Olympus EVIS X1 vs Pentax i-scan: Which to Buy in Colombia?
Technical Comparison · Endoscopy Silo · Colombia 2026
Olympus EVIS X1 vs Pentax i-scan OE: 4K augmented imaging comparison in endoscopy
The Olympus EVIS X1 with TXI 4K and Pentax Medical with i-scan OE represent two different philosophies of augmented imaging — this technical comparison analyzes which one detects early lesions better, their price differences and which system is best for each clinical context
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GSMED Imaging technical team — advanced endoscopy systems Colombia
Based on official Olympus Medical technical specifications (EVIS X1 — CV-1500/CLV-1500) and Pentax Medical (HOYA Corporation — EPKi+ with i-scan OE), 2023 ESGE guidelines on augmented imaging in endoscopy and 2024 comparative clinical literature on lesion detection.
⚠️ Transparency: GSMED Imaging is an authorized distributor of Olympus Medical and Pentax Medical in Colombia. This comparison seeks technical objectivity — the data comes from official documentation from both manufacturers.
Augmented imaging is no longer a luxury in endoscopy — it is the quality standard for detecting early Barrett's lesions, flat colon adenomas and superficial gastric cancer. In 2026, two next-generation systems define the state of the art in Colombia: the Olympus EVIS X1 with 4K resolution and TXI technology, and Pentax Medical with i-scan OE. Which one offers more value for your service?
1. The two systems — market positioning
Olympus EVIS X1
CV-1500 + CLV-1500 + TXI + 4K
Manufacturer
Olympus Medical Systems (Japan)
Generation
Latest generation Olympus — launched 2021
Resolution
4K — 3840×2160 pixels
Augmented imaging
NBI + TXI (Texture and Color Enhancement Imaging)
Light source
High-power LED (CLV-1500) — no xenon bulb
Gastrosocope angulation
210° up (vs 210° in previous models)
Field of view
170° — larger than previous generation (140°)
VS
Pentax Medical i-scan OE
EPKi+ with i-scan Optical Enhancement
Manufacturer
Pentax Medical (HOYA Corporation, Japan)
Generation
Current — EPKi+ with i-scan OE
Resolution
Full HD 1080p
Augmented imaging
i-scan OE — Optical Enhancement + digital i-scan (3 modes)
Light source
Multispectral LED (EPKi+)
Gastrosocope angulation
210° up in advanced models
Field of view
170° in current endoscopes
2. The key differentiator: 4K vs HD
The resolution difference between the EVIS X1 (4K) and the Pentax system with i-scan OE (HD) is the starting point of any comparison between both. 4K resolution (3840×2160 pixels) has four times the pixels of HD (1920×1080) — which translates to greater mucosal texture detail, detection of finer microvascularization and better visualization of very small lesions.
Does 4K make a real clinical difference or is it just marketing? There is debate in the literature. Studies from 2022–2023 show that the detection of small adenomas (<5 mm) improves with 4K systems compared to HD in expert hands, especially when combined with TXI-type augmented imaging. However, the real clinical impact depends heavily on the operator — an experienced endoscopist with HD frequently outperforms an inexperienced one with 4K. 4K becomes especially valuable in high complexity endoscopy: POEM, EFTR, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), where tissue plane detail is critical for procedure safety.
3. NBI + TXI vs i-scan OE — two augmented imaging philosophies
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NBI (Olympus) — the updated classic
Olympus NBI uses two specific wavelengths (415 nm and 540 nm) to reveal superficial vessels and mucosal capillaries. In the EVIS X1, NBI is combined with 4K resolution — allowing to see with greater detail the Kudo pit pattern and the Sano vascular pattern in the colon, and the capillary pattern of the JES classification in the esophagus. The NBI 4K combination is considered the state of the art for the differential diagnosis of superficial lesions in high complexity endoscopy.
→ NBI 4K: gold standard for ESD and complex lesions
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i-scan OE (Pentax) — optical + digital
i-scan OE combines two technologies: (1) i-scan Optical Enhancement — an optical filter that modifies the LED source spectrum to enhance superficial vessels (similar in principle to NBI); (2) digital i-scan — image processing that adds tone, surface and pattern contrast in 3 selectable modes. The advantage is flexibility: the endoscopist can combine optical and digital imaging in real time. A 2022 meta-analysis (Gralnek et al.) showed that i-scan OE is non-inferior to NBI for the detection of colorectal adenomas.
→ Optical + digital: flexibility for different applications
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TXI — the exclusive innovation of the EVIS X1
TXI (Texture and Color Enhancement Imaging) is exclusive to the Olympus EVIS X1 and has no equivalent in Pentax or Fujinon. It is not narrow-band imaging — it is an image processing algorithm that simultaneously amplifies mucosal texture contrast, color contrast and structural contrast. Unlike NBI (which darkens the image to make vessels stand out), TXI maintains the image in bright white light but with greater mucosal contrast. This makes it especially useful as a "routine exploration" mode — always active without the darkness limitations of NBI.
4. Complete technical comparison
| Parameter | Olympus EVIS X1 | Pentax i-scan OE (EPKi+) | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K — 3840×2160 | HD — 1920×1080 | Olympus EVIS X1 — quadruple pixels |
| Optical augmented imaging | NBI (optical filters, 415+540 nm) | i-scan OE (multispectral LED) | Different — clinically equivalent in colon |
| Digital augmented imaging | TXI (exclusive to X1) | digital i-scan (3 modes: tone, surface, pattern) | Different philosophy — TXI more transparent, i-scan more configurable |
| Light source | High-power LED (CLV-1500) | Multispectral LED (EPKi+) | Both LED — no xenon bulb cost |
| Field of view | 170° | 170° | Same |
| Endoscope backward compatibility | Only new X1 endoscopes (not backward compatible with 190 series) | Only compatible Pentax endoscopes | Same — both require new investment in endoscopes |
| Full system price | USD 70,000–110,000 | USD 45,000–75,000 | Pentax — significantly more affordable |
| Installed base Colombia | Growing — EVIS X1 as upgrade from EXERA III | Solid in Colombia — especially private clinics | Similar in Colombian private market |
| Additional analysis software | Olympus ENDO-AID (AI for polyp detection) | CADEYE (Pentax — CADe AI for real-time detection) | Both with AI available — CADEYE with more published evidence |
| Ideal indication | High complexity: ESD, POEM, complex lesions, advanced endoscopic surgery | Standard high-quality endoscopy: screening, diagnostic, routine therapeutic | Different niche — they are not direct competitors |
5. AI in endoscopy: ENDO-AID vs CADEYE
Both Olympus and Pentax have integrated artificial intelligence for assisted polyp detection (CADe — Computer-Aided Detection) in their next-generation platforms. This technology analyzes the endoscope video in real time and automatically marks areas suspicious of polyp or lesion with a box or visual indicator.
- Olympus ENDO-AID: AI module for polyp detection integrable to EVIS X1. Marks the suspicious area in real time with a yellow box. Compatible with X1 platform endoscopes.
- Pentax CADEYE: Pentax CADe system with a higher number of published clinical studies in 2023–2024 showing significant increase in the Adenoma Detection Rate (ADR — Adenoma Detection Rate) when used in real time. 2024 meta-analysis (van der Zander et al.): CADEYE increases ADR by 12–15% compared to colonoscopy without AI.
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AI Conclusion: if maximizing the ADR (adenoma detection rate) is the priority of your colonoscopy service, the Pentax system with CADEYE has more published evidence in 2024. If the priority is high complexity endoscopy (ESD, POEM) with the highest available resolution, the EVIS X1 4K is the no-brainer choice.
6. Which one to choose in 2026?
| Clinical profile | Recommended choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| High volume CRC screening program | Pentax i-scan OE + CADEYE | More AI evidence in ADR + affordable price + flexible digital i-scan |
| Advanced therapeutic endoscopy reference center (ESD, POEM) | Olympus EVIS X1 4K | 4K is differential in complex procedures requiring tissue plane detail |
| Clinic with Olympus EXERA III fleet — wants upgrade | Olympus EVIS X1 | Same brand, known technical service, staff already trained in Olympus |
| New institution with tight budget | Pentax i-scan OE | Initial price 30–40% lower than EVIS X1 with equivalent clinical quality for diagnostic endoscopy |
| Esophagogastric inflammatory pathology (Barrett, esophagitis, H. pylori) | Both are valid | NBI+TXI and i-scan OE are equivalent in esophagus and stomach according to 2023 literature |
Is Pentax Medical still a reference brand in endoscopy?
Yes. Pentax Medical (a division of HOYA Corporation, a Japanese precision optics company with over 80 years of history) is still one of the three major global manufacturers of endoscopes along with Olympus and Fujifilm. In Colombia, Pentax has a solid presence especially in private gastroenterology clinics. The perception that Pentax is "the third brand" is due to Olympus dominating the historical installed base — not that Pentax is technologically inferior. In augmented imaging, i-scan OE with CADEYE has very robust clinical evidence published in 2023–2024.
Olympus EVIS X1 and Pentax Medical systems available in Colombia
GSMED Imaging — authorized distributor of Olympus and Pentax with local technical support, training and financing.
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