CLEVELAND — A novel innovation to treat lung cancer is currently being utilized at University Hospitals (UH) Cleveland Medical Center. Presently, around 80% of cases are discovered when they are already at an advanced stage. This issue leads to fewer options for treatments and more deaths caused by the disease.
Auris Health’s Monarch Platform enables earlier, more accurate diagnosis of small and hard-to-reach nodules in the periphery of the lung by allowing a physician to view the inside of the lungs and obtain a tissue sample for biopsy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently cleared the platform, and UH is among the first hospitals in the country to utilize the platform.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, and this is in part due to the fact that it shows no symptoms at its early stages. A variety of diagnostic options are currently available for lung cancer. However, they all have considerable limitations, particularly in accuracy, safety, or invasiveness. These limitations can lead to false positives, false negatives, or even side effects such as pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and severe bleeding, increasing health care costs and extending hospital stays.
“Getting a good, accurate biopsy and being able to make a precise diagnosis will lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, resulting in improved outcomes for patients. This technology is really exciting, and a giant step forward in bronchoscope design. Monarch will allow us to reach smaller peripheral lung nodules that are now generally not accessible with current techniques and technology,” said Benjamin Young, MD, Medical Director of Bronchoscopy at UH Cleveland Medical Center.
Auris Health’s Monarch Platform integrates the latest advancements in robotics, software, data science, as well as endoscopy, the use of small cameras and tools to enter the body through its natural openings. The flexible robotic endoscope is used by physicians to navigate to the periphery of the lung with improved reach, vision, and control.
The Monarch Platform combines traditional endoscopic views into the lung with computer-assisted navigation based on 3D models of the patient’s lung anatomy. This provides physicians with continuous bronchoscope vision throughout the entirety of the procedure.
With robotic bronchoscopy, incidental findings can now be examined with a significant accuracy improvement. This means patients are spared from having to undergo further imaging or additional procedures that may cost unnecessary time, doubt, anxiety, and cost.