Saint Agnes completes 100th case using the Ion Endoluminal System

Saint Agnes celebrates its 100th case – advancing the detection of lung cancer – using the state-of-the-art robotic system, the Ion Endoluminal System from Intuitive.

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.

Saint Agnes began using Intuitive’s next-generation robotic system in late April 2025, making it the first hospital in the greater Fresno area to apply the technology.

“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,” says Dr. Catalin Nicola, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. “This advancement underscores Saint Agnes’ ongoing dedication to providing the most advanced, minimally invasive care in the Central Valley.”

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 the addition of the Ion system, 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.

Learn more about Ion

The Ion™ Endoluminal System allows our care team to reach small, hard-to-access lung nodules with precision — supporting earlier answers and greater peace of mind.

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