New robotic tool at UK hospital speeds up lung cancer diagnosis by months

Lung cancer diagnosis waits may be shortened by months with a new robotic tool that detects the disease in its early stages.

Wythenshawe Hospital in Machester has become one of the first medical facilities in Europe to employ the advanced Ion Endoluminal System developed by Intuitive.

The system allows clinicians to insert a thin and maneuverable catheter into a patient’s lung via their mouth to reach lung nodules suspected of being cancerous.

The development also expands on Wythenshawe’s work in the Greater Manchester Lung Health Check program, where mobile screening centers have diagnosed over 600 lung cancers, primarily in early, treatable stages.

“Ion allows us to safely, and accurately, sample these lesions and provide patients with the much-needed answers they seek,” said Dr Haval Balata, Respiratory Physician and Clinical Lead for the Ion service at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, in a statement.

Faster lung diagnosis

The most prevalent cause of cancer-related deaths in the UK is lung cancer, and individuals who receive a diagnosis early in the disease have a nearly 20-fold increased chance of surviving for five years compared to those who receive a diagnosis later in the disease.

According to researchers, in the UK, each year over 48,000 people receive a lung cancer diagnosis, and about 35,000 people pass away from the illness.

Currently, small lung nodules are frequently difficult to access using conventional biopsy methods, making it difficult to diagnose lung cancer and begin therapy.

Scans are used to monitor hard-to-reach lesions, but patients with suspected lung cancer may need to endure months of “watchful waiting” until the nodules grow to a size that allows testing.

“It is important that we constantly innovate and embrace new technologies to enable our clinicians to provide the best possible care to our patients,” said Mark Cubbon, Chief Executive Officer of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, in a statement .

Precision lung navigation

The new Ion system features a narrow robotic catheter that enables physicians to precisely and swiftly access even the most difficult-to-reach parts of the lungs. The first patients with probable lung cancer have had biopsies taken using the technique.

Ion’s picture archiving and communication system (PACS)-integrated PlanPoint software retrieves CT scans to generate 3D airway maps and create a guided path for lung biopsies. The ultrathin 3.5 mm catheter, with 180° articulation, navigates all lung segments, providing real-time location tracking via a fiber-optic sensor and live camera view.

Its compass feature synchronizes virtual and live imaging for accurate navigation, while advanced software tools assist with CT-to-body divergence during the procedure. Ion integrates with Cios Spin for on-demand 3D imaging, enhancing target location accuracy.

Once at the nodule, the catheter locks in place using real-time shape sensors and control algorithms. The Flexision Needle, designed for difficult airways, deploys in a straight path for precise biopsies, with cloud biopsy tracking multiple attempts.

According to researchers, the new robot could advance patient care by allowing treatment to begin or providing an all-clear months earlier than currently possible.

“Having this new innovative technology available for our patients to access is game-changing. As we have continued to successfully expand our Lung Health Check programme, we are diagnosing lung cancers at a much earlier stage when the lesions are very small and difficult to biopsy,” said Balata.