Austin Hospital First In Central Texas To Use Robotic System

AUSTIN, TX – A local hospital is the first in central Texas to use a robotic system to aid physicians when they biopsy lung tissue.

St. David's South Austin Medical Center will utilize the Ion Endoluminal System, which has an ultra-thin, ultra-maneuverable catheter that allows navigation far into the peripheral lung. Using the new robotic system and advanced imaging technology, physicians will be able to obtain tissue samples from deep within the lung.

Physicians recommend a biopsy to confirm a diagnosis after a mass or nodule is discovered in the lung. Lung biopsies are particularly difficult to access with existing technology. During a bronchoscopy procedure, physicians use the controller to navigate to the target area.

“Because the lung is often a difficult place to get biopsies, this new, robotic-assisted approach represents an advancement in the existing approaches to lung biopsies,” said William Bartek, M.D., medical director of pulmonology at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, in a prepared statement. “This system, along with advanced imaging technology, provides us with better access and increased precision, which can produce quicker results and may help avoid additional biopsies.”