Intuitive Launches Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy System in Korea to Advance Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Intuitive Surgical Korea has introduced its groundbreaking Ion robotic bronchoscopy system to the Korean healthcare market, marking the company's first non-invasive platform in the region and expanding its presence in interventional pulmonology. Following its debut in the United States in 2019, Korea becomes the fourth country to adopt the innovative technology. Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Korea, with the majority of nodules located in the peripheral regions of the lungs that are difficult to access with traditional methods. According to CEO Dave Rosa, early detection is crucial for improving survival rates, and the Ion system aims to assist clinicians in reaching and sampling lesions that conventional tools might miss, especially in hard-to-reach areas. The system utilizes advanced shape-sensing fiber-optic technology combined with robotic navigation to enable real-time targeting, biopsy, and marker placement for patients suspected of or diagnosed with lung cancer. The 3.5 mm catheter can articulate over 170 degrees in any direction and works seamlessly with standard imaging modalities like fluoroscopy, cone-beam CT, and radial EB...