NTT Corporation (TSE: 9432; “NTT”) and Olympus Corporation (TSE: 7733; “Olympus”) have successfully demonstrated the world’s first cloud-based endoscopy system powered by IOWN All Photonics Network (APN) technology. This innovative system enables real-time diagnosis and treatment through a remote server located 150km away, addressing critical latency issues and paving the way for next-generation medical technologies.

The breakthrough, achieved through a joint experiment launched in March, establishes the feasibility of high-speed, low-latency transmission of uncompressed endoscopic video for real-time processing on the cloud. The results were presented ahead of the NTT R&D FORUM 2024 – IOWN INTEGRAL event in Tokyo, November 25–29.

Key Highlights:

• Low-Latency Success: Achieved data transfer latency of just 1.1 milliseconds over a 150km distance—10 times below the acceptable threshold for real-time video processing.
• Enhanced Medical Capabilities: Demonstrated seamless transmission and processing of high-quality (4K/60fps) endoscopic video, enabling real-time feedback for operators.
• Future Applications: Validated potential for centralized processing of endoscopic procedures across hospitals within a metropolitan region, promising improved access to advanced medical care.

Revolutionizing Endoscopy Through Cloud Technology
The cloud-based endoscopy system leverages NTT’s APN technology to process high-resolution video data remotely with minimal delay. The system comprises an edge device capturing endoscopic video, an APN-enabled network for data transfer, and a server employing AI and advanced imaging technologies to process and return the video in real-time.

“This demonstration is a major step forward in overcoming the latency challenges of cloud-based endoscopy,” said an NTT spokesperson. “It underscores the potential for IOWN APN technology to transform medical networks by providing ultra-fast, reliable data transmission.”

Olympus, a leader in medical imaging, provided the advanced endoscope devices and evaluated the system's performance. “This milestone highlights the immense possibilities of cloud-powered endoscopy to deliver innovative, real-time solutions for healthcare providers,” said an Olympus representative.

Next Steps
Building on these findings, NTT and Olympus will explore technical challenges to ensure robust security for medical data and expand the system’s capabilities for real-time remote diagnosis and treatment across hospitals. Both companies are committed to advancing this technology to enhance medical care access and efficiency globally.