INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - New robotic technology holds great promise in fighting lung cancer and is being used to treat patients at Franciscan Health Cancer Center in Indianapolis.  

The innovation, Auris Health Monarch™ Platform, is used to view the inside of lungs and obtain a tissue sample for biopsy. The system integrates the latest advancements in technology, data science, software and endoscopy (the use of small cameras and tools to enter the body through its natural openings.

"This platform is more precise and provides improved reach, vision and control during bronchoscopic procedures, thereby offering more hopeful outcomes for our patients," said Faisal Khan, MD, who is one of the few practicing interventional pulmonologists in Indiana.

Franciscan Health Cancer Center is one of the few medical centers to offer Auris Monarch. By November – Lung Cancer Awareness Month --- Dr. Faisal and his team had treated 500 patients using the novel procedure. Franciscan is also the only center in Indiana that offers integration of this technology with Cone Beam CT (CBCT) scan. CBCT integration allows further precision especially for smaller lesions.

About 81 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer do not survive because in the majority of cases the disease is not detected until advanced stages. While there are a variety of diagnostic options currently available for lung cancer, all have limitations on accuracy, safety or invasiveness. Such limitations can lead to false diagnoses or side effects such as collapsed lung and hemorrhage, which increase health costs and extend hospital stays.

The Monarch uses a familiar controller-like interface – appearing much like a hand-held game device – and combines views inside the lung with computer-assisted navigation based on 3-D models of a patient’s own lung anatomy. The system provides Dr. Khan with continuous bronchoscope vision throughout the entire outpatient procedure.

"Technology has evolved since the earliest robotics platforms used in clinical care, but there often are limitations to their effectiveness," said Dr. Khan. "The Monarch greatly advances our capabilities and this unique platform may provide other uses in future endoscopic procedures."

To see how the Auris Health Monarch™ Platform system works, CLICK HERE.

To learn more about the Lung Cancer Program and lung screenings, go to Franciscan Health Cancer Center Indianapolis.

 


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