Fujifilm launches balloon-less ultrasound bronchoscope for pulmonary procedures

FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corp. announced the launch of its new EB-710US Ultrasound Bronchoscope, a next-generation endobronchial ultrasound, or EBUS, device designed to improve imaging performance and simplify workflow for pulmonologists performing minimally invasive lung procedures.

The company said the new bronchoscope, unveiled during the American Thoracic Society Conference, features a balloon-less design intended to eliminate several preparation steps commonly associated with traditional EBUS procedures.

Conventional EBUS scopes typically use a balloon attached to the tip of the bronchoscope to maintain contact between the ultrasound probe and the airway wall. The balloon must be carefully positioned and checked for air bubbles that can interfere with image quality. Fujifilm said removing the balloon from the process reduces setup time, lowers disposable supply costs and may help reduce infection risks tied to residual contamination or biofilm formation after reprocessing.

“Pulmonologists have long balanced the need for high-quality imaging with the practical challenges of procedure efficiency and reprocessing,” Tai Fujita, senior vice president of the company’s endoscopy division, said in a statement. “With our new balloon-less EBUS scope, we’re removing unnecessary complexity while delivering exceptional ultrasound performance and simplifying workflow.”

The company said the EB-710US includes a high-performance ultrasound transducer designed to provide enhanced image resolution and deeper tissue penetration during bronchoscopic procedures.

Additional design features include a 180-degree upward angulation and 90-degree downward angulation for improved maneuverability, a slim 6.4-millimeter distal end and 5.9-millimeter insertion tube to improve access to lung structures, and a shortened transducer intended to improve mucosal contact.

The bronchoscope also offers a 120-degree field of view and continuous visualization of biopsy needles during puncture procedures, according to the company.

Fujifilm said published reports have documented physician success using the device to reach challenging mediastinal and peripheral lung targets without the need for a balloon.