Ion endoluminal system represents an advancement in minimally invasive robotic-assisted bronchoscopy procedures by enabling physicians to reach nodules far into the peripheral lung, and providing them the stability and precision needed for biopsy.
During bronchoscopy with Ion, the physician uses the controller to navigate to the target along a planned path. The catheter can articulate 180° in any direction to pass through small, difficult-to-navigate airways and around tight bends to reach all 18 segments of the lung.
Ion’s peripheral vision probe provides direct vision during navigation. Once the pulmonary nodule is reached, the catheter locks in place. The Flexision™ biopsy needle, a flexible biopsy needle compatible with Ion, then passes through the catheter, even when positioned in tortuous airways. After advancing around tight-radius bends of the catheter, the needle deploys into the target location on a straight path.
Ion is made by Intuitive, the company that makes the da Vinci surgical system, and is built on more than two decades of leadership in robotic-assisted technology.
Our providers currently perform this procedure at Piedmont Eastside Medical Center. Our own, Dr. Klimtian Nguyen recently completed the first procedure ever done at that facility.