Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) has announced the launch of its ION
Robotic Lung Biopsy Program, the latest technology for lung cancer care
in the Catawba Valley region. This minimally invasive robotic-assisted
technique to biopsy a suspected lung cancer represents a major step forward
in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
The ION robotic platform allows for enhanced precision and improved access
to hard-to-reach areas of the lung. CVMC pulmonologists stated that more
than 70 percent of lung nodules that need to be biopsied – analyzed
to see if they are cancer – reside far out in the periphery of the
lung, making them very difficult to biopsy using conventional bronchoscopy.
The ION robot will expedite access to these nodules.
“This program is the first of its kind in our region and will change
health outcomes by improving our ability to detect, biopsy, diagnose and
treat lung cancers at an earlier stage,” said Matthew Fowler, DO,
PhD, FACP, with Catawba Valley Pulmonology. “It now enables us to
access lung nodules in hard-to-reach areas of the lung. It also reduces
the number of procedures over the long-term and should improve overall
patient outcomes.”
During the bronchoscopy, the physician uses ION’s system to navigate
to the target along a pre-planned digital path. ION’s ultrathin
robotic catheter allows for advanced maneuverability, giving the physician
access to navigate far into the tight airways and deepest segments of
the lung. The system allows the surgeon to know exactly where the catheter
is in the patient's lungs at all times, in real-time.
“The ION robotic platform combines advanced robotics, real-time imaging,
and artificial intelligence to enable bronchoscopic procedures with exceptional
accuracy and safety,” added M. Fayez Rujubali, MD, also with Catawba
Valley Pulmonology. “Its potential to improve diagnostic yields
and reduce the need for more invasive interventions can have a significant
impact on the lives of patients suffering from lung diseases.”