Redlands Community Hospital Offers Ion, an Advanced Diagnostic Technology for Lung Biopsies and the Latest da Vinci 5 for Minimally Invasive Surgery

Redlands Community Hospital (RCH) offers Ion by Intuitive, an advanced minimally-invasive lung biopsy and surgical technology by the Intuitive da Vinci 5 surgical system.  Using the Ion and da Vinci 5 surgical system, RCH physicians can reach more tissue with better precision to detect lung cancer and operate on the patient with the latest minimally invasive technology.

The Ion, a robotic-assisted surgical system, uses an ultra-thin maneuverable catheter which can navigate deeper into lung tissue than traditional lung biopsy methods. The technology allows access to all lung nodules for more precise biopsies, and jump-starts diagnoses and treatments. CT scan data is used to generate a 3D image of the patient’s lungs down to the smallest branches and nodules.

“Using both the Ion and the da Vinci 5 allows us to perform biopsies with higher precision and detect abnormalities in the lungs, such as cancer, earlier than we previously could and operate on the patient without delay using the latest technology,” says Dr. Wilson Tsai, thoracic surgeon, Redlands Community Hospital. “Early detection and treatment can lead to more successful outcomes and higher survival rates.”

To perform a bronchoscopy, the surgeon uses Ion the controller to the ultrathin catheter along a preplanned route to a nodule. The catheter has a180-degree articulation and is flexible, allowing tight turns in the branches of the lung to easily access nodules. The catheter locks onto the nodule, and a system needle obtains the tissue sample.

After the biopsy, the tissue sample is sent to a pathologist to assess for cancer cells. The Ion allows surgeons to quickly identify, assess, treat early stages of lung cancer, and other ailments.

To learn more about minimally invasive lung biopsy and surgery at Redlands Community Hospital, visit: www.Redlandshospital.org.