During COPD Awareness Month, Olympus Corp of the Americas is celebrating strides in emphysema treatment.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Innovative Emphysema Treatment with Spiration Valve System
Olympus’ Spiration Valve System offers a bronchoscopic lung volume reduction procedure that redirects airflow from diseased lung regions to healthier areas, significantly improving breathing and quality of life for patients with severe emphysema. - AI Screening for Early Diagnosis
Olympus’ SeleCT Screening uses AI to review CT scans across healthcare systems, identifying potential candidates for the Spiration Valve procedure. This innovation aims to address emphysema’s underdiagnosis and connect patients with life-changing treatment options. - Impactful Patient Outcomes
The Spiration Valve System has transformed lives, as exemplified by Beverly Lewis, who regained mobility and an active lifestyle after undergoing the procedure. The initiative underscores Olympus’ commitment to improving access to care and enhancing patient outcomes.
During COPD Awareness Month, Olympus Corp of the Americas is celebrating strides in emphysema treatment and working with groups like Right2Breathe to bring attention to the treatment options available to patients.
Emphysema is a progressive form of 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. COPD affects about 16 million adults in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.1
An Important Option for Patients
Beverly Lewis suffers from emphysema as a result of smoking, a habit she acknowledges she stubbornly continued while also trying to quit for years. After worsening breathing problems, the Pensacola, FL resident found herself winded after walking a block and was in and out of the hospital every few months. She was eventually discharged to home hospice care with only days to live.
“I was told to get my affairs in order,” Lewis said.
Her pulmonologist suggested a bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) procedure with Olympus’ Spiration Valve System, a device that redirects air from diseased parts of the lung to healthier parts, allowing the healthier lung tissue to expand and function more effectively.
The procedure allowed the now 68-year-old Lewis to return to her life, including playing piano at her church.
“This is the best thing that I ever had done,” she said.2
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Increase Access to Life-changing Care
Emphysema remains critically under-diagnosed, which means many people suffering from the disease are not already under the care of a pulmonologist and thus are not offered various treatment options, like the Spiration Valve. Olympus now supports physicians through an innovative AI screening program, called SeleCT Screening, which proactively reviews all chest computed tomography (CT) scans throughout the health system to help identify patients who may benefit from the procedure.
Physicians are notified if a potentially qualified patient is identified so that they can be contacted for further evaluation for the Spiration Valve. One phone call may bring options and hope for a chronic disease – representing an exciting pairing of AI and the FDA-designated breakthrough treatment with Spiration Valves.
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.
“Access is an important factor when it comes to procedures like bronchoscopic lung volume reduction, and that’s what’s important to Olympus,” said Swarna Alcorn, Business Unit Vice President, Respiratory, Olympus America, Inc. “Connecting patients with procedures that offer the possibility of an improved quality of life is at the core of all we do, and we invest in products like the Spiration Valve System because they are at the intersection of patient focus, innovation and impact.”
References from Olympus America
1 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “About COPD,” Rev. May 2024
2 As with all medical procedures, results may vary. The statements of Beverly Lewis are her own and should not be used as advice given by a physician.
3 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
