Why Robotic Bronchoscopy? | Ion by Intuitive

Helping address a leading cause of cancer mortality

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. In the U.S., the average five-year survival rate for all stages of non-small cell lung cancer (the most common kind) is 23%,² compared with 90% for all stages of breast³ and 98% for all stages of prostate⁴ cancer. One reason for the lower survival rate is that about 72% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer have nonlocalized disease, meaning the cancer is detected after it has spread beyond the initial tumor.⁵

Ion system in a suite integrated with Cios Spin

Meeting the challenge of early detection

Early detection of lung cancer can significantly improve outcomes. More than 70% of all lung cancer nodules are located in the outer one-third of the lung,⁶ an area full of tight spaces and narrow airways that may be hard to reach. For those patients, doctors haven't had a first-choice technology to turn to. Enter Ion, Intuitive’s innovative robotic-assisted platform that aims to enable minimally invasive biopsies that could become a key part of early diagnosis.

Learn about Ion

Intuitive Executive’s Perspective: Our commitment in the lung space

Charlie Dean, general manager and senior vice president of our endoluminal division, shares his perspective on Ion and our commitment to lung care.

Apr 25, 2023 | 00:04:26

Intuitive Executive’s Perspective: Our commitment in the lung space

Charlie Dean, general manager and senior vice president of our endoluminal division, shares his perspective on Ion and our commitment to lung care.

Apr 25, 2023 | 00:04:26
A Race to Catch Lung Cancer, Documentary About Early Lung Cancer Detection

Documentary video about Drs. Pritchett and Herrera and the race to biopsy lung nodules for suspected lung cancer in order to address lung care earlier.

Mar 26, 2021 | 00:06:14
Impact of Ion on Thoracic Oncology Program

Pulmonologist Bhanu K. Patibandla, MD, discusses his experience using the Ion system

Apr 25, 2023 | 00:01:20
Advancing Possibilities in Lung Care

Pulmonologist Ali Jiwani, MD talks about Ion and his experience biopsying a small lung nodule in a patient.

Apr 25, 2023 | 00:01:06

Patient undergoing robotic bronchoscopy with Ion

Helping patients get answers

During a procedure using the Ion system, a physician will insert the Ion fully articulating catheter into the patient’s lung via the mouth and throat through an endotracheal tube, which may reduce the chance of complications associated with biopsy approaches that use a needle inserted from outside the body.

Ion’s ability to navigate to small nodules and enable precise⁷ biopsies may help patients get answers, potentially enabling more time to consider treatment options.

How Ion works

Timeline showing the evolution of bronchoscopy methods

Elevating performance in lung biopsy care

The lungs are constantly moving, creating a critical need for precision and control during bronchoscopic procedures. Ion’s pioneering use of shape-sensing technology helps physicians answer this need, and its integration with Cios Spin 3D imaging offers further refinement. Shape sensing provides real-time data about the catheter’s exact location, shape, and orientation throughout the navigation and biopsy process.⁸ Integration with Cios Spin helps to account for CT-to-body divergence, which is a difference in the nodule location seen in static preprocedural CTs and intraprocedural imaging.⁸

Ion expands possibilities by advancing efficiencies across the lung care continuum. It wasn’t designed to answer every need; but to support finding answers faster along a less invasive path to diagnosis.

Learn about shape sensing

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Cancer Key Facts. World Health Organization.
Cancer Stat Facts: Lung and Bronchus Cancer. SEER. National Cancer Institute.
Survival Rates for Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society.
Survival Rates for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society.
Adenocarcinoma of the Lung and Bronchus. Stage Distribution of SEER Incidence Cases, 2010-2019. SEER. National Cancer Institute.
Horeweg N, van der Aalst CM, Thunnissen E, et al. Characteristics of lung cancers detected by computer tomography screening in the randomized NELSON trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013;187(8):848-854. DOI:10.1164/rccm.201209-1651OC.
Precision is the ability to place a biopsy tool in the desired location consistently.
Results based on internal testing.

Disclosures and important safety information

Ion is for sale in the U.S.

Outside of the U.S., Ion may not have regulatory approvals in all markets. Please check with your local Intuitive representative.

Important safety information

Risks associated with bronchoscopy through an endotracheal tube and under general anesthesia are infrequent and typically minor and may include but are not limited to: sore throat, hoarseness, respiratory complications including dyspnea or hypoxemia, airway injury, bronchospasm, laryngospasm, fever, hemoptysis, chest, or lung infection including pneumonia, lung abscess, or an adverse reaction to anesthesia. Although rare, the following complications may also occur: bleeding, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), cardiac-related complications, respiratory failure, air embolism, or death. As with other medical procedures, there may be additional risks associated with the use of general anesthesia and/or endotracheal intubation that are not listed above; you should consult a healthcare professional regarding these and other potential risks.

Procedures using the Ion endoluminal system may be associated with longer procedure and/or longer anesthesia time.

Individuals’ outcomes may depend on a number of factors—including but not limited to—patient characteristics, disease characteristics, and/or physician experience.

Ion endoluminal system

The Ion endoluminal system (Model IF1000) assists the user in navigating a catheter and endoscopic tools in the pulmonary tract using endoscopic visualization of the tracheobronchial tree for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The Ion endoluminal system enables fiducial marker placement. It does not make a diagnosis and is not for pediatric use.

Information provided by the Ion endoluminal system or its components should be considered guidance only and not replace clinical decisions made by a trained physician.

The PlanPoint Software uses patient CT scans to create a 3D plan of the lung and navigation pathways for use with the Ion endoluminal system.