to Olympus Medical Systems Corporation for supporting
NOTES research and helping to advance this minimally invasive technique," said
Steven D. Schwaitzberg, MD, NOSCAR Research Subcommittee Co-Chair.

"For the third consecutive year Olympus, a world leader in endoscopy, is proud
to support the pioneering effort of NOTES research," said Haruhito Morishima,
President, Olympus Medical Systems Corporation. "As a company committed to
surgical innovation and to the advancement of less invasive patient care, we
believe that funding the responsible, effective and safe development of this
new modality may lead to an approach that could ultimately represent a major
paradigm shift in minimally invasive therapy."

"We continue to receive an outstanding response for basic research funding
reflecting the momentum this revolutionary technique has created," said
Michael L. Kochman, MD, NOSCAR Research Subcommittee Co-Chair.

In July 2008, NOSCAR leadership granted funds to determine topics requiring
further basic research in order to make the NOTES platform feasible. That
grant, used for research called the Delphi Study, gathered data from
physicians and researchers around the world to identify those areas requiring
additional research and investigation. The topics to be funded will be
announced when the call for submissions is sent later this month.

For more information on this grant, visit www.noscar.org or call 630-570-5616.

About NOSCAR
Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery(R) (NOTES(R)) might represent
the next major advancement in minimally invasive therapy. To address this
emerging technology, a working group consisting of expert laparoscopic
surgeons from SAGES and a group of expert interventional endoscopists
representing ASGE have joined together as the Natural Orifice Surgery
Consortium for Assessment and Research(R) (NOSCAR(R)) Working Group on NOTES.

The growing capabilities of therapeutic flexible endoscopy have ushered in a
new era in treatment of gastrointestinal conditions. Refinements in
laparoscopic surgery have progressed to the point that complex surgical
procedures, such as gastric bypass, can now be performed in a minimally
invasive fashion. These trends have set the stage for the development of even
less invasive methods to treat conditions in both the gut lumen and in the
peritoneal cavity. It seems feasible that major intraperitoneal surgery may
one day be performed without skin incisions. The natural orifices may provide
the entry point for surgical interventions in the peritoneal cavity thereby
avoiding abdominal wall incisions. For more information, visit
www.noscar.org.

About the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) was
founded in 1981 to foster, promote, support and encourage academic, clinical
and research achievement in gastrointestinal endoscopic surgery. Our members
are general and colorectal surgeons who perform endoscopy and laparoscopy as
part of their practice as well as surgical residents, fellows, and other
allied health personnel. The Society has grown from fewer than 50 original
members to more than 5,500 from every state and over 80 countries. Visit
www.sages.org for more information.

About the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Founded in 1941, the mission of the American Society for Gastrointestinal
Endoscopy is to be the leader in advancing patient care and digestive health
by promoting excellence in gastrointestinal endoscopy. ASGE, with nearly
11,000 members worldwide, promotes the highest standards for endoscopic
training and practice, fosters endoscopic research, recognizes distinguished
contributions to endoscopy, and is the foremost resource for endoscopic
education. Visit www.asge.org and www.screen4coloncancer.org for more
information and to find a qualified doctor in your area.

About Olympus Medical Systems Corporation
Olympus developed the first gastrocamera in 1950, and has since developed a
wide range of fiberscopes and videoscopes for direct internal observation of
the human body. Today, we are expanding our minimally invasive treatment
business to offer a wide range of instruments and peripheral devices for
medical treatment and clinical diagnoses, including endoscopic surgery. We are
improving medical and healthcare services by developing "more patient-friendly
medical care" technology for early detection and treatment of diseases, even
"greater reliability" in our unsurpassed devices and "high efficiency" in our
products and services to better serve our customers' needs. More information
on the company can be found at www.olympus.co.jp/en/.
Media Contacts:

Barbara Connell
NOSCAR
630-570-5616
barbara@noscar.org

Anne Brownsey
ASGE
630-570-5635
abrownsey@asge.org

Megan Longenderfer
Olympus America
484-896-5579
megan.longenderfer@olympus.com

SOURCE Natural Orifice Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research(R)
(NOSCAR(R))

Barbara Connell of NOSCAR, +1-630-570-5616, barbara@noscar.org; or Anne
Brownsey of ASGE, +1-630-570-5635, abrownsey@asge.org; or Megan Longenderfer
of Olympus America, +1-484-896-5579, megan.longenderfer@olympus.com