Olympus to distribute Endocision’s Celsio Cryocatheter globally for bronchoscopy procedures
The device uses controlled freezing to adhere to and remove targeted tissue or foreign material, enabling clinicians to perform both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions through a bronchoscope.
JAPAN—Olympus has entered into an agreement with Canadian medical technology company Endocision Technologies to become the exclusive global distributor of its Celsio cryocatheter for diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopic procedures.
The agreement expands Olympus’ respiratory portfolio, which already includes endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) systems and other technologies used in pulmonary procedures.
Endocision’s Celsio cryocatheter is designed for several bronchoscopic applications, including transbronchial cryobiopsy for tissue acquisition, cryoextraction of foreign bodies such as blood clots, and endobronchial tumour debulking and airway recanalisation.
The device uses controlled freezing to adhere to and remove targeted tissue or foreign material, enabling clinicians to perform both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions through a bronchoscope.
Olympus and Endocision plan to begin the commercial launch of the cryocatheter in the US, Canada, and Europe early next year.
Expanding respiratory care
Seiji Kuramoto, executive officer and head of the surgical and interventional solutions division at Olympus, said the agreement reinforces the company’s commitment to expanding its respiratory solutions portfolio.
According to Kuramoto, Olympus’ offerings span peripheral bronchoscopy, radial EBUS, and single-use bronchoscopes, helping clinicians select the right technology for different procedures.
He added that the partnership combines Olympus’ expertise in ultrasound technology with Endocision’s cryotechnology to advance patient care.
The Celsio system has a portable design and does not require an external electricity source or large carbon dioxide tanks.
Endocision expects these features to broaden access to cryobiopsy and cryoextraction across clinical environments, including bronchoscopy suites, intensive care units, operating rooms, and emergency departments.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the system in September 2024.
Clinical applications
Cryocatheters can support tissue acquisition during cryobiopsy, particularly when clinicians need samples from peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). Their use has also been investigated for endobronchial tumours and interstitial lung diseases.
According to data cited by Endocision, cryobiopsy with cryocatheters can improve diagnostic yield for PPLs and has been associated with an 8.6% improvement in diagnostic rates.
Dr Moishe Liberman, president and chief medical officer of Endocision, said the company is looking forward to introducing its next-generation cryocatheter technology in partnership with Olympus.
He said the system is designed to support a broad range of bronchoscopic procedures, from tissue acquisition to therapeutic airway interventions, while making cryotechnology available across multiple clinical settings.
First human procedures
Endocision completed its first human clinical cases using the cryocatheter at hospitals in Quebec, Canada, in July 2026.
The procedures demonstrated the system’s ability to navigate the bronchial tree and deliver controlled cryogenic interventions for cryoadhesion, cryoextraction and cryodevitalisation.
The company said the results mark an important step in the clinical development and commercialisation of its cryocatheter technology for interventional pulmonology and thoracic endoscopy.
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