Saint Agnes is first in Fresno to utilize Ion surgical system

Fresno, CA—Saint Agnes is pleased to announce the arrival of our state-of-the-art robotic system—the Ion Endoluminal System from Intuitive—advancing the detection of lung cancer. 

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, accounting for over 20% of all cancer deaths in the country. This new robot allows doctors to perform minimally invasive and more precise lung biopsies using an ultra-thin, highly maneuverable catheter equipped with a camera leading, to detection of lung cancer in its earliest stages.

“The introduction of the Ion Endoluminal System at Saint Agnes Medical Center represents a major leap forward in our commitment to early and accurate lung cancer diagnosis,” says Dr. Catalin Nicola, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. “With this cutting-edge technology, we can now reach and biopsy small, hard-to-access lung nodules with unprecedented precision, offering our patients faster diagnoses and a clearer path to treatment. This advancement underscores Saint Agnes’ ongoing dedication to providing the most advanced, minimally invasive care in the Central Valley.”

Saint Agnes began using Intuitive’s next-generation robotic system in late April, making it the first hospital in the greater Fresno area to apply the technology. Dr. Nicola performed the first procedures on April 29.

The Ion is the only bronchoscopy platform utilizing fiber-optic shape-sensing technology, measuring hundreds of times per second and providing real-time location, shape and orientation throughout the procedure. This makes it possible for physicians to use a three-dimensional map that has been reconstructed from CT imaging to navigate through the airways in the lungs. The system allows for collection of tissue in all 18 segments of the lung, including the peripheral lung.

With this new advancement, Saint Agnes now has a complete continuum of pulmonary care for our community – from low dose CT screenings and a pulmonary clinic with experts in lung diseases, to biopsies for accurate detection and next-generation surgical treatment of lung cancer.