A new robot for detecting lung cancer is being tested in California. Burlingame Medical Center has developed a device for ion bronchoscopy.
The robot allows doctors to navigate the lungs using a virtual map created from CT scans. It also provides real-time viewing of the lungs using a catheter that looks somewhat like an earthworm.
Surgeon Alexander Seider tested the new device on three patients.
The robot also helps doctors perform biopsies more safely, the surgeon said.
The doctor also notes that this instrument will be useful during operations to remove tumors.
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer accounts for one-fifth of all cancer deaths.
Moreover, according to estimates from the National Cancer Institute, approximately 125,000 people in the United States will die from this type of cancer in 2024.
