Tool Placement in Pulmonary Nodule using a Robotic Bronchoscopy System

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A Prospective Investigation to Assess the Accurate Tool Placement in Pulmonary Nodule(s) using a Robotic Navigational Bronchoscopy System with Adjunct Real-time Imaging

  • IRAS ID

    308868

  • Contact name

    Pallav L Shah

  • Contact email

    pallav.shah@imperial.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    NCT05867953

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 2 months, 29 days

  • Research summary

    A lung nodule is a shadow identified on a computerised tomography (CT) scan which is an area of more dense tissue than normal lung tissue. Patients with nodules may require a sample of tissue (also known as a biopsy) to show whether this growth is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancer). The results help to determine if treatment is required. These biopsies can be performed surgically or non-surgically. A possible non-surgical option is bronchoscopy where a flexible tube with a camera is passed though the mouth into the lungs.

    The ION endoluminal system is a novel robotic bronchoscopy system designed to perform biopsies of lung nodules. It has a thin plastic tube (called a catheter) with sensors to provide information about its location in the airways. The catheter is then navigated to the nodule by the physician and tools are introduced into the catheter to take biopsies.

    The aim of this research study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the ION endoluminal system at reaching and obtaining biopsies from lung nodules when used in combination with 3-dimensional imaging such as CT scans. Data on safety will also be collected.

    All subjects will be followed up at 1 week and 1 month after the procedure. If the biopsy did not provide a diagnosis or did not show cancer, then they will have further follow up at 6 and 13 months.

    This is a prospective, interventional, multicentre, single arm study which will be conducted in England and will involve up to 200 patients

  • REC name

    East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    22/EE/0271

  • Date of REC Opinion

    22 Dec 2022

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion